Apple has just announced the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro during its Far Out keynote today, and with it came some big news for customers in the United States. iPhones have supported eSIMs for a while today, but now, the iPhone 14 is dropping support for physical SIM cards in the US. This aligns with previous reports that Apple would be pushing harder for eSIMs, but the removal of physical SIM support altogether may come as a shock to some users.
I’m sorry I can’t get over this. So first it was the headphone jack, Apple just made that a thing and it was a big pain for a bit. Now no SIM card so if you’re traveling, you’re forced to pay for international roaming on your eSIM from US carriers?! #AppleEvent
— Joshua Vergara (@jvtechtea) September 7, 2022
Electronic SIMs, or eSIMs, allow you to connect to a cellular network without needing a physical card that you insert into the phone. They have some benefits, starting with the convenience of not having to swap cards, which requires a SIM removal tool. You can technically have multiple SIM profiles on a single phone, so switching between cellular plans becomes easier. It can also be beneficial for security since your SIM can’t be stolen by someone else.
There’s a new hidden cost on top of the $799 price tag for the iPhone 14, at least for those who want to travel around the world. Going forward, you’ll have to rely entirely on eSim, which is affixed to a phone’s motherboard and can’t be physically removed.
No physical SIM anymore on iPhone 14 – only eSIM. This will hurt people like me who travel internationally and swap SIM cards. How does @Apple force such unilateral decisions on its customers no one asked for? I know no body would listen but I still would like to express.
— Siddharth Manu सिद्धार्थ मनु سِدھّارتھ مَنوُ (@sidmanu) September 7, 2022
However, it also means you may not be able to change the SIM card easily, which can be inconvenient if you’re traveling. It’s not uncommon for travelers to buy a local SIM in the country they’re traveling to, allowing them to stay connected without the restrictions that sometimes come with roaming. If you live in the US and you plan to travel to a place where eSIMs aren’t as prominent, you may have trouble finding a local carrier.
Apple specifically mentioned this change for the United States, so it’s unclear if other markets will see a similar change. If not, it makes this change all the more interesting, as Apple is essentially acknowledging that certain countries aren’t ready for eSIM adoption just yet.
Of course, Apple is no stranger to controversial changes that cause some discomfort at first. The removal of the headphone jack was initially mocked in 2017, but now, most flagship phones don’t include it. We wouldn’t be surprised if the same ends up happening with eSIMs.
US iPhone models lose the SIM card tray. eSIM only. As expected.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 7, 2022
So long, SIM tray.
eSIM makes things simple. You can activate your new iPhone or add carriers digitally, so you’re calling and texting in no time.7
And unlike a physical card, eSIM can’t be removed if your iPhone is lost or stolen.
Sources : xda-developers , apple ,
