As Apple recently announcediPhone Air to be sold in China, and it was sold out in a short time after the pre-order was opened earlier. In addition, with the approval of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, and the three major operators including China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom have fully launched eSIM mobile phone services in mid-October this year, it means that the Chinese market has officially entered a new stage of "cardless" communication. It is expected that more mobile phone products that support eSIM will be sold in the Chinese market in the future.
蘋果最新機型iPhone Air於10月17日上午9點正式在中國市場開啓預購，並且將在10月22日正式在中國市場銷售，而開售僅5分鐘內官網首批庫存即告售罄，更凸顯中國市場對這款手機的強烈需求。
Pre-sale status and supply status
According to the latest information on Apple's official website, retail stores are currently out of stock and can be reserved for pickup. Delivery for orders opting for home delivery has been delayed by a week. Starting at RMB 7999, this new phone is currently available in three interest-free installments of RMB 2666 per month, with a purchase limit of two units per customer.
Product background and market significance
The iPhone Air, unveiled alongside the iPhone 17 series at Apple's September 2017 Fall Event, garnered significant attention for its pure eSIM design. This model completely eliminated the physical SIM card slot and relied on virtual SIM card services provided by carriers. This shift to an eSIM card system meant the iPhone Air wasn't released in China alongside the iPhone 17 series in September, as eSIM services weren't yet ready for the mainland Chinese market.
Promotion progress of eSIM technology
The official launch of the iPhone Air in China marks a significant step forward for eSIM technology in the mainstream Chinese mobile phone market. With the gradual opening of carrier virtual SIM card services, consumers will experience more convenient carrier switching and device activation processes.
Market analysts believe that the iPhone Air's rapid sell-out not only reflects the influence of the Apple brand, but also demonstrates consumers' high acceptance of new technologies. The successful launch of this device may accelerate the popularization of eSIM technology in the smartphone industry, bringing new possibilities for future device design.
Current Status and Application Methods of eSIM Services in China
Currently, the eSIM mobile phone service in China is open for application in 31 provinces and cities in China. However, as it is still in the commercial trial stage, it is not yet open for direct online processing. Users must bring their personal valid identification documents and eSIM-supported terminal devices to go to the operator's offline business hall in person to process the application. China Telecom users can also make an appointment through the official APP in advance and then go to the business hall to complete the service activation.
Currently supported devices and limitations
As for the Chinese sales version of iPhone Air, model A3518, it has become the only mobile phone officially confirmed to support the eSIM function in the Chinese market. Users can enable eSIM services provided by up to two Chinese operators on a single iPhone Air.
It should be noted that iPhone models purchased outside of China, including other mobile phones purchased outside mainland China that support eSIM functions, are currently unable to install the eSIM description files provided by local operators, and therefore can only use eSIM services applied for outside of China.
eSIM technology advantages and market impact
eSIM replaces physical SIM cards with its electronic virtual card format, bringing many innovations to terminal devices:
• Equipment design breakthrough:eSIM technology helps phones achieve a thinner, lighter, and more compact design, while significantly improving water and dust resistance. The iPhone Air's ultra-thin 5.5mm thickness is largely due to eSIM technology.
• User experience upgrade:Users can enjoy the convenience of "card-free activation", "seamless collaboration across devices" and "global seamless roaming".
• Simplify carrier switching:eSIM technology greatly simplifies the process of number portability. In the future, users will be able to choose operators through their mobile phone settings as flexibly as switching Wi-Fi networks. This may reshape the market competition landscape centered on package rates.
Telecom operator layout and industrial ecology in China
• China Telecom:Its eSIM business already supports a variety of terminals such as smart watches and in-vehicle equipment. The addition of mobile phones is intended to promote the comprehensive evolution of communication services towards "lightweight and multimodal".
• China Mobile:We are committed to providing full-system eSIM product support covering multiple forms such as mobile phones, watches, and tablets, and continue to invest in the formulation of eSIM international standards and the localization of core technologies such as chips.
• China Unicom:As the first telecom operator to provide eSIM services in China, it has accumulated ten years of experience in eSIM technology. It has currently adapted 75 types of terminals and served over millions of users, taking the lead in realizing the development of eSIM full-scene business.
Future challenges and development opportunities
Despite the promising prospects of eSIM, its promotion still faces challenges. For example, some point out that if an eSIM phone locks its number, high fees will be charged for replacing the card, which may evoke memories of the "high-priced, low-quality" contract phone era. Furthermore, ensuring the continued stability of telecom operators' service quality without the physical card as a "link" is also a concern.
