eSims have only been around since the iPhoneX, so its pretty short notice I agree
iPhone XS and XR were the first to support eSIM.
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Apple Reportedly Plans to Remove iPhone's SIM Card Tray in More Countries Next Year
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iPhone XS and XR were the first to support eSIM.
China has not approved the use of eSIMs in smartphones???
Apple is planning to remove the physical SIM card tray on iPhones in more countries next year, The Information said today, in a report focused on the ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air." However, the report did not mention any specific countries.
In the U.S., all iPhone 14 through iPhone 16 models do not have a SIM card tray, and instead rely entirely on digital eSIM technology. Apple has yet to release any iPhones without a SIM card tray outside of the U.S., but it sounds like the change will finally expand internationally starting with the iPhone 17 lineup next September.
Indeed, the report said that all current "iPhone 17 Air" prototypes lack a SIM card tray. The report said it is unclear if the device will be sold in China as a result, since the country has not approved the use of eSIMs in smartphones. Of course, that could change.
When the iPhone 14 series launched in 2022, Apple promoted eSIMs as being more secure than a physical SIM, as they cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. In addition, at least eight eSIMs can be managed on an iPhone at once, eliminating the need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards while traveling.
Apple has a support document with a list of carriers around that world that support eSIMs.
Article Link: Apple Reportedly Plans to Remove iPhone's SIM Card Tray in More Countries Next Year
(This case is used to add 5G to 4G smartphones, which uses eSIM)
I switched my main number to an eSIM years ago.
But for on-call, I put in a physical SIM into my iPhone XR.
This cannot be changed.
I hope they retain the physical slot here, as I look to replace my XR when IOS updates have run out (early 2026 or so).
But for on-call, I put in a physical SIM into my iPhone XR.
This cannot be changed.
I hope they retain the physical slot here, as I look to replace my XR when IOS updates have run out (early 2026 or so).
Verizon, when I got my 15PM, it was supposed to be switched over and ready to go when I got it from Apple, however, it was not. I tried calling Apple to no avail and eventually had to call Verizon, was charged a fee to switch service to the new esim.
I am sort of tired of recent trends of “removing every slot and button”. Every major manufacturer does it. I have a whole bunch collection of physical SIM cards, I often use them for signing up to shady services like Facebook and I also regularly switch between my two main SIM cards.
First they have removed removable batteries “for slick design”, then they have ditched SD card slot, and now they will be removing physical SIMs. It is indeed a change for the sake of change, literally zero reason to do and iPhone will still have poor water resistance ratings instead of true, real water protection like a GoPro (which funnily enough has both battery and storage removable!)
First they have removed removable batteries “for slick design”, then they have ditched SD card slot, and now they will be removing physical SIMs. It is indeed a change for the sake of change, literally zero reason to do and iPhone will still have poor water resistance ratings instead of true, real water protection like a GoPro (which funnily enough has both battery and storage removable!)
I never had to had pay to move eSIM, I upgraded my phone twice and moved carries never been charged.
My concern too. I'm with Lebara, great value for money for my use, and it still doesn't support eSIM in the UK (although curiously lebara.ch does have eSIM so I suppose it does in Switzerland). The last time I looked the only reasonably priced UK MVNO to offer an eSIM option was Lyca Mobile but that has quite poor Trustpilot reviews.
I'm quite surprised, given that Apple spooked the market (or at least spooked me) over 2 years ago now when it removed the physical SIM tray from US iPhones, that more UK MVNOs haven't responded by now. I really did think that once the physical tray was removed in the USA it would happen in other countries including the UK the following year. I'm quite surprised that we do still have a physical SIM tray in the UK 2024 iPhones.
Perhaps if this rumour gains traction and gets support from other people over the next 6 months or so then maybe most or all of the more prominent UK MVNOs will take eSIM more seriously and have their offerings in place in time for the 2025 iPhone launch. I certainly hope so because I'd rather not have to switch, especially if Lyca Mobile is the only option, just to be able to carry on being able to use the latest iPhones.
Out of interest, and thinking ahead, does anyone here from the UK use Lyca Mobile? I'm wondering if the 3.2 Trustpilot rating is justified.
It's not a pain at all. eSIMs make life even easier when traveling abroad.
I have only used eSIM twice. Both for travelling. For travelling eSIM is defo lot easier and before I had to use wifi only and never able get physical sim where I am going cos it was too complicated for me. eSIM solve this for me.
For normal day to day life I have no idea if eSIM easier or harder or same as physical sim and never have to transfer it to another iPhone. That part I am unclear what experience eSIM is like.
Edit: I am from UK.
For normal day to day life I have no idea if eSIM easier or harder or same as physical sim and never have to transfer it to another iPhone. That part I am unclear what experience eSIM is like.
Edit: I am from UK.
finally 🙏🏼 get that useless legacy tech out of my device. it's 2024, hello. everyone who wants to use their 15 super secret SIM cards, just buy a SIM card dongle and let the rest of us step into the future. or just buy a damn dumb phone.
i kinda expect this to happen here in australia; since all our tier 1 carriers have esim; as do many tier 2 resellers.
Many budget mvno's don't have it though so they're going to get the shaft; but for that same reason i imagine the Tier 1 telco's will be lobbying apple to bring in the e-sim only model into aus.
