Once again， Apple keeps its AI ace up its sleeve for overseas users.
On the morning of September 10th， Beijing time， the iPhone 17 series was released as scheduled. The “exploding toothpaste” iPhone 17 standard version， the sleeker iPhone Air， and the powerhouse A19 Pro all dominated social media discussions.
However， for the vast majority of users in mainland China， a familiar disappointment re-emerged. Despite Apple Intelligence continually expanding its features globally， the Chinese version of the iPhone 17 series will not immediately benefit from these AI enhancements. This means that Chinese consumers will temporarily miss out on core experiences like Visual Look Up， writing tools， and enhanced Siri when purchasing the new devices.
Why is Apple’s AI gaining traction worldwide while repeatedly hitting roadblocks in the Chinese market? And how much longer will Chinese users have to wait for Apple Intelligence?
The latest answer is both expected and frustrating: “There are still variables before the end of the year.”
From iOS 18.4 to 18.6: Delays Becoming the Norm
Looking back to WWDC 2024， Tim Cook high-profilely announced Apple Intelligence， promising a “full rollout in 2025.” At the time， these bold claims sparked anticipation among Chinese Apple fans for a localized AI experience.
However， Apple subsequently staged a “triple skip”:
In February 2025， Apple’s official website indicated that Apple Intelligence in Simplified Chinese would launch in early April.
April passed without a trace of the Chinese version of Apple AI. Rumors then shifted the target to iOS 18.4， and later to 18.5.
In May， developers received iOS 18.5 Beta， but Chinese AI remained absent.
In June， tech reporter Mark Gurman revealed that Apple AI might finally enable some features in mainland China with the iOS 18.6 system， making iOS 18.6 appear to be the “final milestone.”
On September 8th， Gurman’s latest update suggested that Apple plans to launch it by the end of this year， possibly through iOS 26.1 or 26.2， though further delays remain a possibility.
In just half a year， the version number has jumped from 18.4 to 26.2. The rollout of Apple Intelligence in China has become a new version of the “boy who cried wolf” fairy tale.
Apple Intelligence for China Faces Hurdles， Apple Activates “Plan B”
In fact， Apple’s iOS 18.5 system push already supports Chinese AI. The primary reason for Apple Intelligence’s delayed entry into China is not technical， but regulatory compliance.
Common generative AI services in China require algorithm备案 (record-filing) to ensure data localization and content compliance. Apple Intelligence employs a hybrid “on-device + cloud” architecture， with its cloud component heavily reliant on OpenAI’s ChatGPT， which is clearly not feasible in China.
According to Gurman， Apple’s initial plan was to launch the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence in mid-2025， but it was hampered by internal and external issues， leading to a postponement until year-end.
In terms of implementation， Apple has ultimately chosen to partner with Baidu and Alibaba simultaneously. Baidu’s Ernie Bot will replace OpenAI’s services， acting as the cloud-based large model for natural language processing， image generation， and visual intelligence. Alibaba’s Tongyi Qianwen will be responsible for building local AI systems， including content review and filtering mechanisms to ensure output compliance with regulations. However， the involvement of two tech giants means Apple must compromise on data interfaces， review standards， advertising strategies， and more.
Concurrently， Apple has initiated a phased rollout test of iOS 26.1 with Apple Intelligence among its employees in China， covering features like writing tools， AI Siri， and notification summaries.
However， testing is one thing; a full consumer rollout is still some way off. Gurman’s leaks suggest Apple’s internal target is the end of the year， specifically “iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2，” but they are also mentally prepared for “continued delays.”
Domestic Rivals Engage in “AI Infinite Competition，” Apple is Losing Its Window
While Apple is still navigating the rollout of Apple Intelligence， domestic brands like Huawei， Xiaomi， OPPO， and vivo have already been showcasing their AI capabilities with great enthusiasm.
Huawei’s Pura 80 series was the first to feature the Pangu Large Model 3.0， with its Xiao Yi AI assistant offering AI suggestions， object recognition， and translation， empowering its all-scenario ecosystem. Xiaomi’s updated HyperOS 2.0 integrates “Super Xiao Ai” into a system-level portal， enabling cross-application collaboration through natural voice interaction. OPPO， after pioneering AI image processing， has successively introduced features like one-tap AI note-taking， one-tap screen inquiry， and intent search， showcasing its mobile AI prowess.
Against the backdrop of domestic manufacturers’ “release-and-launch” rhythm for AI features， Apple’s “PPT presentation” and “missed deadline” approach is gradually eroding the patience of its premium users.
Data from market research firm Counterpoint Research indicates that in the first half of 2025， Apple’s year-on-year sales growth in the global premium smartphone market was only 3%. Facing the rapid expansion of other brands， Apple’s market share has declined.
Specifically in the Chinese market， data from IDC and Canalys shows that in the first quarter of 2025， iPhone shipments and market share in China were in decline. Apple ranked fifth in both metrics， failing to enter the top three， with most of its market share being taken by Huawei and Xiaomi.
for the brand， Apple needs Apple Intelligence to inject new vitality into its products and retain consumers who are switching to local domestic brands. On the other hand， with domestic mobile phone manufacturers intensely competing in AI， if Apple’s Chinese version of AI cannot be launched in a timely manner， it may lead to user doubts about Apple’s credibility and product innovation.
Let’s Meet Again at Year-End， With Patience
From its “stunning debut” at WWDC 2024 to the “meeting again at year-end” in September 2025， the drama of Apple Intelligence being delayed in China has repeated itself too many times.
Undeniably， Apple possesses brand strength， chip technology， and a robust ecosystem. However， in the AI race， the gap between being a first mover and a late mover is often a moat. Once the window of opportunity is missed， users will vote with their feet. Before the year ends， consumers want to see Apple Intelligence implemented， not another “coming soon.”
After all， in today’s landscape where domestic manufacturers are fiercely competing in AI， the more Apple says “still waiting，” the harder it will be to retain users.
