iPhone 14 With eSIM Only Will Likely Be Optional Model, Says Analyst

Last month, a tipster informed MacRumors that Apple had advised major U.S. carriers to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only smartphones by September 2022, suggesting at least one iPhone 14 model might lack a physical nano-SIM card tray.

iphone 12 sim card slot blue
GlobalData analyst Emma Mohr-McClune today expressed her belief that Apple will not switch to eSIM-only iPhones entirely right away, but rather offer an eSIM-only variant of an iPhone 14 through its own stores and give carriers an option to sell the eSIM-only model alongside more traditional models with both eSIM and a nano-SIM card tray.

There are still many carriers around the world that do not support eSIM, so Mohr-McClune's prediction about iPhone 14 models with nano-SIM card trays remaining available certainly makes sense. eSIM adoption is expanding rapidly, though, with over 100 carriers offering eSIM service worldwide and more planning to roll out support this year, including Three in the UK and Vodafone in New Zealand.

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. Apple first introduced eSIM technology with the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR in 2018.

iPhone 13 models already support multiple eSIM profiles, allowing users to subscribe to several cellular plans digitally and switch between them, and this functionality could pave the way for an eSIM-only variant of an iPhone 14 in at least some markets. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 lineup in September as usual.

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Top Rated Comments

HiVolt Avatar
43 months ago
I will take a SIM model for as long as it's offered.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
locovaca Avatar
43 months ago
I may be in the minority, but I truly do not want an eSim. I get the convenience in getting a new plan, but at the cost of the incovenience when you want to pop it in a different device, especially temporarily, just makes it a hard sell.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BradWI Avatar
43 months ago
I'll trade a SIM card reader for a headphone jack.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
43 months ago
well, considering current models support dual esim, not sure why it would be so important to do away with the sim tray.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sin_sniper468 Avatar
43 months ago
As someone who used to work for Apple, E-Sim was the worst!

Repair / replacing the device. You’d have to go to your carrier to get it activated.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mnsportsgeek Avatar
43 months ago
Why would anyone buy it if there's no benefit over the sim version? Even if you prefer esim, there's no reason not to a sim slot unless Apple will do something with the space.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)