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

[rui no onna]

Yeah, We know that has been Apple’s plan for years. The problem with what they just did with the US iphones is that they did it too soon for travelers and that only benefits the carriers, who will now see more of their customers paying for roaming when they travel internationally. Or without any service at all if they simply refuse to pay for roaming like some in this forum do.

At $10/day for a paltry amount of data, roaming could easily cost $300 for a month or $1200 for a family of 4.

Compare that to $40 total ($10 pax) with local prepaid SIM with a decent data allocation and unlimited text messages.

Also, roaming kinda sucks if people need to be able to text/call you back. I have family who don’t have always on data on their phones because it’s too expensive (as compared to local wages) so a local number for texting is a must.

 

[Konrad]

I am not sure how to comment the e-sim enthusiasts here. i don’t even want to think about e-sim sourcing regardless where I land. At the end of a 12+hr flight, before leaving the aircraft, I either want to stick a card I have taped to the back of my phone, call a cab, quickly reserve a table at some joint, call my local dealer and be done with it. Or, alternatively hit the first kiosk in Namibia and get one from Mustafa or one of his wives. I’ll borrow a paper clip. No one, no one! wants to deal with this POS idea of e-sims.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Not every physical sim needs to be registered. Maybe your country does not have them but you can purchase pay as you go sim cards from many retail stores, they usually cost a $1 or cheaper and come preloaded with credit. The sim comes with a number that you can ring to top up the card with credit using a debit/credit card, no other personal details are required. I've got a couple of O2 pay as you go sim cards. When I want to top up the sim I ring a numnber and go through an automated process, there is no human interaction. All I do is give the phone number the credit is going to, credit card number, expiry date, security number and that's it. Within a few mins the credit is added to my O2 card.

Pay as you go cards is also something that consumer groups recommend to travellers because roaming costs can be very very expensive and thus if your only going to spend a few days in the foreign country it is much easier to purchase a pay as you go sim card in the country and use that.

eSim is a governments and network providers dream because just think of it, every traveller having to use eSim has to register for an eSim which means the countries government and network provider will know the name, phone number, credit card number, name and address (address is linked to credit card number) of ever single traveller going to and from their country. If people are worried about harvesting of their personal information, eSim is going to be a nightmare for them because eSim will be a data harvesters dream.

Uh, if youre paying with a credit card, they know who you are already. And most countries require ID to buy prepaid SIM cards nowadays, at least in my travels I had to provide passport.

I'm not a complete fan of eSIM given T-Mobile US' troubles earlier this year with their eSIM setup on iPhones. I may stay with my iPhone 12 for a while, including eventually replacing the battery and doing a from-scratch install of the latest version of iOS.

Wow, havent heard of doing a clean wipe and install in years for an iPhone. Haven't need to do that in soooo long, updating iOS has worked well for a while now.


In other news, as has been said for a year this will be a little challenging, after 1-2 years eSim will be worked out (just like cell number portability eventually became easy).

My goodness, 26 pages of bitching about a sim card slot, this place is hilarious! Simple, buy the 13 and wait 1-2 years, I promise all these eSim issues will be gone.

 

[WannaGoMac]

I am not sure how to comment the e-sim enthusiasts here. i don’t even want to think about e-sim sourcing regardless where I land. At the end of a 12+flight, before leavind the aircraft, I either want to stick a card I have taped to the back of my phone, call a cab, quickly reserve a table at se joint, call my local dealer and be done with it. Or, alternatively hit the first kiosk in Namibia and get one from Mustafa or one of his wives. I’ll borrow a paper clip. No one, no one! wants to deal with this POS idea of e-sims.

If you have a physical sim card already, you can have the same thing in your phone as an eSim. You will have the eSim already in your iPhone (like you already had a physical Sim card), or you will go to kiosk at the airport and they will give you a QR code that will provide the local eSim.

For now stick with physical, in 1-2 years eSim will be just as easy (if not easier) that physical sim. That's what I plan to do, having eSim and a physical sim has been great since it brought dual sim capability to the iPhone.

 

[Konrad]

If you have a physical sim card already, you can have the same thing in your phone as an eSim. You will have the eSim already in your iPhone (like you already had a physical Sim card), or you will go to kiosk at the airport and they will give you a QR code that will provide the local eSim.

For now stick with physical, in 1-2 years eSim will be just as easy (if not easier) that physical sim. That's what I plan to do, having eSim and a physical sim has been great since it brought dual sim capability to the iPhone.

