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iPhone 15 Models Sold Outside U.S. Still Have Physical SIM Card Tray
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eSIM seems like an awesome idea, in theory. In practice, it sucks. Will buy in Japan instead of USA this year as I travel a lot. Having a local SIM is critical in so many countries.
Apple how about a dual purpose slot where you can put in a SIM or a microSD
You can't install a microSD card flush in the current MacBook Pro, which prevents it from being used as permanent storage. Apple isn't likely to give up those juicy flash profits on iPhone either.
I swap between using an iPhone and an Android phone a lot. It's incredibly simple to transfer eSIM back and forth between two iPhones. Not so much with Android.
I am thinking of buying the phone from Canada, just for the SIM card slot. I travel to parts of the world that are ages away from eSIM and I really do not enjoy carrying two phones around. That said, I know the Canadian 14 could not connect to some network bands in the US (for 5Guc/uw), and that was the ultimate dealbreaker. Does anyone know if that is going to be the case with the 15?
It turns out that they give you the option to wipe the phone entirely, or wipe almost everything but keep the esim. It wasn’t super clear to me though that it would be very difficult to re-add the esim if it was entirely wiped. So of course I chose wrong.
From personal experience in a country in Asia, I was told that if I use eSIM and want to change phone, I will need to visit a store in person (for that particular carrier). Therefore they don’t recommend switching from physical SIM to eSIM unless I’m willing to go to the store or don’t need to keep the number.
So I guess it varies. Some countries/carriers can manage eSIM 100% online, while others may have troublesome procedure.
So I guess it varies. Some countries/carriers can manage eSIM 100% online, while others may have troublesome procedure.
If you want a flush microSD card on a MacBook Pro, there are options. Here’s an example: https://a.co/d/890kZou
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The problem is those tiny cards usually have terrible speeds.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
That’s what I did for a 14PM. I have no issues connecting to 5Guc networks in US. Canadian phones just don't have the mmWave/NR bands (which I’ve never even encountered).
The other downside of eSim-only device, if you break your device while traveling you’re SOL. Can’t xfer that eSim, to a new device until you get back home to your carrier.
They are giving international carriers and MVNOs one more year to complete their transition to eSIM. Next year it will be all eSIM, everywhere, all the time.
I thought about this scenario before. The first time I traveled internationally with my AT&T service on eSIM, it was back when you needed a physical card with a QR code to activate an eSIM, and you couldn't easily transfer eSIMs between iPhones. I carried a AT&T SIM card with me that had never been activated. That way, if I ever broke my iPhone, I could simply borrow someone's phone to call AT&T and give them the ICCID of the SIM card, which would move my service to back to a physical SIM. Now, you can just give AT&T the EID and IMEI of the replacement device to get up and running again.
My wife is British. We went to the UK three to four times a year for months at a time for over 18 years. I have a pay as you go SIM card with UK's O2 service. They offer eSim for the locals, not tourists, as they want the long term contract. I would have to go physically to the O2 store to get their eSim and have a local address and bank card.
My SIM card has been moved from the flip phones to now my iPhone 13 mini I acquired a few months back. When we were in the seven southern countries in the South half of Africa, a SIM card was the ONLY choice. Those folks are years away from eSims, if ever.
I can afford the $100 Verizon Wireless fee for International roaming and in may ways that is the easiest solution, except it is a long distance phone call for the UK locals to call me. Having the UK based SIM card allows for "local" calls to us from her UK family members. (Note that all calls in the UK are toll calls plus line access charges). To do anywork with UK banks, I need a UK number to receive verification texts.
My SIM card has been moved from the flip phones to now my iPhone 13 mini I acquired a few months back. When we were in the seven southern countries in the South half of Africa, a SIM card was the ONLY choice. Those folks are years away from eSims, if ever.
I can afford the $100 Verizon Wireless fee for International roaming and in may ways that is the easiest solution, except it is a long distance phone call for the UK locals to call me. Having the UK based SIM card allows for "local" calls to us from her UK family members. (Note that all calls in the UK are toll calls plus line access charges). To do anywork with UK banks, I need a UK number to receive verification texts.
