iPhone 15 Rumored to Lack SIM Card Tray in France and Likely Other Countries

[MacRumors]

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models could launch without a SIM card tray in France this year, according to information obtained by French website MacGeneration. This means the devices would work with eSIMs only for cellular connectivity.

If the SIM card tray is removed in France, it would likely be removed in at least some other European countries as well, as Apple typically sells one iPhone model in most of Europe. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro model A2890 sold in France is also sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and dozens of other countries.

Apple already removed the SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. last September, 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 rapidly expanding, the removal of the SIM card tray beyond the U.S. seems inevitable, even if the transition takes a few more years to be fully completed. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series in September as usual.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Rumored to Lack SIM Card Tray in France and Likely Other Countries

 

[ProfessionalFan]

There was never a doubt. eSIM availability was going to expand swiftly as soon as Apple made this change last year.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Here we go again...

 

[Sebosz]

Every major carrier in Poland supports e-sim so I honestly don’t have a problem with that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SmugMaverick]

Good. That means all European models then.

 

[phill85]

Wonder if it’ll still have a non-functional spacer though?

 

[match14]

A lot of MVNO’s in the UK don’t support eSIM yet.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Sometimes I do miss the old Sim Tray. Do you guys? Or do you guys like the eSim?

 

[gpat]

Dammit. Here comes the deal breaker for us Europeans.

 

[0924487]

Every major carrier in Poland supports e-sim so I honestly don’t have a problem with that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Until you visit China, and be asked to buy a new phone.

 

[0924487]

A lot of MVNO’s in the UK don’t support eSIM yet.

Same in Canada.

 

[virtuatony]

I hope Canada is too backwards for this nuisance.

 

[iMacDragon]

Same here, my work sim is not available with an esim on the carrier I'm on, also in general no carrier seems to support esims for PAYG here or in UK last i checked.

 

[diddl14]

Makes perfect sense. This will push the few providers who've been avoiding it to quickly catch up.
Why poke around with a nano-sim if you can just as easily scan a QR-code or go to a website and buy/activate an eSim?

 

[jonnysods]

So there won't be any dual sim Pro iPhones?

 

[slyronit]

I stay in Thailand and had a Thai eSIM and an Indian eSIM. Last year my phone died from water exposure and I had to buy a new one. Of course I couldn’t transfer my Indian eSIM to the new phone and had to make do without it till I went to India again and got a replacement sim.

I hope they don’t remove the physical sim for Asian markets anytime soon.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

To anyone using esim, how easy is it go swap between phones ? I often swap iphone/android

 

[mthomas184]

Until you visit China, and be asked to buy a new phone.

Simple solution. Don't go to China

 

[ProfessionalFan]

To anyone using esim, how easy is it go swap between phones ? I often swap iphone/android

Super simple changing from one iPhone to another. Can't confirm about Android though.

 

[senttoschool]

Simple solution. Don't go to China

It's a beautiful country with a rich history. You can visit their Tier 1 cities, which are world-class. You can visit their natural wonders or historical monuments. All on their country-wide high-speed trains. If you're a girl, you can walk at night by yourself at 3am and no one would bother you. Super safe country - like all the East Asian countries such as SK, Japan, Singapore. People are also very friendly and they enjoy meeting foreigners. You should visit. No joke.

And while you're there, you can buy an iPhone with dual physical SIM cards.

 

[josecuervo888]

Call me crazy but I prefer my physical SIM.

 

[OlesyaPetrova]

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models could launch without a SIM card tray in France this year, according to information obtained by French website MacGeneration. This means the devices would work with eSIMs only for cellular connectivity.

If the SIM card tray is removed in France, it would likely be removed in at least some other European countries as well, as Apple typically sells one iPhone model in most of Europe. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro model A2890 sold in France is also sold in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and dozens of other countries.

Apple already removed the SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. last September, 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 rapidly expanding, the removal of the SIM card tray beyond the U.S. seems inevitable, even if the transition takes a few more years to be fully completed. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series in September as usual.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Rumored to Lack SIM Card Tray in France and Likely Other Countries

What a news! Haven't heard of these. I go with iPhone 11 and don't worry about sim allocation. Who has been using iPhone for 14 years, is it convenient for you?

 

[i_bit_the_apple]

Super simple changing from one iPhone to another. Can't confirm about Android though.

It really depends on your carrier. Some of them are easy to move to phone, other you need to visit a carrier shop to get a new QR code.

 

[Slash787]

I stay in Thailand and had a Thai eSIM and an Indian eSIM. Last year my phone died from water exposure and I had to buy a new one. Of course I couldn’t transfer my Indian eSIM to the new phone and had to make do without it till I went to India again and got a replacement sim.

I hope they don’t remove the physical sim for Asian markets anytime soon.

Which carrier Indian E Sim you had?

 

[KrisLord]

A lot of MVNO’s in the UK don’t support eSIM yet.

Hopefully this will be the push they need.

I wonder if it would also help Apple Watch support for those networks?