Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has delayed the launch of its new smartphone, iPhone Air, in mainland China, citing regulatory approval issues.
When pre-orders for the new models started on Friday, Apple’s China website would not let customers in the region order the new, thinner device. Instead, a message reads: “Release information will be updated later. All models will be released after approval,” Bloomberg News reported, citing the company’s China website.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.
The iPhone Air uses eSIM technology because of its thin design. Unlike the U.S., China is mostly depends on physical SIM cards and has not widely adopted eSIM technology.
When the iPhone Air was announced, Apple said that the device would initially only be available via a single Chinese carrier — China Unicom — and would require users to visit a physical store to activate their eSIM and begin using the device, the report added.
The company’s website noted that other carriers, such as China Mobile Ltd. and China Telecom Corp. would eventually support the iPhone Air and eSIM, according to the report.
Apple previously said that the new product would become available in the area on Sept. 12 for pre-order and on Sept. 19 for general availability, matching the U.S. and other main markets.
The U.S. tech giant’s other new phones, iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max , launched as planned in the region and include physical SIM cards locally.