iPhone 14 Pro Max Teardown Provides Closer Look at Unused SIM Tray Area on U.S. Model and More

[anshuvorty]

Yeah, this was a late decision and hence the use of the plastic support structure.

We will most likely see this space being used in the iPhone 16, probably not the iPhone 15.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Wonder how much a genuine Apple spacer is to replace if needed 😁

 

[thadoggfather]

And so many people have been saying they used the space for another antenna. YOU'RE WRONG! I don't see the need to dump physical SIM chips. The 13PM has both so why not just continue that? So if people travel and want to use their phone with a local provider, is that even possible? I heard they support 2 eSIMs. Is that true?

yep dual esim's. if they didnt people would be in even more of an uproar.

 

[edhudley]

Looks like what could a placeholder for something in future models.

 

[thislsmadness]

Seems obvious, they would have announced some additional feature in the US phone if there was something. This is all about pushing the industry toward esim adoption so they can reclaim that space in future phones. So by the iPhone 16 we'll see that space utilized.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Looks/sounds like a rather late in the development process decision to move to eSIM

They had it on the 13PM. Requiring it is what's interesting. I don't know how popular it is in Europe, but I can see moving there some day, and having to toss a fairly new iPhone because of possible 'cost cutting' is obnoxious...

 

[Ludatyk]

Slightly better water resistance. This is mostly just moving things forward towards eSIMs. It forces mobile providers to make support for eSIMs better. It also likely has some financial benefits, but Apple is more likely to lose sales because of it than gain sales.

Slightly better water resistance? According to whom? The IP rating is the same. But, I agree it helps with transition the industry to eSIM. More phone manufactures will adopt this strategy.

 

[TimFL1]

Odd decision to remove but not utilize the space, especially since it limits carrier choice in many instances - including in the US as many prepaid and MVNO carriers do not yet support eSim (and can’t until the Big 3 allow them to since most run on their networks).

I still wonder if the Big 3 carriers influenced this change to limit competition and create friction for switching to other carriers (among other things, this disables hardware-based unlocks such as rSim, though those are admittedly sketchy in their own right).

What could they realistically add with the rest of the world still using that space for SIM Trays?

 

[JPack]

Could be for structural support 🤷‍♂️

I would say no since it only has two pegs to mate with the six holes on the board. The color and quality of the spacer shouts cheapest possible quality.

 

[contacos]

What a weird strategy. On one hand they are giving us "the convenient way to travel" BS and yet they do not roll it out internationally. Clearly they do not think the "world" is ready for it yet. I guess they just assume Americans don't leave the country?

2023: EU to demand phone manufactures to make SIM card replacement possible

 

[Mousse]

Yeah, this was a late decision and hence the use of the plastic support structure.

We will most likely see this space being used in the iPhone 16, probably not the iPhone 15.

Nah... they'll replace the plastic block with an aluminum or titanium block.🙃

 

[MayaUser]

They can't use that space until the go for global eSim only
it would be an 2 assembly nightmare for Apple profit
The right way to start ditch the sim card that is with us for decades....10 years from now nobody will remember the physical sim

 

[lazyrighteye]

Oof. It wasn't until this article that I realize I totally misread the previous iFixIt article and thought the back of the Pro line was also removable. Womp womp.

Not that it is of much concern for me, more curiosity: why the move to an eSIM-only scenario? Just the trajectory of all things tech? The couple of times I have been in an AT&T store the past year (had neSIM issue with my 13 Pro and my sig other picked up a 13 with their $800 credit deal), they seemed very eSIM-forward in their discussions. Can't help but wonder what's in it for them? 🤪

 

[JPack]

Slightly better water resistance? According to whom? The IP rating is the same. But, I agree it helps with transition the industry to eSIM. More phone manufactures will adopt this strategy.

iPhone 14 has a big gap in the rear because the back glass can be replaced. I’d say water resistance pales in comparison unless users intend to eject their SIM tray under water.

 

[arkitect]

They had it on the 13PM. Requiring it is what's interesting. I don't know how popular it is in Europe, but I can see moving there some day, and having to toss a fairly new iPhone because of possible 'cost cutting' is obnoxious...

Here in the UK not all providers are even close to esims…

I will stick to a dual — physical and e-sim phone for as long as possible.
Travelling to out of the way countries especially need a physical sim.

Edit:
And yes people before all you Aiolo fans come rushing in, I know all about them and their expensive esims… and what a disaster they were for me in South America…)

 

[1557750]

It’s gonna be storage for the AirPods Pro 3…

 

[topmounter]

Looks like they're making room for a hinge

Regardless, can't wait to see what the mod'ers come up with for this space.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Yeah, this was a late decision and hence the use of the plastic support structure.

We will most likely see this space being used in the iPhone 16, probably not the iPhone 15.

Not including it might have been a late decision, but they would otherwise have to have different main boards for different countries, rather than just not including the carrier on some boards. And Apple doesn't have a history of going back on removed features. SIMs are not coming back for the US market.

 

[JosephAW]

I'm surprised there's not a special antenna for the satellite, that would be nice if I could use directional Wi-Fi to reach distant connectivity.
On the right side below the side button you can see there's a slug on the metal where the sim tray goes. Ugh they should've just put the sim tray in or micro sd or usb 4 slot.

 

[Jimmy_Banks]

Can't innovate my ass

 

[surfsofa]

"It's the best plastic spacer ever fitted inside iPhone!"

On the plus side, at least we didn't see a price bump here in the US, so the plastic spacer came for free!

 

[nutmac]

I wonder what they could use that space for in the iPhone 15... maybe a dynamic battery?

As funny as that is, I think you are spot on. With iPhone 14, Apple removed the SIM tray for certain countries, signaling the carriers world wide that it is not long for the world. With iPhone 15, I think Apple will go all in on eSIM.

 

[Fruit Stand]

3.5mm headphone jack? 🤞

I love how some folks are still hanging onto this dream...

 

[starman111]

Kinda funny since that plastic spacer serves no meaningful purpose at all.

Apple preaches environmental benefits when they removed the power adapter and EarPods. With no SIM slot on the U.S. model, they decide to generate plastic waste by putting in a spacer. It serves no purpose except hope nobody remembers what's supposed to be underneath it.

The spacer might provide structural integrity. An open space is easily crushable.

 

[Yr Blues]

Why did they make the repairability worse on the Pro? Makes me hesitate a bit on a purchase.