Apple Has Considered Removing SIM Card Slot From Some iPhone 14 Models

[MacRumors]

Apple has internally discussed the idea of launching some iPhone models without a SIM card slot by next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said the move would be part of Apple's push towards eSIMs.

Gurman said the SIM card slot could be removed on some iPhone 14 models, which Apple is expected to announce in just three days from now, although he said there is a possibility that the change will not happen until the iPhone 15 next year. The eventual removal of the SIM card slot has been rumored a few times previously.

"Apple will give eSIM a bigger push this time around, with carriers preparing to steer users toward the digital, embedded SIM cards rather than physical ones," Gurman wrote in his newsletter. "In fact, Apple has considered removing the physical SIM card slot altogether beginning either this year or next for some models."

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. eSIM availability is rapidly expanding, but the technology is still not available in all countries, so some iPhone models with a SIM card slot may remain available for at least a few years amid the transition.

iPhone 13 models sold at Apple Stores and on Apple.com already lack a nano-SIM card in the box, with users typically able to activate a cellular plan via eSIM by turning on the iPhone, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and following the on-screen instructions. iPhone 13 models also support multiple eSIM profiles, allowing users to subscribe to several cellular plans digitally and switch between them, which is useful for travel.

The removal of the SIM card slot could help to further improve the iPhone's water resistance, and perhaps free up a tiny amount of space inside the device.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 lineup during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday. Other products expected to be announced include Apple Watch Series 8 models, a new Apple Watch SE, an Apple Watch Pro, and new AirPods Pro.

Article Link: Apple Has Considered Removing SIM Card Slot From Some iPhone 14 Models

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Good riddance! More space for an upgraded audio chip perhaps?

 

[Delorean2006]

This may affect and bother a lot of people but for me, I like the move, been using the esim feature with att ever since it came out on iPhones.

 

[Seanm87]

surprised this wasn't done a long time ago. Seems really dated in 2022 to have a physical sim when the technology exists to have an eSim.

 

[Cromulent]

Getting rid of the physical SIM card is a no-brainer. The only problem is that the carrier I just moved to does not support eSIM. If Apple pushed for eSIM only, it would make the industry take it much more seriously.

 

[lesnouu]

meh, having an actual SIM is quite handy, especially when you have a lot of sims. Moreover, i feel like removable SIM is good for privacy reasons in specific regions of the world.

 

[JW5566]

Can you use eSIMs in the UK? I'm on GiffGaff. My current SE2 has a physical SIM card in it.

 

[5105973]

I’m not a fan of this. I like switching the sim of my secondary line between my Android phones and iPhones. The less I have to interact with my carrier in any way, the better for me and for them.

 

[till]

The experience with buying and using an eSIM needs to get a little better, but there's no fundamental reason why physical SIMs need to stick around. They're a weird artifact which will definitely be gone in a decade or two.

 

[arkitect]

Can you use eSIMs in the UK? I'm on GiffGaff. My current SE2 has a physical SIM card in it.

EE, O2 and Vodafone offer eSims.

GiffGaff and others such as Virgin, Tesco, Plusnet et al do not.

 

[sorgo †]

I smell courage

 

[M.Rizk]

I so want this to happen. I am lucky that my carrier does eSIM since day one so I have been using eSIM mainly since I got the XS Max.

eSIM makes having many SIM cards when traveling so much easier without worrying about losing the SIM card when you swapping them.

Apple moving to eSIM only will force most carriers to go eSIM asap making it easier for consumers to switch carriers easier or when traveling to get a SIM card installed before they even land at the airport.

 

[Cromulent]

Can anyone explain why you can't have three SIMs in an iPhone 13 Pro Max? It supports either one hardware SIM and one eSIM or two eSIM but not two eSIM and one physical SIM.

 

[tonie walker]

nah, but selected countries possible, in Ireland only one carrier offers e-sim

 

[mystery hill]

having an actual SIM is quite handy, especially when you have a lot of sims.

You would have to remove the physical SIM card and then insert another one each time. eSIMs make it easier to switch as you just change the active SIM in the Settings app.

i feel like removable SIM is good for privacy reasons in specific regions of the world.

