You can convert those physical SIMs to eSIMs and retain your balance. It’s easier to manage as those will all be stored on your phone and you can switch between them from the settings app.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Has Considered Removing SIM Card Slot From Some iPhone 14 Models
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Unfortunately there are far too many countries that do not have an eSIM option for travellers. Sure lots of international data only eSIM options but beyond that it’s challenging.
I do worry about that with esims. It’s nice to be able to just swap out this tiny thing when the rest of the phone may be unusable—especially when far away from any carrier stores (for example for the past year I’ve been living on a rural island with only a limited car ferry schedule to the mainland).
ARE YOU KIDDING ME. The crap 13 Pro Max was impossible to get off my account with ESIM and I'm fighting to get back 5G to that line. My LG V60 on this line hasn't had 5G since I went to an AT&T store for a physical SIM.
I have this exact same phone running on another line and 5G is fine. It never had an iPhone using an ESIM on it. Good thing.
I have this exact same phone running on another line and 5G is fine. It never had an iPhone using an ESIM on it. Good thing.
I both like and hate/fear the idea of an eSIM only phone. I like it because it would free up space in the chassis, maybe for more battery, and improve waterproofing. I fear eSIM-only because neither of my current providers support eSIM (I spend time in 2 countries so have local SIMs for both countries).
I think I'm right in saying that it would be a total first for Apple, something it has never ever done before and maybe something that most people think it would absolutely never do, but maybe one solution to this dilemma might for Apple, for the first time ever, to announce this year its intention to go eSIM-only next year. That would at least give the industry a year to prepare and I suspect (hope) it would pretty much force all contract & PAYG suppliers to offer eSIM because during that 12 month advance warning period every supplier would have had its online chat, email, call centre, Twitter, Facebook, support forum and every other one of its customer communication channels swamped with iPhone users asking for confirmation that that supplier will be offering eSIM options for all of its plans by the time iPhone 15 launches.
Based on past history such a pre-announcement would be a totally un-Apple thing to see but maybe on this one occasion putting such huge public pressure on the contract & PAYG providers around the world might be a good thing to do.
I think I'm right in saying that it would be a total first for Apple, something it has never ever done before and maybe something that most people think it would absolutely never do, but maybe one solution to this dilemma might for Apple, for the first time ever, to announce this year its intention to go eSIM-only next year. That would at least give the industry a year to prepare and I suspect (hope) it would pretty much force all contract & PAYG suppliers to offer eSIM because during that 12 month advance warning period every supplier would have had its online chat, email, call centre, Twitter, Facebook, support forum and every other one of its customer communication channels swamped with iPhone users asking for confirmation that that supplier will be offering eSIM options for all of its plans by the time iPhone 15 launches.
Based on past history such a pre-announcement would be a totally un-Apple thing to see but maybe on this one occasion putting such huge public pressure on the contract & PAYG providers around the world might be a good thing to do.
Jesus Christ. Please wait until Verizon figures out how to activate an eSim on launch day. Every year that I've upgraded, it's taken multiple phone calls and tweets to their support teams to get it set up and working correctly. Verizon is the weakest link in the upgrade process.
eSIMS are typical Apple BS. There is nothing easier than switching a physical SIM. In the past people often asked someone else to use his phone if their own battery was empty. All they had to do is putting their SIM into the other phone. That seems much easier than any electronic way. If you remove your the physical SIM, you no longer have to fear that the other person - who sometimes was a stranger - will accidentally or intentionally continue calling other people from your number at your cost. How does removing work with an eSIM? Do I have to trust the other person that he removes my eSIM from his phone?
And without a physical SIM, how can I prove that the number is mine? There is mo easier prove than owning the SIM.
For privacy reasons I often order prepaid SIMs from the UK for services or apps that require a phone number. I do not like to give away my private phone number to Tinder, WhatsApp, Twitte or even Apple. Those prepaid numbers are available for just about 2 Euros including shipping. I just put them into my phone and it works. I do not want any kind of identification process just to claim my eSIM.
And without a physical SIM, how can I prove that the number is mine? There is mo easier prove than owning the SIM.
