Apple Reportedly Plans to Remove iPhone's SIM Card Tray in More Countries Next Year

[CarAnalogy]

No one is saying it can’t be easy. It’s about control. Some carriers ask for $$ to swap eSIMs to another device. You need to ask for their permission first. This is basically like voluntary DRM.

This is less a problem with eSIM and more a problem with global corporate culture combined with a complete lack of effective regulation.

It doesn't actually have to be any different than a physical SIM in any way. You could just use a QR code in place of the SIM and it's the same thing (assuming the phone has a working camera, which is another interesting aspect.) Doesn't even have to be a QR code.

I too do not like the removal of the SIM slot for all the reasons mentioned, but there's nothing stopping the network operators charging you for another SIM card.

There is a way this could be an improvement and work the same except for having to fiddle with the tray. The fact that it's not is a regulatory failure.

 

[MakaniKai]

This will be a pain in the backside in the UK, where a lot of the virtual networks or pay as you go contracts do not offer e-sims

As with most “too soon” decisions Apple has made, the market will be forced to adopt. Remember when removing the headphone jack was a pain because wireless headphones weren’t really obtainable? And now they’re everywhere. You’ll be more hard pressed to find wired headphones now. It’ll be the same with eSIM. Do you really think those carriers will just not support new iPhones? It’d bankrupt them. They’re gonna be forced into eSIM. Physical SIM cards will be very rare in the future.

 

[Christopher Pelham]

eSIMs are not perfect; some, especially travel SIMs, do not allow the transfer to another phone.

Here is what happened to me less than a month ago
1) I have my Iphone
2) Planned a Trip to Japan
3) Got a Travel eSIM
4) Got a new Iphone at the Apple Store in Japan
5) Traded up mine
6) Transfer initiated from old to new Phone
7) eSIM not showing up in the New Phone


Result: "eSIM was not migrated and the eSIM could be activated only once" thankfully was leaving the day after so did not waste it entirely, still quite annoying.

I could not find an e-sim in Japan that includes a voice/calling plan. They seem to be data only. So, going e-sim only could be problematic in Japan unless the carriers and government agree to allow voice with e-sim plans.

 

[B4U]

True, but the phone can be wiped remotely, and it's going to be locked so accessing my data wouldn't be that much of a concern plus I have Apple theft protection so it would be far cheaper to replace. A physical SIM is much more of a problem if it's not pin protected, which I'd bet probably extremely few make use of that feature. With some companies still providing 2FA over SMS as the only option for now, a physical stolen SIM that can be inserted into any phone is a serious problem.

I can call my carrier and request a new SIM which should block the old one, but it's still a risk until that is blocked.

Again, the SIM would still be the last of your worries and does not justify removing the SIM tray.
Can't have it both ways, mate. You would still need another way to remotely wipe your device assuming you have regularly back up of the device.

 

[B4U]

As with most “too soon” decisions Apple has made, the market will be forced to adopt. Remember when removing the headphone jack was a pain because wireless headphones weren’t really obtainable? And now they’re everywhere. You’ll be more hard pressed to find wired headphones now. It’ll be the same with eSIM. Do you really think those carriers will just not support new iPhones? It’d bankrupt them. They’re gonna be forced into eSIM. Physical SIM cards will be very rare in the future.

Please, an honest question, where do we have a pair of wireless headphone that are without the latency comparing to a wired one.

 

[Dark_Omen]

Well, this means this iPhone 15 I have will be the last iPhone I have. (Live in Canada and I know Canada will be one of the next countries they'll pull this step to lock you in with Apple.) Given I switch back and forth between Android and iPhone. Google Pixel will be my next phone.

Your 15 is already e-sim only...

 

[Xade]

Why are some people so eager to have functionality removed from their phones? Who actually notices a sim tray? Don't want to use a physical sim? Fine, use esim. I would prefer to have the option at all times.

 

[Xade]

Just ask whoever manages your work’s phones to convert you to an eSIM. Anyone with account access should be able to do it with a quick call and your IMEI number I believe.

Too hard for where I work, apparently.

 

[Xade]

What carrier are you with? If you're moving an eSIM between Apple devices, most of the major US carriers support the "eSIM quick transfer" feature which does not require any contact with the carrier.

In any case, this is easily solved by just making a rule that carriers must make moving eSIMs between devices quick and free. The UK frequently makes rules to keep phone carriers in line, such as mandates on number portability and the ban on carrier-locked phones. Any carrier charging a fee to swap an eSIM to a new device would not go down well at all there!

There are other countries apart from USA and UK. If I change phones I have to pay to transfer my esim as it's classed as a 'replacement' sim.

 

[Porco]

You will have the same amount of choices with eSIM. It’s an open standard.

This is like getting angry that a store only accepts mobile payments instead of physical cards

By definition, eSIM-only provides fewer choices than having the choice between eSIM and physical SIM. There are many examples why in this thread and elsewhere. I’m not against eSIMs for all who prefer them, and I recognise they have some advantages over physical SIMs, but they have disadvantages too, which is why having both options is better.

I would say the same for your comparison, always better to have the choice of mobile/card/cash. Though not worth getting angry over (I’d agree that would be silly) more like … mild irritation I guess.

Fundamentally, forcing the issue on things like this benefits only Apple (and maybe the carriers in his case). If eSIMs are so great they’ll naturally win out. But scrapping the physical SIM first is a cart-before-horse situation IMHO.

(BTW, polite disagreement aside, welcome to MacRumors @Emily4 )

 

[Nermal]

Your 15 is already e-sim only...

