Refer China: eSIM Comes to China with iPhone Air

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eSIM Comes to China with iPhone Air—What You Need to Know

On October 13, Apple announced that customers in mainland could begin pre-ordering the new iPhone Air starting at 9:00 AM on October 17, with official sales beginning October 22. The iPhone Air is priced from RMB 7,999.

This launch is notable not just for the device itself, but for the shift it represents: the growing adoption of eSIM technology in China.

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What Is eSIM?

eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identity Module. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIM is built directly into the device's hardware. This next-generation SIM standard, defined by the GSMA, allows users to remotely activate a mobile carrier's service without inserting a physical SIM card. Benefits include convenience, enhanced security, space-saving design, and easier carrier switching.

A Major Leap for China's Telecom Industry

China Unicom was the first to announce that it had received official approval to begin commercial trials of eSIM smartphone services — a significant milestone following a decade of technological development and policy groundwork. Its eSIM reservation portal launched at the end of September via the China Unicom App.

Shortly after, China Mobile and China Telecom both received similar approvals from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), officially enabling eSIM smartphone services across all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland.

How to Activate eSIM in China

Each carrier has its own process, but similar. Using China Mobile as an example:

Users must bring their valid ID and eSIM-compatible phone to a physical service center.

Each phone can bind up to two eSIM numbers.

Only two new eSIM activations are allowed per device per calendar month.

Activation and communication testing must be completed in-store to ensure service functionality.

For now, new eSIM activations must occur within the same province as the user's account. Cross-province replacement is allowed but not for new activations.

Pricing remains the same as traditional SIM plans. Transitioning from a physical SIM to an eSIM (or replacing eSIMs across provinces) is currently free.

In cases of phone loss, reset, or accidental deletion of the eSIM profile, users can visit a service center to recover their number via eSIM reissuance or revert to a physical SIM.

If a user stops using the eSIM device, they should either transfer the number to a new device or replace it with a physical SIM. Otherwise, the eSIM profile must be deleted, or the number should be formally deactivated.

According to online information, users cannot activate the above mainland eSIMs on overseas iPhones.

Apple Confirms Future Convenience

Apple has also confirmed that a quick eSIM transfer feature will soon roll out in mainland, eliminating the need for customers to visit service centers when switching iPhones. This means iPhone Air users will eventually be able to migrate their eSIM profile between devices with just a few taps.

While the iPhone Air supports dual eSIMs (including one for domestic use and one for international), it lacks support for physical SIM cards, making it less ideal for users who rely on multiple SIMs. In comparison, overseas iPhone models can support eight or more eSIM profiles simultaneously.

Source: 中国移动, IT之家, 上海市消保委, 荆楚网