Apple(US:AAPL) Zheng Quan Shi Bao Wang·2025-10-21 00:51Group 1 - Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that the iPhone Air will officially launch in China on October 22, marking the first smartphone in the country to completely eliminate the physical SIM card slot and adopt eSIM technology [1] Group 2 - Minsheng Securities highlights that eSIM technology is leading the transition to a "cardless era" in smartphones, integrating communication functions into device chips for remote operator configuration, offering flexibility, security, and space-saving advantages [2] - The commercial acceleration of eSIM is creating opportunities within the industry chain, with global eSIM applications entering a scaling phase, particularly in the US, Europe, Japan, and South Korea [2] - GSMA Intelligence predicts that by the end of 2025, the number of global eSIM smartphone connections will reach 1 billion, and by 2030, this number will significantly increase to 6.9 billion, with eSIM accounting for 76% of total smartphone connections [2] - Currently, eSIM penetration in China is low, and the industry ecosystem is not well developed, with policies and regulations still needing improvement [2] - The development of IoT terminals indicates that eSIM is an inevitable trend [2]