Apple Hints at iPhone 17 Models Lacking SIM Card Slot in More Countries

[Shirasaki]

I think the possibility of the iPhone 17 and later models getting the ability to support up to 16 eSIM "images" locally stored (and two active) could become reality. Getting rid of the SIM slot means more internal space for the battery and/or more internal electronics.

Apple got rid of SIM slots on US iPhones for a few years now but US iPhone don’t have the perceived larger battery that you thought it would be. Same for more internal electronics. Apple did not remove SIM slots altogether worldwide. They removed SIM slots in stages, and filled in SIM slot spaces with a piece of plastic.

I understand why some people remain adamant about keeping a physical SIM, there are still too many unsupported carriers out there, even in developed economies. But it’s worth remembering that eSIM isn’t some brand-new technology. The first iPhones to support it were the Xs and Xr, released *checks notes* seven years ago!

I still remember how frustrating it was to get a local SIM in the past. On a trip to Europe in 2019, I landed in Germany and purchased an O2 SIM card at a local store and then spent half an hour activating it by downloading the Deutsche Post’s app and doing a video call with my passport at hand to verify my identity. Compare that to today, where you can just download one of the many, many, eSIM apps and get service the moment you land.

For context, I’m from Colombia, a developing economy, and here every major MNO and most MVNOs will hand you a QR code for your eSIM as soon as they verify your identity. With some carriers it’s even easier: one of the big ones uses Apple’s eSIM Quick Transfer, while others rely on their apps. If that’s the standard here, there’s no excuse for carriers in developed markets to still drag their feet.

There's no excuse for MNOs and MVNOs to not offer an eSIM by now, and If anyone can push them to adopt it, it’s Apple. In the US, most -if not all- of them, did it.

Chinese iPhone wants to say hi, with their cutting edge dual physical SIM technology occupying only 1 SIM slot space. And, with 20%-25% global revenue tied to China, Apple will not be able to fully remove SIM slots unless they give up that chunk of their hardware and software/service revenue. I think Apple stock is going to tank hard if Apple loses 25% of their revenue because of a SIM card tray.

Uh yeah, if you're using Petro-Canada (or Speakout or any of these third rate MVNOs in Canada), you're likely not a customer on the cutting edge of technology so a physical SIM in an existing phone will stay as is. But, technology has to move forward. No reason to use up space in a phone for nothing more than a piece of plastic containing a bit of network authentication code. Transition to eSIM has taken longer than it should have. All major Canadian carriers have simplified eSIM transfers, iOS 26 allows iOS <> Android quick transfer and Android 16 does as well. The time has come.

Yes technology has to move forward but as pointed out by EugW, until eSIM transfer can be standardised between iOS and Android and most major carriers work together (or even MVNOs), physical SIM will remain. People switching between iOS and Android will continue to have a hard time. Not to forget China still doesn’t allow eSIM, meaning Apple can’t fully switch until either they quit Chinese market altogether (losing 20%-25% of global revenue), or China allows eSIM into their market, with however many caveats they want to impose.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Apple got rid of SIM slots on US iPhones for a few years now but US iPhone don’t have the perceived larger battery that you thought it would be. Same for more internal electronics. Apple did not remove SIM slots altogether worldwide. They removed SIM slots in stages, and filled in SIM slot spaces with a piece of plastic.

This is because the iPhone 14 to 16 models sold outside the USA still need the SIM slot due to many countries with local cellphone carriers at that time supporting SIM cards only. But now with the majority of the world's cellphone carriers now supporting eSIM, Apple can finally dispense with the SIM slot, freeing up internal space for a bigger battery and/or more circuitry.

 

[darabo]

Apple got rid of SIM slots on US iPhones for a few years now but US iPhone don’t have the perceived larger battery that you thought it would be. Same for more internal electronics. Apple did not remove SIM slots altogether worldwide. They removed SIM slots in stages, and filled in SIM slot spaces with a piece of plastic.

Chinese iPhone wants to say hi, with their cutting edge dual physical SIM technology occupying only 1 SIM slot space. And, with 20%-25% global revenue tied to China, Apple will not be able to fully remove SIM slots unless they give up that chunk of their hardware and software/service revenue. I think Apple stock is going to tank hard if Apple loses 25% of their revenue because of a SIM card tray.

Apple being petty and literally having a piece of plastic instead of a physical sim card tray is funny. There's no reason to be esim only in the US when literally the rest of the world's iPhone models have the sim card tray.

You're right, unless China does a mass adoption of esims and drop physical sim cards (unlikely in the near future at least), the iPhone won't fully get rid of the physical sim card tray. The real question is if Apple when/if/how Apple will drop the physical SIM card capability outside the US.

I'm waiting to book a layover trip in Canada until after next Tuesday to see if the Canadian model will still have a physical sim card tray or not.

It would be cool to be able to use two physical sim cards outside of China. But even I know that's super niche and wouldn't be practical.

 

[Shirasaki]

This is because the iPhone 14 to 16 models sold outside the USA still need the SIM slot due to many countries with local cellphone carriers at that time supporting SIM cards only. But now with the majority of the world's cellphone carriers now supporting eSIM, Apple can finally dispense with the SIM slot, freeing up internal space for a bigger battery and/or more circuitry.

