While you're in Japan, then, buy an iPhone with a dual SIM slot. Or learn to live with it.
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iPhone 15 Models Sold Outside U.S. Still Have Physical SIM Card Tray
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Interesting. Their product page (https://www.apple.com/ca/iphone-15-pro/specs/) is what the OP and I had found.
Same here. And the photo shows the SIM tray
Attachments
Likely typo on the bottom bullet. All other supporting materials like photos show a SIM tray.
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Weird, just another one of those little site inaccuracies I guess.
I imagine we’ll see it corrected pretty quick.
Nothing like adding some ambiguity to keep us guessing!
I don't live in Japan- I live in North America and travel internationally for work 2x a month, each time to different countries. In some places I've been (for example, Nigeria), E-Sim was advertised as an attractive option because dealing with a local vendor is rather onerous, however I don't find that it actually replaces that.
I purchased a 14 just two months ago direct from Apple in the U.S. and it came with a physical sim tray…may want to do a bit more fact checking on this story.![]()
Apple's new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max models all remain equipped with a physical SIM card tray outside of the United States, as a rumored eSIM-only expansion with the devices failed to materialize.
![iPhone-15-SIM-Tray.jpg]()
Tech specs on Apple's website confirm that all four iPhone 15 models remain compatible with nano-SIM cards in countries such as the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Singapore, Turkey, and everywhere else they are sold. In most countries, the devices also continue to support eSIM as well, allowing for dual-SIM functionality with cellular networks.
Apple removed the SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. last year, forcing customers to use an eSIM, a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. Apple has a support document with a list of carriers that support eSIM technology around the world.
When the iPhone 14 series launched in the U.S., Apple promoted eSIMs as being more secure than a physical SIM since they cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. Apple added that up to eight eSIMs can be managed in the iPhone's Settings app, eliminating the need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards while traveling. iPhone 13 and newer models can have two eSIMs active at the same time.
With eSIM availability expanding, the SIM card tray might eventually be removed from iPhones sold outside of the U.S., but for now it lives another year.
Article Link: iPhone 15 Models Sold Outside U.S. Still Have Physical SIM Card Tray
So much for the claim that dropping the SIM slot was necessary to make room for other components. In reality it's just about Apple's profit margin. Why not pinch a few more pennies out of a $1200 phone.
As others have said, eSIM is nice in theory, in practice support by the carriers is inconsistent; e.g. some support transfer between devices via iCloud, others have their own arcane procedures, some require contacting customer support (which often has no idea how it works).
As others have said, eSIM is nice in theory, in practice support by the carriers is inconsistent; e.g. some support transfer between devices via iCloud, others have their own arcane procedures, some require contacting customer support (which often has no idea how it works).
Oh wow, you solved the problem. Why didn't I think of just buying another new iPhone.
We're still waiting for the iPhone 13 mini silhouette to be removed. The Canadian iPhone 15/Plus clearly gets a SIM tray, so it makes no sense for the Pro/Max not to have one.
In Sweden installing an esim is very easy. It's not the case in many other European countries. In Asian countries it could be much more difficult. When I travel to India I use the physical sim card ( I always have it in my sim tray). It's not easy to aquire esim in India and as I don't travel so often, physical sim is safer as losing esim with updates or resets is very likely.
what a small security vulnerability to use as an excuse to further erode consumer power
Cook just wanted to save 10 cents an iphone
Cook just wanted to save 10 cents an iphone
Oh wow, you solved the problem. Why didn't I think of just buying another new iPhone.
"Two active eSIMs or nano-SIM and eSIM, stores eight or more eSIMs"
It has a nano SIM slot, but you can only actively use two SIMs at a time. One nano SIM and one eSIM or 2 eSIMs are your dual SIM options.
I came close to losing my long-time phone number and spent over 4 hours talking to Verizon support because they couldn't figure out how to activate an eSIM properly, just this past year.
Not Apple's fault, of course, but I'll take a physical SIM I can swap any time. I've heard enough reports of pain and frustration due to eSIMs. There's no reason they necessarily should be such a problem, but too often, they simply are.
There's no SIM slot on US models of the iPhone 14. You likely either have an international model or an iPhone 13.
For service at home I don't mind using an eSIM. But for travel outside the EU it's still good to have the option to use a physical SIM. I hope next year's iPhone will still have the SIM tray, because that's when I will likely buy a new one.
I know you can get an eSIM for data roaming, and I've used one already. The downside is you don't get a phone number, which can be important if you stay somewhere for more than a few days.
I know you can get an eSIM for data roaming, and I've used one already. The downside is you don't get a phone number, which can be important if you stay somewhere for more than a few days.
Airalo plans are often not as good and more expensive than a plan obtained in the country from a local carrier.
Really? This is what Apple's tech specs say:
- Dual eSIM (two active eSIMs; stores eight or more eSIMs)17
- iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus use eSIM technology and are not compatible with physical SIM cards.
The US versions all have mmWave 5G support too, I don't think any of the other models include that.
I travel a lot and just carry my local cards with me. I guess if I upgrade, I will no longer be able to do that. I'm wondering what people's experience has been with local eSims? I had no idea that they were even available for some of the places I regularly travel to (i.e., Brazil, Pakistan) and wondering whether it will be more complicated than it's worth.
Well...does the Canadian phone have the same bands?
If so, I am driving across the border which is only an hour away.
If so, I am driving across the border which is only an hour away.