Apple Removes SIM Card Tray on All iPhone 14 Models in U.S.

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that all iPhone 14 models sold in the U.S. do not have a built-in SIM card tray and instead rely entirely on eSIM technology.

Tech specs on Apple's website confirm the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are not compatible with physical SIM cards and instead have dual eSIM support, allowing for multiple cellular plans to be activated on a single device.

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, which explains why iPhone 14 models will remain available with a SIM card tray outside of the U.S. for now.

Apple's website has a list of carriers that support eSIM technology around the world. In the U.S., this includes AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Boost Mobile, H2O Wireless, Straight Talk, C Spire, and some others.

The new iPhone 14 lineup consists of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with all four devices available to pre-order this Friday, September 9 ahead of a September 16 launch. For more details about the devices, be sure to check out our announcement coverage.

Article Link: Apple Removes SIM Card Tray on All iPhone 14 Models in U.S.

 

[antiprotest]

"Courage!"

 

[_Spinn_]

I’m not sure I like this.

 

[RFolk]

Well no surprise there, soon they will remove all ports !

 

[archi penko]

Absolutely ridiculous. What if an American wants to travel to Indonesia and get a local sim?!

What if an Apple exec has to travel and gets a 1 week local travel sim for data

How is this practical, when you have to travel, and the world has not converted yet?! Smh

 

[beerseagulls]

how will people who need to use prepaid SIM like Tracfone use iPhone 14? Or people who use Google Fi?

 

[JPack]

Sucks to be in the U.S. RIP privacy. Can no longer use pre-paid SIMs.

I'll continue buying the dual SIM tray version in Hong Kong.

 

[imlynxy]

Absolutely ridiculous. What if an American wants to travel to Indonesia and get a local sim?!

What if an Apple exec has to travel and gets a local travel sim data

How is this practical, when the world has not converted yet?!?!

Some thing, do not buy new iPhone.

 

[beermode]

So traveling now sucks.

 

[Coleman2010]

I'm not happy to hear this. On my Pro Max 13 I use the ESIM for my TMO SIM and the SIM tray for a Brazilian SIM card.

I don't know if they will move my Brazilian account to an ESIM over the phone or they will only do it in store in Brazil.

 

[jayducharme]

I like the idea that someone who steals your iPhone can't pop a new SIM card into it. But it's odd that Apple didn't get more countries on board first, having to make a different iPhone for them. It'll be interesting to see an iFixiIt teardown to see if there's a SIM tray hidden inside the US version, with just the case different.

 

[v0lume4]

Back to the dark ages. I remember when Verizon finally adopted SIM cards and I was ecstatic. Calling to activate was the biggest pain in the rear. And it didn’t even work some of the time.

DOA for me.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I guess there will be no taking back one to Jamaica.

 

[RedTheReader]

This has to take the cake as the biggest "bruh moment" of the day. They could've added their eSIM menus while still keeping the physical sim…

 

[archi penko]

Is there still possibility for dual eSIM?

 

[menist]

Carrier took back control, now they can charge for each esim swap you make 👎.

 

[yg17]

Absolutely ridiculous. What if an American wants to travel to Indonesia and get a local sim?!

What if an Apple exec has to travel and gets a 1 week local travel sim for data

How is this practical, when you have to travel, and the world has not converted yet?! Smh

Too damn bad.

This is a gift to the cell phone carriers. Now you have to pay them outrageous rates for roaming instead of getting a cheap local SIM. Now, how long until they start charging to swap eSIMs to a new device since you now have no other option?

I guess this move took courage.

 

[bradl]

Too damn bad.

This is a gift to the cell phone carriers. Now you have to pay them outrageous rates for roaming instead of getting a cheap local SIM. Now, how long until they start charging to swap eSIMs to a new device since you now have no other option?

I guess this move took courage.

Who said you couldn't buy a local eSIM in the country you're visiting?

BL.

 

[jmc111]

Is this ONLY in the US? What about Canada getting the SIM card version?

 

[Sneakz]

I guess that’s the trade off for the mmWave that Americans get.

 

[yg17]

Who said you couldn't buy a local eSIM in the country you're visiting?

BL.

Not every country has eSIM, especially for prepaid plans that travelers are going to use.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Oh god no it's Headphone Jack 2: Electric Boogaloo

And the fact this is just for US, what the hell Apple?!

Yeah I'll stick with my iPhone 13 Pro thank you.

 

[imlynxy]

I was about to order iPhone 14 pro max, new Watch and Airpods Pro. Now without a physical slot I do not order any of them. I travel a lot.
May be you have different opinion, but for me Apple is over. i switch to Galaxy S23 , hope they in Samsung have brain not to follow Apple.

 

[kerr]

Is there still possibility for dual eSIM?

dual eSIM was introduced with the iPhone 13 models

 

[blairh]

How does this work when you want to use a local SIM internationally?