My understanding is that the current iPhones offer both a traditional SIM card slot along with an esim, which gives you the option of two sims provided one of the carriers supports esim.

I also believe that current iPhones sold in China support two physical SIM cards and no esim.

That could have something to do with it. I've ordered from India before when I wanted a dual sim android. Local stock for that model was single sim only.

Looked at gsmarena now and indeed most models have dual-sim versions (as well as single sim). But when I look at a local store, it seems that roughly 1/2 has dual sims (that's including eSIM).

> sold in Asia

irrelevant.

If we're talking about tourists it definitely isn't. In fact, the phones that are sold in the US are the irrelevant ones.

Well, Asian phones too I suppose. Most Xiaomi phones if not all are dual sim.

I refuse to buy phones from Chinese government majority owned companies tho.

I own Samsungs, and they are all dual SIMS.