iPhone Fold Will Be eSIM-Only, But Chinese Users May Have Other Ideas

[MacRumors]

Apple's first foldable iPhone will reportedly drop the physical SIM card slot in favor of eSIM technology, according to a well-known Chinese leaker posting on Weibo today.

Apple is expected to introduce the device late next year or in early 2027, based on multiple reports. The so-called "iPhone Fold" is rumored to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a book-style design that opens to reveal a roughly 7.8-inch inner screen reminiscent of an iPad mini.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has described the foldable as "super thin and a design achievement," comparing it to "two titanium iPhone Airs side by side." Internal volume will therefore be tightly constrained.

"It's highly likely that the foldable iPhone will come without a SIM card slot, supporting eSIM only," said leaker Instant Digital, echoing earlier expectations from Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Instant Digital also highlighted the current shortcomings of eSIM in mainland China, where users strongly prefer physical SIM activation and dual-SIM slots. China's fast-moving resale and device-trial culture makes quick SIM transfers essential, meaning an eSIM-only foldable would rely heavily on seamless carrier provisioning.

Apple is aware of the hurdles. The iPhone Air, which adopted an eSIM-only design for similar space-driven reasons, depends on dedicated support from China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. It allows up to two active eSIMs, but activation still requires an in-store visit.

Globally, iPhone Air sales have undershot expectations, to say the least. Many consumers have focused less on its thin profile and more on the trade-offs it introduced, such as reduced battery life and a single rear camera. In China, the eSIM limitation will have surely added another layer of hesitation.

The foldable iPhone is rumored to introduce several new technologies, including a 24-megapixel under-display camera and a crease-free inner panel. Apple will be banking on these advances to overcome concerns about usability, especially in markets where eSIM adoption lags.

• iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Reports suggest the device could cost between $2,000 and $2,500 in the United States, suggesting it could be the most expensive iPhone to date.

Article Link: iPhone Fold Will Be eSIM-Only, But Chinese Users May Have Other Ideas

 

[Ctrlos]

2x iPhone Airs would be a tremendous achievement. All the chipset it would ever need would be in the camera bump meaning more room for the bigger batter it would need for 2 displays.

My money is on them reviving the iBook branding.

 

[musteky]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

 

[ipedro]

The so-called "iPhone Fold"

It won't be called "iPhone Fold". That's Samsung's naming convention, why would Apple follow it?

Folding screens are going to be exclusively on the premium top-tier iPhone above the Pro given the expensive technology so the name will come from its tier, not its folding screen. It'll be iPhone Ultra.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Or perhaps those in charge of the rumored folding iPhone will leave Apple, the rumors will end, and we'll have more energy for debating Pro vs Air.

 

[AppleTO]

These are never going to be mainstream at those kinds of prices, but I guess they aren’t really intended to be.

These will have a starting price of at least $3000 in Canada. I can’t see many people taking that on.

 

[digimc]

For security reasons alone eSIM is the future. This is one area that every tech company is pretty much in agreement on. China’s government can resist this all they want. In the end it’s not going to make a difference.

 

[Superhai]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

Some do and some don't, that is how the world goes around. Neither do I, but I know many who like to have a bigger screen in a smaller size.

 

[Superhai]

For security reasons alone eSIM is the future. This is one area that every tech company is pretty much in agreement on. China’s government can resist this all they want. In the end it’s not going to make a difference.

Because it requires in store visit, people in China have to be more dedicated to get eSIM. Maybe at some point the Chinese government will be more lenient, but their Confucian hold on controlling their people tells me not in very near future.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

For security reasons alone eSIM is the future. This is one area that every tech company is pretty much in agreement on. China’s government can resist this all they want. In the end it’s not going to make a difference.

For carrier lockdown reasons alone…

Carriers are looking forward to returning to the days of CDMA, where they have control over what phone you use, and how often you switch.

I used to toss my SIM in a flip-phone when going on multi-day backpacking trips. Can’t do that anymore…

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

Some people want foldables for the same reason others want trucks, gaming PCs, or 83” TVs they solve specific use cases, not universal ones. A foldable isn’t supposed to replace the standard slab for everyone. It’s meant for people who want a pocket sized device that becomes a mini tablet when they need it. More screen real estate for multitasking, watching content, editing docs, reading, gaming, whatever. That’s the entire value proposition. A slab phone can’t shrink and grow. A foldable can. So no, it’s not magic. It’s just a niche product for people who prioritize screen versatility over durability and simplicity.

Hope that helps because honestly, explaining this over and over to the “i don’t see the reason” group is exhausting.

 

[The_Interloper]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

That's okay, you don't have to buy one. 😁

I'm 51 and have a folding phone, the Honor Magic V2 (also had a Samsung ZFold5 a couple of years ago). Being able to pull out a tablet from your pocket then fold it back into a regular phone is just awesome, whether it's just to browse the Internet or read an ebook in a coffee shop or quickly view/edit a spreadsheet on the go. When you can also plug in a monitor (fixed or portable) and use a it as a near-full desktop computer with wireless keyboard/mouse, that's even eliminating the need for most laptops in many scenarios too. Especially when the OS allows for real desktop-class browsers with proper extension support.

 

[svanstrom]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

Just think of it as a small iPad that you can fold in half and put in your pocket.

 

[Omega Mac]

iPhold

 

[zonemster]

According to industry rumors, it is still being decided whether this phone should be introduced at WWDC 2026, as it belongs to a different product line.

 

[Valve1138]

Who wants this thing? 🤣

 

[digimc]

For carrier lockdown reasons alone…

Carriers are looking forward to returning to the days of CDMA, where they have control over what phone you use, and how often you switch.

I used to toss my SIM in a flip-phone when going on multi-day backpacking trips. Can’t do that anymore…

I get what you’re saying. But it’s actually easier for me to switch eSIM than with a physical sim. I can transfer my eSIM from AT&T to T-Mobile right now. It would take me 20 seconds and there is nothing AT&T can do about it.

Now AT&T can hit me with early termination fees yes. But they can’t stop me from transferring my eSIM. In fact they have less control with eSIM.

That’s the whole reason for third party jailbeaking of physical sims so that people could get around being locked to one carrier. A physical sim card is always locked down at the time it’s activated and cannot be switched to another phone on a different carrier until it’s unlocked either through a hack or legally so to speak through the carrier

 

[t0rqx]

This is going to be a failure again.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Unless the camera on these things are on par with (or better) that the iPhone Pros, I'm not really in the target demographic for them...

 

[klasma]

It won't be called "iPhone Fold". That's Samsung's naming convention, why would Apple follow it?

Folding screens are going to be exclusively on the premium top-tier iPhone above the Pro given the expensive technology so the name will come from its tier, not its folding screen. It'll be iPhone Ultra.

Too long. iPhold.

 

[Spock]

I keep getting older and I still don’t understand the purpose of foldable phones or who they’re actually meant for. This isn’t a jab at Apple or any other brand, I just genuinely don’t see the appeal of foldable devices.

I picked up a second hand Pixel Fold for my work phone. Having the larger screen that I could open up and see my works job system easier was a game changer. Being able to walk into a room and pull up a larger wiring diagram, running two apps at the same time. It has changed a lot of my work flow and I know that Apple will make it better.