Apple devices from China: Hard blockade of Apple Intelligence

When Apple Intelligence appeared as beta last summer, it was difficult to use the AI ​​system within the European Union. Apple prevented this with hard geoblocking. A short time later it was relatively easy to test the software: it was enough to create an American app store account and log in. In the meantime, Apple Intelligence has arrived in the EU with iOS 18.4, there are no longer any restrictions. In the People’s Republic of China, however, it looks very different: how Users reportit is currently impossible to use Apple’s AI system when the hardware in the Middle Kingdom has been purchased.

Iphones popular with dual SIM slots as a China souvenir

Apple himself also announces: “Apple Intelligence is currently not working for supported devices that have been bought in China (mainland),” it says In a support document. If you visit the People’s Republic with a device that was purchased outside of China, there can also be problems. The same applies if the Apple account has stopped as a “China (mainland)” region.

Apple sells special models for China on the iPhone that can be found on the model number identification “CH/A”. In contrast to iPhones in the west, you also have a slot for dual physical SIM cards, a feature that some users would like to have. In the west, on the other hand, a physical SIM Plus e-SIMS are standard. However, if you want to use Apple Intelligence, you should not currently come up with the idea of ​​acquiring a China iPhone.

Local AI partner for China

It is unclear when the hard geoblocking will be lifted. Apple relies on a different AI strategy in China than in the West. While there is an Openai partner here and most of the language models and image generators develop, the group in China will cooperate with Alibaba and its Qwen models. This also has to do with the regulation of AI in China, which only allows Western companies to implement them with local partners. In addition to iPhones, iPads and Macs also seem to be affected by the Apple intelligence lock.

As mentioned, this can be seen from the model number. With Chinese hardware, this ends on the “CH/A”. An interesting question remains what happens as soon as the Chinese version of Apple Intelligence is available. The western AI system will probably remain closed, even if Apple has not yet commented on it. Chinese AI models like Deepseek are known for their censorship.