Many budget mvno's don't have it though so they're going to get the shaft; but for that same reason i imagine the Tier 1 telco's will be lobbying apple to bring in the e-sim only model into aus.
That is good to know, I had to pay or no service. Had the sim card still been a thing, I could have just moved it and no worries. Even if they are not actively charging everyone now, it could start in the future once everyone has lost the ability to do it themselves.
Wrong. You’re looking at low-end prepaid garbage that’s only selling data in an eSIM format (which is no different than buying a data-only physical SIM). All Japanese carriers support eSIMs for voice, anyone roaming on their eSIM gets voice, and if you buy regular phone service (showing ID, etc.) in Japan you also get the choice of eSIM
Keep the SIM tray!
A while ago my iphone broke down and I was glad that I just could put the SIM card in an old spare "no-so-smart" phone otherwise I didn't have any means of communication. That is simply not possible with eSIM. With no working e-SIM you cannot call the support line of the telecom provider and also no access to the internet. In that situation you can only go to a store if the service provider has one in the country you're travelling in - in my case there were none.
So far I haven't seen any provider give some sort of spare eSIM option that you can activate in a another phone when your own phone breaks.
A while ago my iphone broke down and I was glad that I just could put the SIM card in an old spare "no-so-smart" phone otherwise I didn't have any means of communication. That is simply not possible with eSIM. With no working e-SIM you cannot call the support line of the telecom provider and also no access to the internet. In that situation you can only go to a store if the service provider has one in the country you're travelling in - in my case there were none.
So far I haven't seen any provider give some sort of spare eSIM option that you can activate in a another phone when your own phone breaks.
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An interesting point to note is that Samsung has not seen fit to remove the SIM tray from its phones. I have a Z Fold 6 as my second phone and it has a SIM tray. Advanced shots of the S25 Ultra show a SIM tray. Why do Apple feel the need to remove it? Removing something that is still useful seems very counterproductive. I really do not comprehend Apple’s thinking here. As is demonstrated in this thread there are still people who would like the convenience of having a SIM tray and Apple have to provide it in certain geographical locations, so why go to the bother of removing it? Apple seem to be bent on becoming the supplier of inconvenient technology, completely the reverse of their old mantra.
The last years when I visited Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines plans on eSIM tended to give a lot less value than getting a physical SIM card from a local shop. At least in my experience.
100%, if the phone is damaged it makes it that much harder, or if you swap providers.
It's not easy getting replacement sims or e-sims in Australia, due to identity theft.
A year ago I went to the Cook Islands, which are served by Vodafone CI. When I got to the airport in Rarotonga, I went to the Vodafone kiosk and tried to buy a local e-SIM for my iPhone 14 Pro Max. It didn't work. The Vodafone reps couldn't figure out why it refused to activate, no matter what they tried.
Luckily I'm smaaaaaarter than the average bear and also brought my 2020 iPhone SE, which still has a SIM tray. Popped in a physical SIM and voilà, it worked just fine. If I had only brought the iPhone 14 Pro Max I would have been without Internet access for 2+ weeks.
As my Dad always said: "Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it." Really dumb move by Apple.
Luckily I'm smaaaaaarter than the average bear and also brought my 2020 iPhone SE, which still has a SIM tray. Popped in a physical SIM and voilà, it worked just fine. If I had only brought the iPhone 14 Pro Max I would have been without Internet access for 2+ weeks.
As my Dad always said: "Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it." Really dumb move by Apple.
The people claiming eSIM is “good for travelling” are paying 10x more for data than local rates. It really isn’t difficult to pick up a sim card at the airport. The price of data eSIMs is eye watering.
Not to mention that in my country, to move an eSIM to a new phone, you need to visit a physical store during business hours and present ID. This is so incredibly inconvenient. I also have a sim from another country I lived in, I need to keep that number but it doesn’t support eSIM. Will probably consider Android if Apple removes the SIM card in my country.
Sounds bad. At least my Dutch provider allows me to move and install eSIMs through their app at no cost. The process here is pretty seamless. But I know that’s not the case everywhere. Many people here don’t seem to realize that.
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Moved to eSIM and haven’t looked back since
not all of our carriers supply them but it’s mostly NVMOs that haven’t gotten on the ball yet
not all of our carriers supply them but it’s mostly NVMOs that haven’t gotten on the ball yet
Until there's no internet connection available, then the app is useless. Same happens when your data bundle is done and you're trying to get another using the app, impossible. Had this experience multiple times abroad - very annoying.
The best thing is to keep the regular SIM next to eSIM's.
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eSIM is nice in theory, but often not so great in practice. A friend's iPhone recently broke (no longer operational), which means the iCloud-based transfer to another device is no longer possible. He had to call the carrier (AT&T) on another phone and their support couldn't get it transferred either and had to escalate to some higher-level technician. Took two days to sort out. And not being able to simply pop in a local SIM when traveling internationally is also a bummer.
Does anyone know if Canadian iPhones still come with SIM slots? I'm currently still happy with my 13 Minis, but eventually I'll have to buy a new phone ...
Does anyone know if Canadian iPhones still come with SIM slots? I'm currently still happy with my 13 Minis, but eventually I'll have to buy a new phone ...