Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-09-05 11:45Core Viewpoint - Recent reports indicate that China Unicom has issued a notice to support the eSIM project for Apple, suggesting that eSIM functionality may soon be available for the Chinese version of Apple phones [1][3]. Group 1: China Unicom's eSIM Support - China Unicom has confirmed plans to support eSIM for the upcoming iPhone models, although it remains uncertain if the iPhone 17 series will completely lack a physical SIM card slot [3]. - Unicom staff mentioned that they are preparing for eSIM operations, but specific details and timelines are pending further notifications [3]. Group 2: eSIM Technology Overview - eSIM technology allows for embedded digital SIM capabilities, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and enabling remote configuration for network connectivity, thus saving internal device space [3]. - In the U.S., Apple has already removed the SIM card slot starting with the iPhone 14, but the technology has not been widely adopted in other regions until now [3]. Group 3: iPhone 17 Series Expectations - Reports suggest that only the iPhone 17 Air model may support eSIM, while other models will retain traditional SIM card slots, possibly due to design constraints [5]. - The iPhone 17 Air is marketed as "5.5mm ultra-thin," but its battery capacity is limited to 2800mAh, falling short of 3000mAh [5]. - Apple is set to hold its fall launch event on September 10, with the iPhone 17 series expected to go on pre-sale on September 12, although the launch of the eSIM-enabled iPhone 17 Air in China may face delays due to infrastructure readiness [5].