In his newsletter, Gurman predicted that “Apple will give eSIM a larger push this time around, with carriers planning to guide consumers toward the digital, integrated SIM cards rather than physical ones.” In fact, Apple has thought about doing away with the physical SIM card port entirely starting this year or next for some models.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has privately considered the possibility of releasing some iPhone models without a SIM card slot by the end of the year. Gurman stated that the action would be a part of Apple’s push toward eSIMs in his most recent Power On newsletter. Although Gurman suggested that the change may not occur until the iPhone 15 next year, which Apple is scheduled to introduce in only three days, some iPhone 14 models may no longer have a SIM card port, he claimed. It has previously been claimed that the SIM card slot will eventually be eliminated.
Highlights
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iPhone 13 models sold at Apple Stores and on Apple.com already lack a nano-SIM card in the box, with users typically able to activate a cellular plan via eSIM by turning on the iPhone, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and following the on-screen instructions. iPhone 13 models also support multiple eSIM profiles, allowing users to subscribe to several cellular plans digitally and switch between them, which is useful for travel.
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Users can activate a cellular plan using an eSIM, or electronic SIM, instead of a physical nano-SIM card. Some iPhone models with a SIM card slot may continue to be accessible for at least a few years during the transition, despite the fact that eSIM availability is quickly expanding but the technology is still not available in all nations.
The removal of the SIM card slot could help to further improve the iPhone’s water resistance, and perhaps free up a tiny amount of space inside the device. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 lineup during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday. Other products expected to be announced include Apple Watch Series 8 models, a new Apple Watch SE, an Apple Watch Pro, and new AirPods Pro.