How is a physical SIM better for privacy compared to an eSIM? You can turn off the eSIM line or use Airplane mode.

 

[M.Rizk]

Can anyone explain why you can't have three SIMs in an iPhone 13 Pro Max? It supports either one hardware SIM and one eSIM or two eSIM but not two eSIM and one physical SIM.

Because Qualcomm modems can only connect to 2 carriers at a time and in passive mode not active? Meaning if you get a call on one, the other may disconnect till the call ends.

Your device also has 2 IMEIs only. I am just glad we can do dual eSIM on 13 compared to just 1 on 12 and under.

 

[JPack]

How is a physical SIM better for privacy compared to an eSIM? You can turn off the eSIM line or use Airplane mode.

You can purchase pre-paid SIMs with cash and immediately get service. With eSIM, you need to provide either personal info or at minimum some kind of credit card.

Nothing beats physical SIM for privacy. This is probably one of the reasons why Apple is hesitant to remove it. But at the same time, Apple can't monetize physical SIMs the way they can with eSIM. Since Apple's implementation of eSIM is proprietary, they serve as a gatekeeper authorizing only certain carriers.

 

[Madonepro]

I’m not a fan of this. I like switching the sim of my secondary line between my Android phones and iPhones. The less I have to interact with my carrier in any way, the better for me and for them.

I think Apple are trying to force the issue. Android phone makers will see Apples introduction of no physical sim, as an opportunity to bring out there own versions and sell more phones.
I’m sure that done the line, we will see some form of QR code that will allow you to have the ‘esim’ on multiple devices, much like your Apple Watch shares with your iPhone.

 

[M.Rizk]

You can purchase pre-paid SIMs with cash and immediately get service. With eSIM, you need to provide either personal info or at minimum some kind of credit card.

Nothing stops you from getting a prepaid eSIM except your carrier deciding not to offer it. If Apple goes eSIM only though they will be pressured to offer it to prepaid too.

My carrier already offers eSIM on prepaid.

 

[lesnouu]

How is a physical SIM better for privacy compared to an eSIM? You can turn off the eSIM line or use Airplane mode.

Even though you can turn off eSIM, technically it is still "there", while with actual sim you can just take it off

 

[M.Rizk]

I think Apple are trying to force the issue. Android phone makers will see Apples introduction of no physical sim, as an opportunity to bring out there own versions and sell more phones.
I’m sure that done the line, we will see some form of QR code that will allow you to have the ‘esim’ on multiple devices, much like your Apple Watch shares with your iPhone.

That is already a thing. My carrier already issues me a QR code that can be used as many times as I need as long as the eSIM is not installed on a device.

If you mean multi SIM on one line then that too is possible if your carrier upgraded their systems and offer multi SIM per line in the first place. eSIM doesn’t change anything here.

 

[Cromulent]

Because Qualcomm modems can only connect to 2 carriers at a time and in passive mode not active? Meaning if you get a call on one, the other may disconnect till the call ends.

Your device also has 2 IMEIs only. I am just glad we can do dual eSIM on 13 compared to just 1 on 12 and under.

Thank you!

 

[M.Rizk]

Even though you can turn off eSIM, technically it is still "there", while with actual sim you can just take it off

When turned off though it is just as if you removed the physical one. You can even delete the eSIM if you want but that makes no difference. Your iPhone won’t connect to the towers using that eSIM or even carrier IMS (WiFi calling) on an eSIM that is turned off.

 

[mystery hill]

You can purchase pre-paid SIMs with cash and immediately get service. With eSIM, you need to provide either personal info or at minimum some kind of credit card.

There’s no reason why you couldn’t purchase an eSIM with cash the same way at a retail store. You would just scan the QR code or enter the details manually. The only difference would be that there is no physical card.

 

[JPack]

Can anyone explain why you can't have three SIMs in an iPhone 13 Pro Max? It supports either one hardware SIM and one eSIM or two eSIM but not two eSIM and one physical SIM.

It's a limitation of the Qualcomm X60 and older basebands. The X65 used in iPhone 14 supports more than 2 SIMs.