I skipped an iPhone generation in the 14 Pro for the first time since the first iPhone, precisely because of the lack of a physical SIM card tray.
It’s wonderful for those of you who have had painless eSIM experiences. I am really happy for you all. But I both have had eSIM activation challenges and travel regularly to countries whose carriers do not offer eSIM.
The US being the one county with iPhones missing a sim tray is really disappointing.
It’s wonderful for those of you who have had painless eSIM experiences. I am really happy for you all. But I both have had eSIM activation challenges and travel regularly to countries whose carriers do not offer eSIM.
The US being the one county with iPhones missing a sim tray is really disappointing.
I'm torn, I want to get a non-US version due to the physical sim card slot, which is super convenient while traveling and wanting to get a local sim card (until very, very recently, there were no prepaid carriers in the UK that offered esim, now there's literally one carrier there that supports it).
However, having mmwave capability in a dense place like NYC is nice to have.
Also, esims for me have been wonky a few times where calling/MMS/data doesn't work or it just is not functional to the point where I had to literally be mailed a physical sim card to solve the issue.
However, having mmwave capability in a dense place like NYC is nice to have.
Also, esims for me have been wonky a few times where calling/MMS/data doesn't work or it just is not functional to the point where I had to literally be mailed a physical sim card to solve the issue.
I went through the trouble of getting a 14 Pro from Canada last year, because I travel internationally and sometimes even stay 1-2 months, so I need a local number. However, after the exchange rate and the higher taxes, I ended up spending about a $200 premium over the cost of a US model.
I would like to trade it in to get a 15 Pro Max for the new camera, but I don’t think I’m willing to pay that premium every single year, so I will probably just carry my spare iPhone SE2 that I will use when I need a local number on a physical SIM for that occasional call/text. Even if that means paying for a voice/text plan from a local provider and also buying eSIM data for my 15 Pro Max, I think I will still end up paying less in the end.
I would like to trade it in to get a 15 Pro Max for the new camera, but I don’t think I’m willing to pay that premium every single year, so I will probably just carry my spare iPhone SE2 that I will use when I need a local number on a physical SIM for that occasional call/text. Even if that means paying for a voice/text plan from a local provider and also buying eSIM data for my 15 Pro Max, I think I will still end up paying less in the end.
Wouldn’t work. You can’t activate a physical (or eSim) if you’re not on that carriers network at the time. I tried once, carrier said as long as I’m on Wi-Fi eSim would activate… it didn’t. (a) I had to wait until I was in an area they served before it would activate. And (b) for security they also required physical proof (ie. store visit) to prove who you say you are. So traveling you’re SOL. So active physical sim is still the only viable option IMO.
I just got back from a nine week trip traveling around South East Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam). If you want to pay 2-3 times as much for the same service, eSIMs are available via the "digital nomad" apps in the App Store but you're basically paying a third party a bunch of extra money for the convenience. Most carriers (or at least their authorized resellers) in the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia didn't even know what an eSIM was...or hadn't ever sold one before. But they also hadn't seen a lot of iPhones either and thought I was super rich for having one (even though mine was 4 years old). Thailand is a bit more tech-savvy and developed, but two of the carrier reps at the kiosks inside the Bangkok airport that I spoke with have didn't have any eSIMs available through their little kiosks and directed me to their website (where I MIGHT get what I wanted if I knew how to read Thai)...but I didn't waste time on that because they were able to hook me up with nano-SIM and service for me and my lady-friend in less than 5 minutes (I had an iPhone 11 Pro Max which still has a physical tray, and she had an Android). We both got truly unlimited 10GB up/down data for 30 days for 599 Baht each (which is about $17 USD). If we wanted texting and phone calls as well, it would have been 799 Baht ($23)...but everyone there uses WhatsApp or Line anyway so we skipped it.
