iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Models Are eSIM-Only in These Countries

[Manatlt]

Very displeased it still does. yet another reason not to get this and wait for next year, maybe they’ll have a better offering without a pointless SIM card slot that takes up space and battery life.

Get the Air then.
I'm glad we still have that plastic SIM option. I have two phones I want to switch SIMs easily.

I know you can also do this with eSIM, but for this particular carrier - everytime I switch, I have to contact the carrier to finish the activation.

 

[Jaro65]

eSIM is such a nice feature. Too bad this is not available globally.

 

[Manatlt]

Have been using eSIM for the past six years in Sweden. Every operator in Sweden support it, and installation is way too easier than in most of the operators in other countries. I think Apple is worried if EU gonna start a new law suit if iPhone doesn't support physical SIM card. At the same time iPhone Air doesn't have it either.

Not all carriers in Europe support eSIM. That's the issue. Lebara Mobile in the UK STILL doesn't support eSIM for example.
Apple will lose customers easily if they drop plastic SIM. It's not the best idea right now until EVERY (or >97%) carrier in Europe supports it.

 

[Kottu]

Not all carriers in Europe support eSIM. That's the issue. Lebara Mobile in the UK STILL doesn't support eSIM for example.
Apple will lose customers easily if they drop plastic SIM. It's not the best idea right now until EVERY (or >97%) carrier in Europe supports it.

Give us an option at least. Sell both models.

 

[Astuces iOS]

NO WAY DAMN

 

[Manatlt]

Give us an option at least. Sell both models.

That adds more confusion and on top of that, costs Apple more money to ship all these models/versions of the phones because of a small niche.

It's best for you to import that model instead.

My dad bought his iPhone in the US, it's eSIM only...brought it back to the UK and his phone works fine.

 

[AppleTO]

Previously it was:​

Hong Kong, Macau, China models
2 plastic SIMs only

US models
2 eSIMs only

All other countries models
1 plastic SIM and 1 eSIM OR 2 eSIMs (both supported)

Now it looks like (excluding iPhone Air):​

China models
2 plastic SIMs only

Hong Kong, Macau models
2 plastic SIMs or 2 eSIMs or a combination

Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands models
2 eSIMs only

All other countries models
1 plastic SIM and 1 eSIM OR 2 eSIMs (both supported)

?

According to the article, you can now have 8 or more eSIMs.

 

[Paddle1]

According to the article, you can now have 8 or more eSIMs.

You could already do this before the 17 but only 2 can be active at once.

 

[B4U]

Darn, was planning to head north to Canada to get the one with the SIM tray for traveling overseas.
With a physical SIM, I am in control instead of at the mercy of the network provider.

 

[adrianlondon]

So far, there are no figures supporting or detailing the differing battery capacities between phones with/without a SIM tray.

I'd like to see them, although it's just for curiosity and so I can moan, as I doubt I'll go to the effort of importing an eSIM-only model.

 

[Mat Jam Car]

Why no eSIM version in the UK?

 

[adrianlondon]

Why no eSIM version in the UK?

You mean eSIM-only, right? If so, it's because some UK providers are slow to embrace eSIM, especially when it comes to moving them between devices.

If you really did mean eSIM, then ... umm, all the new phones support eSIM.

 

[likegadgets]

Bummer. For many reasons last 2 iPhones I purchased in Mexico to have a SIM card option. Not the 17. Will get a Hong Kong version.

 

[Jay-Jacob]

Not all carriers in Europe support eSIM. That's the issue. Lebara Mobile in the UK STILL doesn't support eSIM for example.
Apple will lose customers easily if they drop plastic SIM. It's not the best idea right now until EVERY (or >97%) carrier in Europe supports it.

Yeah and also most network (carrier) in UK for PAYG still don't offer eSIM. Physical sim only. I am on EE using PAYG bundle and it far cheaper than any sim only plan and contract plans. Only issue is 4G only (no 5G) and no eSIM (though not too bothered by that one). I am on iPhone 16 so in future if EE still don’t do eSIM for PAYG and future iPhone is eSIM only then I probably end up holding iPhone 16 for longer (not plan get any til iPhone 19 at very earliest or later).

 

[dlopan]

More stupid. Keep at least one sim slot. That way I can use it almost anywhere without a whole lot of problems.

 

[interstella]

I've no need for a physical SIM card. I don't see why the UK and other countries can't be given the option of eSIM only and get the extra battery life.

 

[dhruveonmars]

That adds more confusion and on top of that, costs Apple more money to ship all these models/versions of the phones because of a small niche.

It's best for you to import that model instead.

My dad bought his iPhone in the US, it's eSIM only...brought it back to the UK and his phone works fine.

Any caveats in using the phone bought from US? I'm debating it as I'll be there at the end of the month.

I ask, as I know some products, like Vision Pro did have issues being used in other territories when it first rolled out in US.

 

[IVterstellar_]

Very pleased the UK still has the option.

Mexico has fallen, sadly. This was so unexpected for me. I do wonder where I'd buy the 17 pro with physical SIM card

 

[goshya]

I’m in Japan and will need a SIM card slot for business trips to China. If it’s true that iPhone Pro models in Japan no longer support physical SIM cards, I’ll need to fly to Thailand to buy one.
It would have been ideal if Apple allowed customers to choose between eSIM-only and physical SIM card options when ordering online.

 

[Scaredfocus]

How much do you reckon what the hit to the battery life would be with the SIM tray models? Debating if it's worth waiting to getting a E-Sim only version when I go visit the states. Whats the downsides you've experienced going E-Sim only?

 

[adrianlondon]

How much do you reckon what the hit to the battery life would be with the SIM tray models? Debating if it's worth waiting to getting a E-Sim only version when I go visit the states. Whats the downsides you've experienced going E-Sim only?

In another thread, it was shown to be 2 hours additional "video playback" time for eSIM-only models.

Also ...

Apple unveils iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple today introduced iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with a striking new design that delivers a dramatic leap in performance.

www.apple.com

eSIM-only models of iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will be available in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These models feature an even larger battery, taking advantage of the space formerly occupied by the physical SIM to provide two additional hours of video playback,

 

[baconcat_8964]

Very pleased the UK still has the option.

Some UK carriers still think eSIM is a privilege for pay-monthly customers.

 

[Xade]

So the uk we get worse batt life

But you also get an easily swappable physical sim. I would prefer that.

 

[Xade]

Very displeased it still does. yet another reason not to get this and wait for next year, maybe they’ll have a better offering without a pointless SIM card slot that takes up space and battery life.

Pointless for you.

 

[Knavel]

I’m in Japan and will need a SIM card slot for business trips to China. If it’s true that iPhone Pro models in Japan no longer support physical SIM cards, I’ll need to fly to Thailand to buy one.
It would have been ideal if Apple allowed customers to choose between eSIM-only and physical SIM card options when ordering online.

I make frequent business trips to China and for a couple years now have only used eSIMs. A HK one if I will need a phone number (rarely the case anymore since I am generally in large cities and prefer to use public transport), otherwise just whatever I grab on the trip.com app or from china mobile's overseas online store if I don't need a #.