For privacy reasons I often order prepaid SIMs from the UK for services or apps that require a phone number. I do not like to give away my private phone number to Tinder, WhatsApp, Twitte or even Apple. Those prepaid numbers are available for just about 2 Euros including shipping. I just put them into my phone and it works. I do not want any kind of identification process just to claim my eSIM.
My mate upgraded his phone but apple wouldnt give him the new phone til they had possesion of his old handset wiped. There was no way of passing the QR code to the new phone (timed QR code). He said hes never using an e-sim again. he had to go back to his provider and move his e sim onto a regular sim card first before he could hand his phone in for exchange. 3 days off hassle
If Apple were to remove the sim-tray, I see two things happening in this order: Samsung will make an ad mocking Apple for doing this, then will immediately proceed with removing the sim-tray from their own phones.
How about making it even smaller or easy to put in like a memory card instead of the slide. But smaller maybe a quarter of the size it is now. Or I’m fine with two or three available eSIM then the physical one could be removed.
Why on earth would you let a stranger put a sim card in your phone ! ! Just give them your cash card while your at it !
The first part, that's the modem limitation.
Apple Watch eSIM is more complicated and it requires carrier support as it uses the same number as your phone SIM. I'm sure the limitation is on the carriers, whether they want to support it or not, not on Apple or the tech.
Read my previous post about my experience traveling to Malaysia and how eSIM actually makes travelling much simpler and easier.
Nope both my wife and I got O2 esims specifically when we were in UK last year as they also were one of the few that still gave European coverage that we used in Italy for 5 weeks
I ditched my one when I upgraded but my wifes is still active till tomorrow when I trade her Flip 3 in here in Malaysia for a Flip 4
When we have guests visiting us in Malaysia or Thailand we just loan them our spare sims we keep to hand, cant do that with esims
Why would you even allow a stranger to use your phone, let alone putting in their SIM in it?
Nothing's preventing you from having multiple eSIM profiles/numbers in one phone. Iphone XS onward can do that already, storing multiple eSIM profiles/numbers.
Agree on this. It's really weird. These carriers are just plain lazy. Hopefully with Apple moving on, it will force these carriers to support eSIM. As long as the physical slot is still there, these carriers will not move their butt.
It's the only one on the market to offer 2 active eSIM at the same time, so it's quite unique !!! or 1 eSIM and 1 SIM active at the same time.
However it's still a dual SIM/eSIM phone in terms of connectivity: you can only have 2 lines active at the same time as technically you are limited by the 2 separate modem chips embedded in the phone)
Note, that you can store up to 20 eSIM in the iPhones.
Try Airalo app as it offer many connectivity options for travellers, I personally use it. it's just great and fully integrated with Apple API to automate the eSIM installation without the need to scan a QR code
While I haven't had the need for a physical SIM slot recently, having the option there is nice, especially when I may travel and tossing in a temporary SIM is fast. Then again since I have not traveled, I'm not sure if using a foreign eSIM is any more trouble.
Yep you can get temporary ones no problem. I've done it myself a couple of times as it was cheaper than paying for more data when I was low. But they arent offering esims to contract customers (i.e 99% of their entire customer base).
I assume there are other costs with eSIMs for virtual carriers, otherwise they would jump at the chance to save money on distribution of physical SIMs. Intuitively one would expect apple to get a cut since they control access to the eSim.
Many will come around before iPhone models with eSIM only support become widespread. I have yet to see a carrier in any major market not do what it takes to accommodate iPhone customers. The only reason they are dragging their feet now is because it's not mandatory and the phone has a physical SIM slot.
I have 7-8 international sim cards and if apple close the SIM tray I lock my wallet for them. This will he my last drop.
I have been looking at 10x zoom and apk fee apos for years now.
BUT: all of them are the same, Samsung follows Apple.
I see your point , but let me disagree.
Have you tried to call bank/budiness/local cab or simply get incoming call with US number abroad? Even on very rich Bermuda sometimes taxi drivers refuse to call US number. (you cannot rent a car there, only moped or electric tiny Renault) .
“Often” is not equal to “always”. You want to say that I have to through away local SIM cards with positive balance and pay eSIM app? I can afford it, but IMO it’s a waste
Thanks.
Not every provider supports eSIM worldwide.