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

[akidokraja]

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

BL.

You can if they are selling. Majority of world prepaid carriers have never heard of eSIM.

 

[kalafalas]

I wonder if this will mean international models have a smaller battery

 

[ian87w]

Right now, more than 70 countries have mobile operators with eSIM support – up from around 50 in 2020. And more than 100 mobile operators in those 70 countries allow their customers to use eSIM.

That's not encouraging at all considering how many countries are there in the world, and the fact that most of those carriers claiming eSIM support are only supporting it on their postpaid customers.

 

[mthomas184]

Android phones will be following shortly, mark my words.

Some will, but not all.

I mean Sony still has the headphone jack on their flagship. So not all Android manufacturers will drop the SIM

 

[tfresquezdxs]

Just checked, all Canadian models still have SIM tray. Dodged a bullet. It could also provide an alternative buying option for those in the U.S.

yeah but you can't buy those for us in the USA, unless you find someone selling them. So find a friend that will ship it to you or take a road trip.

 

[ian87w]

You can if they are selling. Majority of world prepaid carriers have never heard of eSIM.

Well, they have. They're just too lazy to move away from selling physical SIM cards. Hopefully Apple's decision is a rude wake up call for them.

 

[menist]

Most MVNO carriers don't have esim support. This is a big win for big carriers who can now charge for esim swaps.

 

[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.

I checked Claro Brazil's website and they use E-Chip (ESIM). Hopefully they can activate it while international.

 

[kerr]

2 eSIMs, or more?

 

[Billistan]

This!

Can anyone confirm that they charge activation fees for each swap?

Tmobile is free but I can’t vouch for the other carriers.

 

[ian87w]

Android phones will be following shortly, mark my words.

Android actually started it with the first foldable Moto RAZR being eSIM only. So I guess blame them...

 

[alexandr]

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.

Lucky for T-Mobile customers — the offer free overseas roaming in many countries. But yea

 

[ian87w]

2 eSIMs, or more?

iPhone can hold like 20 eSIM profiles (CMIIW).

 

[RevTEG]

I'm curious which country?

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.

 

[Billistan]

2 eSIMs, or more?

I’m not positive but I think only 2 esims can be active at any time (right now you can have a physical sim and an esim active together) but a ton can be held in reserve or whatever you call it.

 

[D_D]

Sure, but customers and phone companies will be at Apple‘s mercy: if Apple has a commercial dispute with the local carriers you want to use or for whatever reason they don’t support eSIMs you’ll be out of luck.

Pretty clear what the next step is IMO: Apple will eventually setup some sort of store for mobile plans which will automatically populate an eSIM when purchase a plan, but it will only support mobile networks who agree to share 15 or 30% of their revenue with Apple for the pleasure of being listed on that store. And eventually it might become the only way to add a plan giving Apple a massive revenue stream for doing very little.

They are already doing this. Ever heard of Airalo?

 

[jimmysalg]

Is there still possibility for dual eSIM?

Yes, you can do dual eSIM now on the iPhone 13. so it will still be available

 

[ugh]

I've not paid activation fees for many many years by swapping my SIM to every new phone. I guess that's over now.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

A phone without a SIM tray is complete trash. There is no easier way of switching the number than switching the SIM card.

There is no danger that someone else could steal your phone and use it with his own SIM unless he has exactly the same face as you.

 

[jmc111]

Just checked, all Canadian models still have SIM tray. Dodged a bullet. It could also provide an alternative buying option for those in the U.S.

Could be the last model with it so get it while you can.

 

[kalafalas]

2 eSIMs, or more?

At least on the 13 series you can have 3+ sims activated but only 2 connected at once due to modem limitation

 

[bradl]

I checked Claro Brazil's website and they use E-Chip (ESIM). Hopefully they can activate it while international.

That's rather missing the point though. Activating the user's eSIM while they are international allows them access to their domestic number, but you're paying immensely for international roaming. Having the use of eSIM and multiple SIMS allows the user to buy an eSIM card for the country they are in and getting a local number there, thereby avoiding the international roaming issues and costs someone would have.

A friend of mine and her husband just spend 9 weeks going through the US on business from Australia, and instead of paying the international roaming, they bought sims here, used local numbers here, then shut them down when they went home, and went back to their number down there. Tons cheaper than keeping their Australian line going while overseas.

BL.

 

[SactoGuy18]

So now you will be issued 8 to 12 eSIM's The iPhone has the capability to store multiple eSIM profiles.

This is such a non-issue.

I'd like to know how can Apple store 8-12 eSIM profiles. And you wonder how many carriers in Europe support eSIM.

 

[boss.king]

Lol, what are Americans going to do when traveling overseas? Just get gouged on phone usage? This is a terrible move.

And prepaid sims? I don’t think those are available as esims from most US carriers.

 

[ian87w]

I'm curious which country?

Most SE Asian countries carriers don't support eSIM. Even Singapore, pretty much a developed country, 2 of their top carriers out of 3 there don't support eSIM.