The launch and sales prospects of the iPhone 17 series in the Chinese market are facing uncertainties due to delays in localized AI functionality and potential eSIM-only design considerations.

According to recent reports from technology journalist Mark Gurman, Apple's AI suite "Apple Intelligence" will not be available at the iPhone 17 launch in the Chinese market. Although Apple continues to actively pursue its rollout in China, the earliest expected timeline for launch is by the end of this year, meaning the new device will lack a key core selling point during its initial release period.

Meanwhile, the new ultra-thin model "iPhone 17 Air," expected to be a highlight at the September 10th launch event, may face market entry challenges in China due to its eSIM-only design. Gurman noted that this hardware specification could result in the model's release in China being "restricted or delayed" until Apple and carriers find a solution.

For Apple, which heavily depends on the Chinese market, the software functionality delays and key hardware incompatibility issues constitute a double blow. This could not only weaken its position in fierce competition with domestic brands but also introduce new risk variables for the iPhone 17 sales performance that investors are closely watching.

**AI Features Absent from Chinese Launch, Year-End Rollout Still Uncertain**

Chinese consumers expecting to experience Apple's native AI features on the new iPhone will need to continue waiting.

According to plans, Apple originally hoped to introduce Apple Intelligence to China through an iOS 18.6 system update mid-year, but this process has been repeatedly delayed.

Currently, Apple has technically prepared for Chinese AI support (such as iOS 18.5 system), and Apple Intelligence for Chinese iPhones will be provided through third-party services, integrating large language models from Alibaba and Baidu.

Gurman revealed that Apple's current target is to launch these features by year-end through iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2 updates, and internal testing has already begun among Chinese employees. However, given various uncertainties, the release schedule may still face further delays.

**New Air Model May Face Market Entry Challenges**

Beyond software functionality delays, hardware-level challenges are equally severe. A major focus of this launch event is expected to be the new "iPhone 17 Air," featuring a 6.6-inch large screen with an ultra-thin design.

However, a core issue is that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to completely eliminate the physical SIM card slot, transitioning entirely to eSIM. Gurman explicitly stated in his column that eSIM-only support "will make sales in mainland China difficult," not ruling out possibilities of being "restricted or delayed."

In the Chinese market, eSIM adoption and penetration lag significantly behind Europe and America, with mainstream users still heavily dependent on physical SIM cards. If Apple cannot provide a version supporting physical cards for the Chinese iPhone 17 Air, it would undoubtedly greatly limit market acceptance and potentially cause it to miss the optimal sales window.

Additionally, the iPhone 17 Air's product positioning itself remains controversial.

To achieve extreme thinness, the model has made compromises in battery life and camera capabilities (such as adopting a single rear camera), while its pricing is expected to fall between the more feature-complete standard iPhone 17 and the higher-performance iPhone 17 Pro.

Referencing Samsung's previously launched similarly positioned S25 Edge model's lackluster sales performance, the market currently maintains a cautious outlook on iPhone 17 Air's sales prospects.