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Apple Hints at iPhone 17 Models Lacking SIM Card Slot in More Countries
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Registered as in provide registration details of the account holder? Already the case in Switzerland, Germany and Belgium to my direct knowledge. It is not a big deal once you are registered with a carrier already, and in many countries where electronic ID exists you can verify online when ordering completely new.
Other countries rely on manual checks after the event, but these days online electronic validation of IDs is becoming commonplace. Just like at passport control checks: app takes a selfie, reads the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of the ID then scans the RFID chip for the biometric data.
EDIT: cannot decide whether or not to keep France in the list, but the others are definite.
It's only a matter of time before other phone manufacturers follow suit.
I am European and I have used eSIMs from companies in the App Store like Airalo to use my iPhone in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Check it out, it is simple and no need to get a SIM card again
I find it has become a very dull website + there’s a lot or censorship and sponsored videos. They remove posts they don’t like too. I criticized them a couple of times, very respectfully, and they removed my post. Then they started removing posts that weren’t about them or contained spam or abusive language, but that they just didn’t want to see for some reason, which they then removed. So I decided to call it a day. I not only no longer post there, I don’t even visit the website anymore.
How is it there? Do you still go to it and post?
Yeah, things are getting better in the UK. Even a year ago it was pretty much only the major EE/Vodafone/O2/Three direct providers that offered eSIMs and none of the best known MVNOs offered them. For me the MVNOs tend to be much better value than going direct to the big 4 so I was worried. Checking just now I see at least one of the big UK MVNOs now offer eSIMs e.g. Giffgaff.
The MVNO I’m with (Lebara) is saying that it’s launching eSIMs in Q3 2025 so in theory that’s by the end of September if they stick to that timetable.
I usually but a new iPhone on launch day so if the UK iPhones are going to lose the physical SIM slot then it’s going to be a close run thing. I really hope Lebara does get its act together in time for the first iPhone 17 deliveries.
Bring out the Gimp phone.
But wich eSIM via app has nearly a value of a local sim? It’s no real alternative in my experience. So it’s only a downside a no plus to lose the sim tray. Not one thing gets better but some things get really worse
I have found the convenience outweighs the negatives, which is just cost. With Apple (and I suspect other phone makers now or soon) moving to eSIM, local eSIMs should become more available
I purposely got my 15 PM in the UK two years ago when I was visiting to keep the physical sim capability.
Many places like the UK for instance had esim for contract plans until a year or so ago. Otherwise, you'd be forced to either pay for roaming directly from your carrier, or get an overpriced/marked up international roaming esim like Airalo. Yes, my current mobile plan has free international roaming, but that's not the point.
Plus, esim is great...until it's not...I've had many issues with esims to the point where I had to get a physical sim card from the carrier to solve the issue.
This year, I might have an extended layover in Canada to get the 17 PM (the Canadian/Japanese/Mexican/Gulf model usually has more 5G and LTE bands vs the European one, albeit they're not super important). If the model there retains the physical sim card tray of course. We'll wait and see. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Many places like the UK for instance had esim for contract plans until a year or so ago. Otherwise, you'd be forced to either pay for roaming directly from your carrier, or get an overpriced/marked up international roaming esim like Airalo. Yes, my current mobile plan has free international roaming, but that's not the point.
Plus, esim is great...until it's not...I've had many issues with esims to the point where I had to get a physical sim card from the carrier to solve the issue.
This year, I might have an extended layover in Canada to get the 17 PM (the Canadian/Japanese/Mexican/Gulf model usually has more 5G and LTE bands vs the European one, albeit they're not super important). If the model there retains the physical sim card tray of course. We'll wait and see. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Unsure which way to go on this. On the one hand, I like the reliability of an e-sim, but also like the flexibility of having physical sim card freedom. I switched to an e sim with my 13 Mini (after 6 yrs of a SE OG), the ph was replaced a month later due to some audio issues with the same model. Here in Germany I was surprised that my carrier (big name) didn't support Apple's feature of transferring e-sim directly from ph to ph. This meant having to wait for the mailman to deliver the code, as an electronic transfer within the carrier's App just didn't work. Note: Germany is quite far behind in many tech aspects and still prefers fax or registered post vs email in many cases.
I had no dramas whilst on holidays in Australia to add a local e-sim to the fold as I knew the telcos there well and switched access where appropriate, for my needs. There were further issues with my German carrier going for their new, less supported 5G towers and at that time I switched to an entirely different company to see why I couldn't even make a phone call anymore in particular areas. It was however useful to compare Apples with Apples running 2 lines concurrently to gauge their signal strength, 5G and defaulting to LTE. Not much of a story, I know.
I'm currently occupying the sim slot for a PAYG carrier (trustworthy but not dependable, for emergencies, just in case), as well as my primary line with the esim. If you're trying several carriers for the best match it's much easier having a SIM card sent out. Obviously it all depends on the carrier in a given country and how efficiently their service operates to swap from sim to esim, or ph to ph.
I had no dramas whilst on holidays in Australia to add a local e-sim to the fold as I knew the telcos there well and switched access where appropriate, for my needs. There were further issues with my German carrier going for their new, less supported 5G towers and at that time I switched to an entirely different company to see why I couldn't even make a phone call anymore in particular areas. It was however useful to compare Apples with Apples running 2 lines concurrently to gauge their signal strength, 5G and defaulting to LTE. Not much of a story, I know.
I'm currently occupying the sim slot for a PAYG carrier (trustworthy but not dependable, for emergencies, just in case), as well as my primary line with the esim. If you're trying several carriers for the best match it's much easier having a SIM card sent out. Obviously it all depends on the carrier in a given country and how efficiently their service operates to swap from sim to esim, or ph to ph.
