Carrier (Shower thoughts) How come an iPhone needs a SIM-Card to get activated, while iPad doesnt?

[NagasakiGG]

Hi,

I just got a thought. Why the heck does an iPhone necessarily Need a SIM-Card to get activated, while others, even the iPads with cellular dont?

 

[-Gonzo-]

Probably because one is a phone that would need a SIM card to use its primary function whereas not all iPads have the hardware capabilities for a SIM card so just rely on a Wi-Fi network.

 

[BeatCrazy]

iPads do need a SIM card to work with a carrier. They either have a built-in "Apple SIM" that is essentially electronic/reprogrammable, and/or a traditional SIM slot. https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht203099

 

[profets]

I've always found this quite annoying. Many times I've been cleaning an old iPhone or restoring for non-phone use but I need to find a SIM card to put in just to get past the activation screen. Its probably related to early days of the original iPhone, but just seems unnecessary at this point.

 

[Mrbobb]

The primary function of a phone is calling, and and iPad it not? but of course these days, like some ppl say, we don't have phones, we have a very tinny computer.

 

[noobinator]

I have an old inactive sim I save just to use on my iPhones. It’s annoying!

 

[americafirst]

I've always found this quite annoying. Many times I've been cleaning an old iPhone or restoring for non-phone use but I need to find a SIM card to put in just to get past the activation screen. Its probably related to early days of the original iPhone, but just seems unnecessary at this point.

I know people who use their old iPhones as an iPod and I agree that needing a SIM to activate an iPhone is unnecessary at this point

 

[goobot]

There is no reason other than Apple making it like that.

 

[americafirst]

There is no reason other than Apple making it like that.

That's right