Except China. Every time you guys think about “more battery” or “more space for internal circuit” because of the SIM tray, China will always be that thorn at the side, preventing it from happening worldwide. And there’s no way Apple building a new phone specifically for China and for everyone else, unless that “everyone else” is so big that Apple is willing to afford designing two cases and order at least 2 different size batteries per model. At least AppleCare in China can’t be transferred elsewhere and vice versa so there’s that.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Except China. Every time you guys think about “more battery” or “more space for internal circuit” because of the SIM tray, China will always be that thorn at the side, preventing it from happening worldwide. And there’s no way Apple building a new phone specifically for China and for everyone else, unless that “everyone else” is so big that Apple is willing to afford designing two cases and order at least 2 different size batteries per model. At least AppleCare in China can’t be transferred elsewhere and vice versa so there’s that.

I do think China will go the eSIM route very soon, too. Freeing up space normally used by the SIM slot means more internal space for a bigger battery and/or more electronics. That's why I suggested that worldwide, we could see eSIM only cellphones support up to 16 eSIM images with two active.

 

[MRrainer]

I use an eSIM for my iPhone XR. But I regularly switch the physical SIM of our on-call Android Phone into my iPhone when I am on-call. I simple cannot stand using Android (and especially this strange open-source version they have installed on the on-call phone because it's no longer supported with official updates):

• all the icons look basically the same, as if they come from a C64 game
• it's usability is horrible
• it's in a big case with a screen protector, making it even bulkier

I'd hate to carry that around. It's a Pixel 3 or so, so I doubt it can support eSIMs - and I doubt I can switch those back and forth to my phone willy-nilly.

 

[Shirasaki]

I do think China will go the eSIM route very soon, too. Freeing up space normally used by the SIM slot means more internal space for a bigger battery and/or more electronics. That's why I suggested that worldwide, we could see eSIM only cellphones support up to 16 eSIM images with two active.

We’ll know it when it happens. For various reasons, I doubt China will adopt to eSIM soon, and even if they do, there would be so many caveats that Apple would still release a model for China only. I would not be surprised to see China’s eSIM iPhone not working outside of China. Just my guts.

 

[Neebee]

Really pathetic. The blog is just clickbait and engagement farming. Nowhere it mentions eSIM only. Most carriers around the world have over the top limitations and restrictions around eSIM. Sure, they [often] offer it but not always and reusing them when swapping different phones is a major hurdle. For the most part, eSIM by the telecos are discouraged or carry additional fees when reactivating them as they can only be used once — a carrier limitation.

 

[Neebee]

This is because the iPhone 14 to 16 models sold outside the USA still need the SIM slot due to many countries with local cellphone carriers at that time supporting SIM cards only. But now with the majority of the world's cellphone carriers now supporting eSIM, Apple can finally dispense with the SIM slot, freeing up internal space for a bigger battery and/or more circuitry.

Nope. Not going to happen anytime soon. The USA carriers adapted eSIM only and their carriers aren't as strict as those around the world. They offer eSIM as a matter of convenience but any responsible employee will discourage its use as a primary SIM. Bottom line: Physical SIM isn't going anywhere for a very long time. So please, enough of the delulu.

 

[SactoGuy18]

We’ll know it when it happens. For various reasons, I doubt China will adopt to eSIM soon, and even if they do, there would be so many caveats that Apple would still release a model for China only. I would not be surprised to see China’s eSIM iPhone not working outside of China. Just my guts.

Well, China does a lot of strange things with their cellphones. They implement 3G, 4G LTE and 5G in a way that is often not compatible with the 3GPP standards. And I really doubt Harmony OS will be really useful outside of China, too.

I should mention that here in the USA, there is a burgeoning service that allows you to switch to a different eSIM for usage outside the USA so you get full LTE or 5G speeds internationally. Companies like Airalo and Sailor offer such services for the iPhone and compatible Android phones.

 

[martin2345uk]

I think, personally, that the argument of networks being poor at supporting eSIM is actually more of a reason for Apple to go ahead and do it - nothing is going to force the networks to improve, other than a barrage of complaints from their customers...

 

[phillyman]

Nope. Not going to happen anytime soon. The USA carriers adapted eSIM only and their carriers aren't as strict as those around the world. They offer eSIM as a matter of convenience but any responsible employee will discourage its use as a primary SIM. Bottom line: Physical SIM isn't going anywhere for a very long time. So please, enough of the delulu.

No one said physical sims are going away. But clearly Apple is pushing eSIM as the future. If carriers want to carry the iPhone air , they will have to offer esims as an option (if we are to believe rumors). I would not be surprised if all iPhones go esim only and then carriers have a choice. Also considering ewaste, needed inventory and infrastructure the days of physical sims are numbered.

Also most people (not tech people on these forums) NEVER remove their sims unless they get a new phone At which point a sales person does it for them. Most don’t even realize that their phone “number” is on the chip.

I have multiple family members and work colleagues that were switched to an eSIM by the Apple stores (USA and Europe) , they had no clue.

Carriers will support whatever makes them money. iPhone consumers spend more so they will offer eSIMs. You are delusional if you believe that if Apple goes esim only for more markets the carriers won’t follow.

 

[David1964]

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?

 

[David1964]

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?

Sorry for the late reply.Been busy and haven’t logged on for a while.Yes,I still visit the site from time to time and occasionally post.You are right that it’s become a bit dull.It’s got rather toxic lately too.Some people need banning from the site.