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2018 iPhones Said to Feature Both Embedded Apple SIM and Traditional SIM Card Tray

Friday June 29, 2018 10:29 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
At least one of Apple's widely rumored trio of new iPhones expected to be unveiled this September will feature dual-SIM, dual-standby, according to Chinese news publication 21st Century Business Herald via LoveiOS.


A translated version of the article claims the functionality will be enabled by an embedded Apple SIM in the iPhones, in addition to a traditional SIM card placed into the usual tray. In China, where Apple SIM is not available, the report claims Apple will offer an iPhone with two physical SIM card trays.

Apple introduced its Apple SIM in 2014 to provide cellular iPad users with a convenient way to switch between carriers and use short-term data plans as needed, useful for those who travel between countries frequently. It works with select carriers in more than 180 countries and regions around the world.

Initially, the Apple SIM was only available as a physical card that needed to be inserted into the tray when needed, but it is now embedded inside the latest iPad Pro models. Apple still sells physical Apple SIMs at its retail stores in many countries for use with the lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad and other models.

The report doesn't specify which of the 2018 iPhones will have an embedded Apple SIM, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said the 6.1-inch "budget iPhone X" and 6.5-inch "iPhone X Plus," but oddly not the second-generation 5.8-inch iPhone X, will support dual-SIM, dual-standby.

Kuo has also said Apple may release two 6.1-inch iPhone models, and in light of today's report, this could be referring to a nearly-worldwide variant with an embedded Apple SIM and a Chinese variant with dual SIM card trays.

All in all, it should be easier to switch between carriers and data plans on future iPhones, providing users with more flexibility.

Related Roundup: iPhone XS
Tag: Apple SIM
[ 123 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

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Ds6778
18 months ago
We all know it’ll lock to the first carrier you choose. Carriers manage to screw up things I didn’t know they could.
Rating: 11 Votes
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foobarbaz
18 months ago
Here in Germany dual sim are somewhat common for saving money, but not because of travel.

For some bizarre reason data that comes with phone plans is very expensive, yet “tablet plans” offer LTE data much much cheaper. So people actually use one SIM for data and another for calling.

This is so stupid. We have to have hardware solutions to problems caused by lack of competition ...
Rating: 11 Votes
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mi7chy
18 months ago
eSIM takes away control from the phone owner and gives too much to the carrier. For that reason I'd never touch a phone with eSIM only.
Rating: 9 Votes
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Bornee35
18 months ago
They should scale the number of SIM cards with the camera lenses for the hell of it.
Rating: 8 Votes
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profets
18 months ago
Interesting, I guess like the iPad Pro that has the embedded SIM and physical SIM.

I figure eventually once eSIM catches on with carriers that Apple would love to go eSIM only, and remove another port/opening on the device.
Rating: 7 Votes
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theengineerbox
18 months ago

Thiz is great. My gf can use official phone number abd the party fameles can use the other number. Perfecto

What are you trying to say?
Hard to know when spelling isn't strong here
Rating: 7 Votes
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69650
18 months ago
The problem with the embedded Apple SIM in the iPad was the tariffs available were significantly more expensive than if you went direct to the same network and got one of their own physical SIMs. It was just ridiculous. I don’t know if that is still the case as I changed to the WiFi only version when I upgraded to the iPad Pro.

If the situation has improved I would love a dual-SIM iPhone so I could use one SIM for work and one for personal use rather than having to carry two mobiles.
Rating: 6 Votes
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bluecoast
18 months ago
Not having to have a physical SIM will free up a tonne of space in a phone. I think that’s probably Apple’s main attraction to this.
Rating: 6 Votes
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JPack
18 months ago

What's the advantage to Apple Sim? How's it work?

I imagine the eventual goal is to get rid of the Sim tray to make a water proof phone.


Unless you're ejecting your SIM tray under water, it's already waterproof.

In theory, eSIM is supposed to make switching carriers easier. In areas like the U.S., getting the physical SIM to switch carriers is a major barrier. This isn't a problem in more urban areas like China because of population density. But in reality, AT&T and Verizon are under investigation by DOJ over eSIM for collusion. Right now, having 2 separate SIM trays is still the best solution.
Rating: 6 Votes
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pika2000
18 months ago
Wait, I hope this is not the “dual SIM” solution for the next iPhone. Simply because there are still a lot of carriers worldwide not supported officially by Apple, so this will just be another single SIM iPhone for many.

Since Apple cannot even control AT&T locking their eSIM in the US (which defeats the whole purpose of eSIM), I vote for actual dual SIM slots. Plus in emerging markets, people change their SIM frequently to a new number (due to the frequent promotions on starter SIMs by carriers).

If Apple do a dual SIM iPhone, they also better come up with a solution for an app like WhatsApp that only works with one number. Many Android OEMs allow dual apps so users can have two apps (eg WhatsApp) each with different accounts.
Rating: 6 Votes

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