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iPhone Air Faces China Pushback as Poll Cites Price, Battery, eSIM Friction

Reader polling highlights concerns over price, battery life, eSIM hurdles in China.

Overview

  • An IT Home poll conducted Nov. 1–3 drew over 10,000 votes across its site and WeChat, with “poor value for money” leading at 5,772 votes.
  • Battery life worries ranked second with 4,025 votes, as the ultra‑thin model uses a 3,149 mAh cell compared with 3,692 mAh on the iPhone 17.
  • Domestic eSIM processes placed third as a deterrent, with readers citing dual‑SIM requirements and some carriers requiring in‑region activation.
  • Following the Oct. 22 release, a JD.com subsidy lowered the starting price to ¥7,599, though a top comment suggested a far steeper cut would be needed to move buyers.
  • On Apple’s FY Q4 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook declined to discuss iPhone Air sales, while blogger @数码闲聊站 reported roughly 50,000 first‑week activations and labeled the result weak.