Apple aims to phase out the use of physical SIM cards in iPhones and completely switch to eSIM technology.
AppleIn the iPhone 14 series, which was launched in the USA in 2022, it removed the physical SIM card tray and completely switched to eSIM technology. It has been reported that the company plans to implement this change in more countries next year.
eSIM Revolution on iPhones Accelerates
According to The Information, the “iPhone 17 Air” model, which stands out especially with its ultra-thin design, will not have a SIM card tray. Thus, Apple will make eSIM technology available in a wider geography. Although it has not yet been announced which countries the company is targeting, it is expected that iPhones without SIM card tray will be available for sale in international markets with the release of the iPhone 17 series.
However, it is stated that in countries such as China that have not yet approved eSIM technology, the removal of the SIM card tray may affect the sales of the iPhone 17 Air. It is estimated that Apple is negotiating with regulatory authorities in relevant countries to overcome this obstacle.
Apple emphasizes that eSIM is more secure than physical SIM cards in case of loss or theft. Because eSIM cannot be physically removed from the iPhone and cannot be copied by unauthorized persons. Additionally, up to 8 eSIMs can be managed simultaneously on an iPhone. This eliminates the need to carry and change SIM cards while traveling.
Users can easily activate the eSIM profile of the operator they want on their iPhone. Thus, it is possible to benefit from the services of local operators in different countries at more affordable prices.
The removal of the SIM card tray can be seen as part of Apple’s long-held philosophy of simplification. In the past, the company has tried to simplify the user experience by removing some hardware features such as the headphone jack and Touch ID.
However, since eSIM technology is not yet widespread in all countries and operators, the use of physical SIM cards continues to be an important alternative. Removing the SIM card tray may pose a problem, especially for those who travel frequently or want to frequently change SIM cards from different operators.
Therefore, although Apple is not expected to completely remove the SIM card tray in the short term, it will be inevitable that we will see this transition in more markets in the medium and long term as eSIM technology matures. At this point, it is possible to say that the use of physical SIM cards for iPhones will gradually decrease.