I plan on going back to Asia this winter and there's no way I would want to do so without a phone that supports physical SIM cards. Most people in the rest of the world are using Android phones that cost less than $200 (most are less than $100) and many of the phones in use don't support eSIMs at all yet. Maybe that will change in 2-3 years, but I don't see all of ASIA abandoning their SIM trays (or their cheap phones) in the next year.
That said, I wouldn't want to pay for a new iPhone in Asia either...because they really jack up the prices there (30-80% depending on the country's import taxes). So...my question is...WHERE do I buy an international (physical SIM) version of the iPhone 15 Pro Max...in America? What online retailers are reputable and will still charge USA prices? Thanks.
I plan on going back to Asia this winter and there's no way I would want to do so without a phone that supports physical SIM cards. Most people in the rest of the world are using Android phones that cost less than $200 (most are less than $100) and many of the phones in use don't support eSIMs at all yet. Maybe that will change in 2-3 years, but I don't see all of ASIA abandoning their SIM trays (or their cheap phones) in the next year.
That said, I wouldn't want to pay for a new iPhone in Asia either...because they really jack up the prices there (30-80% depending on the country's import taxes). So...my question is...WHERE do I buy an international (physical SIM) version of the iPhone 15 Pro Max...in America? What online retailers are reputable and will still charge USA prices? Thanks.
That’s the only reason why International iPhones are still having physical SIM slots on iPhones.
Apple in the US just happened to jump the gun too early with the iPhone 14 series, as the majority of international carriers & MVNO’s weren’t ready for eSIM’s.
You really think that Android smartphone makers like Samsung won’t hop onto the eSIM only bandwagon, too?
eSIM only will be the future of both Android smartphones & iPhones, as they’ll be mandatory worldwide. People who have non-eSIM only phones will eventually be forced to upgrade to phones that have eSIMs in general.
Which iPhones are eSIM compatible? (Full list).
Which Android mobile phones support eSIM?
That means that if people at least don't have the above phones listed, then they'll have to upgrade.
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I used the Apple provided iPhone comparison on their store website between the last three iPhone Pro Max models I bought: iPhone 12 Pro Max 1TB, iPhone 13 Pro Max 1TB and iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB. My wife is happy with my handed down iPhone 13 Pro Max (especially as it has a SIM card slot) and we agreed the new technology lens of the iPhone 15 Pro Max 1TB requires a season to get the bugs out. There are processor model changes in the 15 Pro series midyear so we will know next year how that played out. The fancy Vision headset will be released next year and the 16 series will play into that system as well.
A few weeks ago, I acquired one of the last iPhone 13 mini 512GB models for the SIM card slot and international travel.
There are not enough changes to go from my iWatch Ultra to the Ultra 2.
I may get my wife the small watch series 9 as she has a series 7 now. She will reuse her black stainless Melanese
bracelet.
I doubt the poor areas of Africa and Asia got that message about eSims.
A few weeks ago, I acquired one of the last iPhone 13 mini 512GB models for the SIM card slot and international travel.
There are not enough changes to go from my iWatch Ultra to the Ultra 2.
I may get my wife the small watch series 9 as she has a series 7 now. She will reuse her black stainless Melanese
bracelet.
I doubt the poor areas of Africa and Asia got that message about eSims.
Fair point. I only use data when travelling. The ideal world, of course, is the physical slot + eSIM option. I'm not sure why Apple was so quick to remove this as an option in the US, and glad they have not done it elsewhere yet. I'm getting this iPhone and it may be the last model to offer both.
I would've been all-in on the eSIM train had they let the users themselves transfer eSIMs from device to device using 'eSIM Quick Transfer'
But nope, the carriers dictate whether a user can or cannot use the transfer function. Might not be a issue with the 3 major US carriers but definitely an issue with international carriers.
support.apple.com
But nope, the carriers dictate whether a user can or cannot use the transfer function. Might not be a issue with the 3 major US carriers but definitely an issue with international carriers.
Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone - Apple Support
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile data plan from your network provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out which wireless carriers in your country or region offer cellular plans on an eSIM, either activated by eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick...