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You drive across the border to Canada to buy.
Keep in mind the Canadian version doesn't have the same bands the US version has. The US version has more bands c/w the Canadian. This may not matter to you if you don't typically use those bands. Particularly it's n258, n260 and n261 (all high band, i.e. not sub6). Source: https://www.apple.com/iphone/cellular/

My prediction re: the esim only outcome - many of the MVNO who currently don't offer e-sim will start to offer it. Take for instance Xfinity Mobile which just started to. It will take time though, but many (particularly in the US) will offer e-sim. Where it is less clear - non-US providers. Given the non-US version of the iPhone has a sim tray, there is no incentive for them to switch (anytime soon).
 
I predict the SIM tray will be back in the iphone 15. Apple is making a big mistake.
- Ditched floppy disks with the iMac G3 in 1998 (Used by every PC/Mac to install and save programs)
- Ditched optical disks with the MacBook Air in 2008 (Same as floppy disks, but towards digital media)
- Ditched FireWire with the Retina MacBook Pro in 2012 (Used by lots of people to transfer video and files until USB 3 came along)
- Ditched USB A with the 2015 MacBook in 2015 (USB C standardisation)

Sure Apple did bring back some ports on the 2021 Pro's but major changes usually stick with Apple products. eSIM's, while might take awhile to be fully adopted, are definitely where phones are headed. Think about it, over the last ~20 years phone companies have been SIM's smaller and smaller (Regular to Mini, Mini to Micro, Micro to Nano). This is the next logical step in that progression.
 
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Keep in mind the Canadian version doesn't have the same bands the US version has. The US version has more bands c/w the Canadian. This may not matter to you if you don't typically use those bands. Particularly it's n258, n260 and n261 (all high band, i.e. not sub6). Source: https://www.apple.com/iphone/cellular/

My prediction re: the esim only outcome - many of the MVNO who currently don't offer e-sim will start to offer it. Take for instance Xfinity Mobile which just started to. It will take time though, but many (particularly in the US) will offer e-sim. Where it is less clear - non-US providers. Given the non-US version of the iPhone has a sim tray, there is no incentive for them to switch (anytime soon).

Yes, those are mmWave bands, which in practical terms, doesn't mean much for users.

Mid-band 5G hits 3.5 Gbits while mmWave is 4.0 Gbits/sec.
 
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- Ditched floppy disks with the iMac G3 in 1998 (Used by every PC/Mac to install and save programs)
- Ditched optical disks with the MacBook Air in 2008 (Same as floppy disks, but towards digital media)
- Ditched FireWire with the Retina MacBook Pro in 2012 (Used by lots of people to transfer video and files until USB 3 came along)
- Ditched USB A with the 2015 MacBook in 2015 (USB C standardisation)

Sure Apple did bring back some ports on the 2021 Pro's but major changes usually stick with Apple products. eSIM's, while might take awhile to be fully adopted are definitely where phones are headed. Think about it, over the last ~20 years phone companies have been SIM's smaller and smaller (Regular to Mini, Mini to Micro). This is the next logical step in that progression.
Well the thing is, floppies, optical disks, firewire, retina displays, and USB A were all replaced by embraced, widely available and better technology. The lack of a SIM card tray will present problems for some people who have no choice when they have to pop a SIM card in for international travel.

Here's an example of how no SIM tray can be a problem... Along with my T-Mobile main number I also use US Mobile. They are an extremely inexpensive MVNO that uses both Verizon (you can use either a physical SIM or an eSIM here) and T-Mobile that uses only physical SIMs. I spoke with them today. They do not and have no plans to support eSIM on the T-Mobile side. Verizon coverage sucks in the areas that I have a need to use US Mobile in so it is not an option. So essentially, if I buy an iphone 14, that's the end of US Mobile for me.

What you're suggesting is that US Mobile will eventually end up having eSIM on that T-Mobile option. I actually think they will rather drop it and just be a Verizon MVNO which will be useless to me.
 