I move around the world quite a lot. Often to obscure and remote places. There is nothing better than a physical sim. Now, or 10 years from now. Period.

 

[beerseagulls]

IIRC, there are no mobile carriers in the United Kingdom that allows eSIM on prepaid plans.

Although that was my experience up until 2019. (tried it myself, as well as with the help of a very resourceful concierge at the InterContinental)

Has this changed? If so, which carrier allows eSIM on prepaid in 2022?

Thanks!

 

[Konrad]

..In other news, as has been said for a year this will be a little challenging, after 1-2 years eSim will be worked out (just like cell number portability eventually became easy).

My goodness, 26 pages of bitching about a sim card slot, this place is hilarious! Simple, buy the 13 and wait 1-2 years, I promise all these eSim issues will be gone.

No one cares what happens in 1-2 years and the value of you promising anything equals a zero.

 

[lartola]

At $10/day for a paltry amount of data, roaming could easily cost $300 for a month or $1200 for a family of 4.

Compare that to $40 total ($10 pax) with local prepaid SIM with a decent data allocation and unlimited text messages.

Also, roaming kinda sucks if people need to be able to text/call you back. I have family who don’t have always on data on their phones because it’s too expensive (as compared to local wages) so a local number for texting is a must.

That’s exactly why Apple’s move of removing the physical sim in the US mostly only benefits the carriers. It looks like a deliberate Apple + US carriers agreement to help US carriers make the money that they weren’t making because people preferred to buy a local SIM card when traveling internationally. Welcome back to the 90s and early 2000s.

 

[bbbc]

Pro tip: Hong Kong version has dual physical nano SIM slot instead of eSIM.

I still use a Hong Kong purchased dual SIM XS Max on different North American carriers, but it was puchased before the security law came into effect. I use Western iOS firmware, but don't know if the newer iPhone models allow this or not. In addition, I wonder if the new Chinese Apple variants will have the satellite feature enabled or not.

 

[ian87w]

I move around the world quite a lot. Often to obscure and remote places. There is nothing better than a physical sim. Now, or 10 years from now. Period.

And nobody's forcing you to buy a US iphone 14. Apple still sells SE, 12, and 13 all with SIM slot. Non US iphone 14 also have SIM slot. All Android phones except the first foldable RAZR have SIM slot. Seems like your options are plenty. So why upset now?

 

[Krispykrme]

Don’t exaggerate, there’s still roaming. That still works even if the carrier whose network you’d roam on doesn’t support esims. Of course if you simply refuse to pay for roaming (which btw is actually free in some countries such as Canada or Mexico) then yes, it will become a brick in some of the countries you may travel to.

How is this exaggeration?

I used to work for Apple corporate. I have ran phone bills up to $3000 a month because of roaming.

AT&T charges $2.99 per minute of talk internationally. Data is even more crazier.

The world isn’t made up of US, Canada, and Mexico.

It’s not some of the countries. It’s majority of countries that US iPhone 14 has now become a brick.

Japan isn’t a small country. Taiwan isn’t a small country in electronics side of things.

God forbid if you are on vacation and you have to use your phone for work. Who is going to pay $3000 bill.

 

[Konrad]

And nobody's forcing you to buy a US iphone 14. Apple still sells SE, 12, and 13 all with SIM slot. Non US iphone 14 also have SIM slot. All Android phones except the first foldable RAZR have SIM slot. Seems like your options are plenty. So why upset now?

No one is forcing you to have an opinion, nor to tell anyone what to buy or not to buy, or what to eat.

 

[jk73]

How is this exaggeration?

I used to work for Apple corporate. I have ran phone bills up to $3000 a month because of roaming.

AT&T charges $2.99 per minute of talk internationally. Data is even more crazier.

The world isn’t made up of US, Canada, and Mexico.

It’s not some of the countries. It’s majority of countries that US iPhone 14 has now become a brick.

Japan isn’t a small country. Taiwan isn’t a small country in electronics side of things.

God forbid if you are on vacation and you have to use your phone for work. Who is going to pay $3000 bill.

My $75/month AT&T plan includes all of the Americas and costs $10/day up to a maximum $100 per billing cycle to roam on the other four continents (International Day Pass).

 

[Krispykrme]

My $75/month AT&T plan includes all of the Americas and costs $10/day up to a maximum $100 per billing cycle to roam on the other four continents (International Day Pass).

Why don’t you post all of the data bandwidth limit with that $100 per billing cycle?

You think heavy user like me who is constantly downloading uploading design files for work. Will truly get access to unlimited data from roamin? Guess again.

