Apple Reportedly Plans to Remove iPhone's SIM Card Tray in More Countries Next Year

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Apple is planning to remove the physical SIM card tray on iPhones in more countries next year, The Information said today, in a report focused on the ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air." However, the report did not mention any specific countries.

iPhone 16 SIM
In the U.S., all iPhone 14 through iPhone 16 models do not have a SIM card tray, and instead rely entirely on digital eSIM technology. Apple has yet to release any iPhones without a SIM card tray outside of the U.S., but it sounds like the change will finally expand internationally starting with the iPhone 17 lineup next September.

Indeed, the report said that all current "iPhone 17 Air" prototypes lack a SIM card tray. The report said it is unclear if the device will be sold in China as a result, since the country has not approved the use of eSIMs in smartphones. Of course, that could change.

When the iPhone 14 series launched in 2022, Apple promoted eSIMs as being more secure than a physical SIM, as they cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. In addition, at least eight eSIMs can be managed on an iPhone at once, eliminating the need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards while traveling.

Apple has a support document with a list of carriers around that world that support eSIMs.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17
Tag: The Information
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

DMG35 Avatar
DMG35
13 months ago
I thought this would be a bid deal but honestly for me it really hasn’t been. eSIM has been really good. But for people that travel internationally frequently I can see this being a big pain.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jonf1979 Avatar
Jonf1979
13 months ago
This will be a pain in the backside in the UK, where a lot of the virtual networks or pay as you go contracts do not offer e-sims
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Adora Avatar
Adora
13 months ago
I they do it in my country there will be no new iPhone for me anymore. I have some "anonymous" SIM cards and my main SIM card is a very old prepaid one that will never have that option I think.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
JPack
13 months ago

It super simply to change an eSIM to another device, there is no reason to keep physical SIM slots.
Only the slow and weak can't figure it out and complain.
No one is saying it can’t be easy. It’s about control. Some carriers ask for $$ to swap eSIMs to another device. You need to ask for their permission first. This is basically like voluntary DRM.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Porco Avatar
Porco
13 months ago
I hope the carriers continue to drag their feet on this and cause the slowest possible rollout of eSIM only iPhones. It’s anti-consumer, inconvenient and stupid.

Lemmings everywhere, celebrating the end of our choices.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
JPack
13 months ago

Why does Apple always try to sell removing things as a feature? Especially for people with multiple phones the option to simply take the SIM card out of one phone and put it into another phone is very convenient. And it will never cost a fee.
The more control Apple has over the ecosystem, the more power they have. By removing the SIM slot, Apple can at some point, demand carriers fork over 30% of their revenue, just like the Apple Store. The SIM is a critical gatekeeping feature.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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