Apple points out that the eSIM on an iPhone is not offered in mainland China. Instead, Dual SIM is required, which is two nano-SIM cards. "Although the ultra-thin iPhone 17 may ship in higher ...

Apple’s sleekest iPhone yet is coming - but in its pursuit of thinness, the iPhone 17 Air makes some major compromises.

Anyone who buys a Mac, iPhone & iPad in China cannot start Apple Intelligence on it, even with a suitable account. Apple apparently uses hard geoblocking.