What should be done if a new iPhone cannot activate due to a temporary issue?

Connecting to Wi-Fi and then attempting to activate the iPhone is the most effective initial step when dealing with activation issues. A stable internet connection is crucial for the activation process, as it allows the device to communicate with Apple's activation servers. If the issue is temporary, it may resolve itself once the device is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network, allowing the activation process to complete successfully.

Restarting the device can be a helpful action, but without an internet connection, it might not resolve the core issue. Contacting Apple Support immediately might be unnecessary unless the problem persists after all troubleshooting steps are taken. Waiting 24 hours could be an option for particularly stubborn activation problems, but it does not take proactive measures to resolve the issue in the meantime, such as establishing a Wi-Fi connection. Thus, the most straightforward and recommended approach when faced with temporary activation issues is to ensure a proper connection to Wi-Fi and then attempt the activation again.