I usually go thru about 5G of data per day. This is not sustainable for business traveler like me.

Business account doesn’t have a charge cap. Thanks

 

[Konrad]

My $75/month AT&T plan includes all of the Americas and costs $10/day up to a maximum $100 per billing cycle to roam on the other four continents (International Day Pass).

Aha! In a certain country in EU I have a full subscription with free roaming in Europe, unlimited calls and who knows how much data, all for the same TEN US bucks. Except that it’s for a full month. You ain’t going to see the world with AT&T.

 

[smoking monkey]

Is this an eco move or a control move? Or maybe a bit of both.
Perhaps it doesn't really matter with that parasite that eats plastic being developed. If you eat margarine, be careful!!! Haha.

 

[jk73]

Why don’t you post all of the data bandwidth limit with that $100 per billing cycle?

You think heavy user like me who is constantly downloading uploading design files for work. Will truly get access to unlimited data from roamin? Guess again.

I usually go thru about 5G of data per day. This is not sustainable for business traveler like me.

Business account doesn’t have a charge cap. Thanks

The point was, calls aren't $2.99 per minute on AT&T anymore, nor is data "crazy" expensive for typical users.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

At $10/day for a paltry amount of data, roaming could easily cost $300 for a month or $1200 for a family of 4.

Compare that to $40 total ($10 pax) with local prepaid SIM with a decent data allocation and unlimited text messages.

Also, roaming kinda sucks if people need to be able to text/call you back. I have family who don’t have always on data on their phones because it’s too expensive (as compared to local wages) so a local number for texting is a must.

US Mobile actually have decent international data plans. It's available in many countries. So unless you're traveling to a really small or rural country, there's a solution. https://www.usmobile.com/international-roaming-phone-plans

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I do relief work in “developing nations”. My post was actually referring to the Philippines. However, it seems Globe does now offer eSIM support but only with postpaid plans.

Look into US Mobile who have pretty good international data rates. Philippines is covered. https://www.usmobile.com/international-roaming-phone-plans

Airlo also over the Philippines now https://www.airalo.com/philippines-esim.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Why don’t you post all of the data bandwidth limit with that $100 per billing cycle?

You think heavy user like me who is constantly downloading uploading design files for work. Will truly get access to unlimited data from roamin? Guess again.

I usually go thru about 5G of data per day. This is not sustainable for business traveler like me.

Business account doesn’t have a charge cap. Thanks

Sir - it sounds like you shouldn't upgrade to the iPhone 14 US model. It's a pretty significant 1st world problem for you, it seems the best course would be to not upgrade or to buy an international version next time you are overseas. Best of luck to you.

 

[Slickman18]

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.

Is there gonna be an unlocked version, or a way to get a international version of the pro mac version of this iphone 14 with a physical sim tray slot and e sim? And if so are there any sacrifices as a result such as lack of MM Wave 5g tech?

 

[ric22]

Look into US Mobile who have pretty good international data rates. Philippines is covered. https://www.usmobile.com/international-roaming-phone-plans

Airlo also over the Philippines now https://www.airalo.com/philippines-esim.

You've not travelled much, it would appear. These "pretty good" international rates are often 10x as expensive as compared with buying a local SIM.

 

[ric22]

Is there gonna be an unlocked version, or a way to get a international version of the pro mac version of this iphone 14 with a physical sim tray slot and e sim? And if so are there any sacrifices as a result such as lack of MM Wave 5g tech?

Give it a year and Apple might offer the SIM card tray as a $100 upgrade...

 

[NYCValkyrie]

You've not travelled much, it would appear. These "pretty good" international rates are often 10x as expensive as compared with buying a local SIM.

I have a wide collection of SIM cards and passports with extra pages that beg to differ but go on and just keep complaining about the additional $10 you have to spend to use your $1000 iPhone in another country.

Or just don’t upgrade. Or keep the 12 or 13 for when you travel. My goodness.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

IIRC, there are no mobile carriers in the United Kingdom that allows eSIM on prepaid plans.

Although that was my experience up until 2019. (tried it myself, as well as with the help of a very resourceful concierge at the InterContinental)

Has this changed? If so, which carrier allows eSIM on prepaid in 2022?

Thanks!

eSIM.net! It uses O2’s service. I just found out when I was researching & asking some friends today as I doubt Three is going to move to eSIM soon enough so my payg account may have to be retired after all these years. EE & Vodaphone still only offer it for post-paid.

This is a good thread to follow: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/list-of-esim-providers-prepaid-vs-postpaid.2169371/