Apple Announces Updated iPad 10 With eSIM Support in China

Apple today announced an updated version of the cellular 10th-generation iPad with eSIM support in mainland China. Apple says the device will be available to pre-order in mainland China starting October 19 and released on October 25.

10th Gen iPad Feature Fanned Gray
China Unicom is currently the only supported eSIM carrier for the iPad in mainland China, according to a new Apple support document. eSIM support in mainland China requires a 10th-generation iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular) with model number A3162. All other iPad and iPhone models do not have eSIM support in mainland China.

Apple's support document offers more details on how to set up an eSIM on the updated 10th-generation iPad in mainland China, and how to activate eSIM cellular data plans on the device from carriers in other countries while traveling.

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card.

(Thanks, Apollo!)

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Top Rated Comments

CC77 Avatar
27 months ago
What a sad, strange time to be an iPad
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spaceboi Scaphandre Avatar
27 months ago
You know this begs the question why can't the Macbooks get eSIM support? I know a lot of business customers would love cellular on their Macbooks without needing to use a hotspot.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
matttarantino Avatar
27 months ago
So the other rumors weren't exactly wrong?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macdaddy43 Avatar
27 months ago
This really shows that we’ve hit a plateau with tech in these products. Apple isn’t even spec bumping these anymore because user experience really is almost the same.

A14 vs A15 in the base iPad isn’t going to change much and just more cost out of switching the internals as such. A15 vs A16 for iPad mini probably isn’t even worth it for Apple either. They’d rather keep the same chips and milk them as long as they can and I don’t really blame them.

I have an iPhone 12 Pro with the A14 and despite it being a 3 year old phone, I have never once even considered that this phone is slow or too slow for anything that I do. I don’t plan on upgrading until software stops getting updated. Seems like chips from A14 and on have been so good there isn’t much difference in overall experience for most people.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Anglagard Avatar
27 months ago
Between the Pen-C and this, it all looks terribly underwhelming for Xmas.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NewUsername Avatar
27 months ago
At least now we know the 11th gen iPad isn’t coming soon.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)