Well the thing is, floppies, optical disks, firewire, retina displays, and USB A were all replaced by embraced, widely available and better technology. The lack of a SIM card tray will present problems for some people who have no choice when they have to pop a SIM card in for international travel.

Here's an example of how no SIM tray can be a problem... Along with my T-Mobile main number I also use US Mobile. They are an extremely inexpensive MVNO that uses both Verizon (you can use either a physical SIM or an eSIM here) and T-Mobile that uses only physical SIMs. I spoke with them today. They do not and have no plans to support eSIM on the T-Mobile side. Verizon coverage sucks in the areas that I have a need to use US Mobile in so it is not an option. So essentially, if I buy an iphone 14, that's the end of US Mobile for me.

What you're suggesting is that US Mobile will eventually end up having eSIM on that T-Mobile option. I actually think they will rather drop it and just be a Verizon MVNO which will be useless to me.
I’m slightly confused by your post, All the providers you mentioned look to support eSIM.



I’ve had an eSIM from T-Mobile for a few years now.
 
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Well the thing is, floppies, optical disks, firewire, retina displays, and USB A were all replaced by embraced, widely available and better technology. The lack of a SIM card tray will present problems for some people who have no choice when they have to pop a SIM card in for international travel.

Here's an example of how no SIM tray can be a problem... Along with my T-Mobile main number I also use US Mobile. They are an extremely inexpensive MVNO that uses both Verizon (you can use either a physical SIM or an eSIM here) and T-Mobile that uses only physical SIMs. I spoke with them today. They do not and have no plans to support eSIM on the T-Mobile side. Verizon coverage sucks in the areas that I have a need to use US Mobile in so it is not an option. So essentially, if I buy an iphone 14, that's the end of US Mobile for me.

What you're suggesting is that US Mobile will eventually end up having eSIM on that T-Mobile option. I actually think they will rather drop it and just be a Verizon MVNO which will be useless to me.

I had to read this a few times because I have TMO & US Mobile Super and your wording is a little confusing, esp to anyone that doesn't understand how US Mobile works. So let me help to explain to them. And yes, I am currently using dual eSIM, 5G working on both lines.

US Mobile offers 2 kinds of MVNO service, regular (on TMO) and Super (on Verizon). US Mobile currently only offers eSIM on their Super service, which rolled out earlier this year and it works great. BUT they have not yet rolled out eSIM for their regular service that runs on TMO, which is what this person uses.

I think USM said they will have it ready "soon" but in the event that you can't wait, @jay968, Mint Mobile's eSIM works great and runs on TMO. I tested it earlier this year when it rolled out. Otherwise, hold off on the phone upgrade.

But eventually, all carriers will offer eSIM. All of them. On post & pre-paid. This is a great wiki-thread of eSIM providers (pre & post paid) that people have been contributing to for a few years. I suspect it's abut to get really busy.
 
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Correct.
US Mobile Super is the one that uses Verizon towers and yes it can use eSIM.
US Mobile GSM uses T-Mobile and does not use eSIM.
A US Mobile rep told me they currently have to plans to change this. Maybe they will at some point, I don't know.
The issue with US Mobile and why I have it is that I can have a line that costs me only $5/month for 75 minutes of talk (which I can add to at any time, and do so when I travel and don't use my personal T-Mobile number). It is perfect for me due to its cost. I have never seen another provider who gives me these options at such a low cost. US Mobile's Super is not an option for me because where I DO use this service, Verizon coverage is very bad.

And yes, my main personal number is with T-Mobile. I do not have eSIM on this line but I have had it in the past. I prefer physical SIM here because it takes less than a minute to swap the SIM between my iphone and Samsung which I sometimes prefer to use for various reasons.
 
More options are always better than fewer options, even if some or most do not need all the options. So, F this forced conversion to an eSIM only world for iPhone 14 buyers.
 
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