If that’s true, I won’t buy any new iPhone anymore.
I need an e-sim AND a sim slot, so that I can use my SIM card of my router if I need more data - And also local sim are often cheaper than e-sim abroad
I need an e-sim AND a sim slot, so that I can use my SIM card of my router if I need more data - And also local sim are often cheaper than e-sim abroad
I have a 13mini and have used physical sim with esim. Sometimes two esims with no physical sims. The only "real"nuissance is when I would like to quickly move my service to a different cell phone for one reason or another. Swapping a sim takes two minutes but transferring an eSim is annoying. For travel I certainly prefer eSim. Have it all set up before in country than having to deal with stores etc.
But one aspect I'm surprised I haven't seen here. Apple WILL push mobile carriers/countries and bend them to their will. China being the logical exception (government doesn't allow it) . Germany etc are good examples. If you want to sell the newest iPhone you have to support eSim. It will be a selling point. As many others mentioned. In the USA it was first only the main carriers, pay as you go and other MVNOs were excluded. Now most if not all providers offer esims. The technology has matured. Again its nice to physically swap and instantly have service but when I switched/added esims in the past it could take hours. Now its minutes... The reason carriers want physical cards is to have an extra barrier for you to have to go to a store etc and not being able to switch whenever you want (depending on your contract status).
Carriers and service techs are being trained in eSims. Certainly it will be on the Air. That might be the trojan horse for all. Just Air, all carriers put infrastructure in place by next year it will be eSim only for all. I do find it ridiculous that we don't just fill that (minute) space with battery. You look at ultra sim Androids they sometimes still have dual physical sims. So not quite sure why Apple wants eSim only but what Apple wants Apple gets.
The only immovable force for Apple is governments or government like (China/EU). Both through legislation can force Apple to provide something. Otherwise Apple forces all others. Play by our rules or suffer.
Philly
But one aspect I'm surprised I haven't seen here. Apple WILL push mobile carriers/countries and bend them to their will. China being the logical exception (government doesn't allow it) . Germany etc are good examples. If you want to sell the newest iPhone you have to support eSim. It will be a selling point. As many others mentioned. In the USA it was first only the main carriers, pay as you go and other MVNOs were excluded. Now most if not all providers offer esims. The technology has matured. Again its nice to physically swap and instantly have service but when I switched/added esims in the past it could take hours. Now its minutes... The reason carriers want physical cards is to have an extra barrier for you to have to go to a store etc and not being able to switch whenever you want (depending on your contract status).
Carriers and service techs are being trained in eSims. Certainly it will be on the Air. That might be the trojan horse for all. Just Air, all carriers put infrastructure in place by next year it will be eSim only for all. I do find it ridiculous that we don't just fill that (minute) space with battery. You look at ultra sim Androids they sometimes still have dual physical sims. So not quite sure why Apple wants eSim only but what Apple wants Apple gets.
The only immovable force for Apple is governments or government like (China/EU). Both through legislation can force Apple to provide something. Otherwise Apple forces all others. Play by our rules or suffer.
Philly
Some carriers have removed e-sim transfer between handsets despite initially supporting it. Security issues has been speculated to be the reason.
Is this a consequence of banks becoming liable to repay scam victims? In turn they can sue phone carriers for anything that leads to two factor being compromised.
I’m glad to see technology progressing. No more SIM slots, no more 3.5 mm headphone jacks, and no more 3.5” floppy disc slots! 😂
From a manufacturing perspective it makes sense - fewer parts, less assembly work. It also removes a source of dirt and water intrusion.
I suspect eSim is the future for most countries.
You know, I never considered this explanation. At the time, with two identical iPh's on Apple's WiFi this thought never come up. Staff seemed surprised, AC ph support also, as their documentation showed it should work.
Actually, I had another instance with AC Tier2 and 3 that call recording should work in my country. I dug deeper and saw a EU exclusion for that option, Apple support didn't. Effectively Apple support staff need much more training on which countries place limitations on the functionality, be it esim or other features.
but having a physical SIM slot doesn't preclude one from using eSIMs. I still like the flexibility of having an option to use physical SIMs with a physical SIM slot.
Yet another awful removal of choice and control from the user, to the globalmegacorps. Yuck.
It's one thing to easily buy an eSim, that has been part of the travel business for a long time.
It's another if your local sim is eSim and requires you to visit a store to change from one phone to another.
That is the problem, especially if you are travelling for months on end and then get stuck having to buy a new phone. Your original local sim is "lost" until you get back to your home country.
Not many providers support the seamless eSim transfer. That is the problem at the moment.
It's another if your local sim is eSim and requires you to visit a store to change from one phone to another.
That is the problem, especially if you are travelling for months on end and then get stuck having to buy a new phone. Your original local sim is "lost" until you get back to your home country.
Not many providers support the seamless eSim transfer. That is the problem at the moment.
I prefer to keep the physical sim, thanks.
Here in aus, only the main telcos support e-sim; with nearly all MVNO's using physical sims.
I can.
esim offers a lot of advantages but currently, having a physical sim slot provides options. In the future where all telco's everywhere support esim seamlessly i can see this working but until then i'll prefer the flexibility.
Here in aus, only the main telcos support e-sim; with nearly all MVNO's using physical sims.
I can.
esim offers a lot of advantages but currently, having a physical sim slot provides options. In the future where all telco's everywhere support esim seamlessly i can see this working but until then i'll prefer the flexibility.