This is clearly not the case. @Apple$ would have had to go out of their way to get an eSIM-only iPhone in Canada.

 

[B4U]

Your 15 is already e-sim only...

Canada still has the SIM tray.

 

[d5aqoëp]

Esim was not convenient when it was launched and still continues to be a major inconvenience even today. In India, if you transfer an Esim, SMS remain barred for 24 hrs so you cannot do any banking transactions after getting a new phone. The latest M4 iPads with cumpolsary Esim have added more pain to the agony.

 

[ennisw]

As it mentioned in the article, China has not approve eSIM use for phones. But there're some interesting stuff about iPad and Apple Watch eSIM in China to share:

First of all, only device sold in China can load Chinese carriers eSIM. Tourists or business guys with their foreign model cannot get cheap local plans. And, carrier asks your iPad's EID and IMEI before they send eSIM data to the device.

 

[ThomasJL]

Absolutely ridiculous.

Hopefully the EU will at least outlaw eSIM-only phones so I'll have some way to get an iPhone worth owning, even if I have to go farther than Canada to get it.

I totally agree. I'm guessing that people who disagree are the same people who uncritically support any descision Tim Cook makes, even descisions that lessen user-friendliness. To them, Apple is sacred and thus Cook is like a religious figure who can do no wrong.

Cook's plan to remove the SIM card tray in more countries is just more of his insatiable corporate greed. He wants to remove the SIM card tray to save money on manufacturing costs in order to further increase profits. Cook cares far more about maximizing profits for shareholders than he does about customers.

 

[quietstormSD]

Welcome to America! Haha I hate that they did this here in the states and they are still 3 generations of having eSIM only in the US. What they predicted didn’t come to fruitio.

 

[Denzo]

Can we please note. I use my pesonal and work sim interchangably.. and dont want to have to call up and wait to arrange things, that currently take me 5 secs. IN Australia (Optus) you have to present to the store to move the eSim which is wild because I move it back and forth

 

[MakaniKai]

Please, an honest question, where do we have a pair of wireless headphone that are without the latency comparing to a wired one.

The vast majority of people cannot notice any latency with affordable wireless headphones. I certainly can’t. Most people are not audiophiles and could not care less as long as the music they choose starts playing within the same second or even two that they press the play button.

So to answer your question, at least to me, they’re the same? Like I seriously have had no issues with any wireless headphones or earbuds I’ve used in the last few years.

 

[B4U]

The vast majority of people cannot notice any latency with affordable wireless headphones. I certainly can’t. Most people are not audiophiles and could not care less as long as the music they choose starts playing within the same second or even two that they press the play button.

So to answer your question, at least to me, they’re the same? Like I seriously have had no issues with any wireless headphones or earbuds I’ve used in the last few years.

The latency I am talking about is the audio delayed vs when the video is being displayed on the screen.
Even with the AirPod Pro, I am still seeing the delay and rendering them unusable.
I have well over 30 different Bluetooth headphones of different brand and kind but yet to find one that does not exhibit the issue.
If you cannot perceive the delay, then good news for you. But it is still an inferior experience to those of us who can.

 

[brgjoe]

Again...what happens if your phone gets damaged and is unable to function? How would you switch eSIM's then?

You should have a choice to have a physical SIM or an eSIM only phone. Hate that Apple is making that choice for us.

 

[MakaniKai]

Again...what happens if your phone gets damaged and is unable to function? How would you switch eSIM's then?

You should have a choice to have a physical SIM or an eSIM only phone. Hate that Apple is making that choice for us.

a lot of carriers have an app where you can instantly download the eSIM for your account. So you grab your new phone, go to McDonald’s for free WiFi (or wherever), download the carrier app, login, and download your eSIM. Back in business.

Also, adding choices makes manufacturing much more complex and makes it harder for Apple to estimate demand for specific components. Prices would go up if only because they can’t get as nice of a bulk discount if they need to manufacture two frames (one with a SIM hole and one without) instead of one, for instance. You may argue that they should just always put the SIM tray, then. I would argue they should take it away because eSIM works just fine and I prefer the extra water resistance and extra battery or whatever else they can fit in the void. Ultimately it’s gonna come down to the decision that will make Apple more money in their eyes.

 

[svish]

e-SIM is very much possible for the new Air/slim version of iPhone considering the lack of internal space. And due to this expecting all models across the world to lack a physical SIM.

The switch to e-SIM only might start with the Air but it won't be far off before Apple switches all the models to e SIM. Might not be next year but with the iPhone 18 expecting to happen. I always prefer to have a physical SIM card.

 

[Ad47uk]

Modern iPhones don't have a function for saving or exporting contacts to a sim.

That sounds about the norm these days, I have SIM management on my Oppo phone, but I am pretty sure there is no function to store numbers on it. A sim these days is just tpo tell the phone what service you are using.

 

[ds2000]

This will be a pain in the backside in the UK, where a lot of the virtual networks or pay as you go contracts do not offer e-sims

eSims have only been around since the iPhoneX, so its pretty short notice I agree

 

[polyphenol]

This will be a pain in the backside in the UK, where a lot of the virtual networks or pay as you go contracts do not offer e-sims

I am with a small virtual network in the UK and have an eSIM. Indeed, my primary line is an eSIM and the secondary (data only) is a physical SIM supporting multi-network access.

I do wish that customers had more flexibility - such as being able to dynamically move an eSIM from one device to another easily and quickly without involving the network operator. It would be good to be able to throw multi-network access across from my phone to my iPad (and back) as needed.rather than having to have another SIM (whether eSIM or physical).