iPhone 14 Series Dumps Physical SIM Card Slot in Favor of eSIM: Report

According to a report, Apple is preparing to release its new iPhone models without a physical SIM card slot from September 2022. The iPhone models in question would instead only include eSIM support for cellular network connectivity. The change could happen to the iPhone 14 family next year. Apple has offered eSIM support on its iPhone models since the launch of the iPhone XS in September 2018. However, at the moment all iPhone models have a Nano-SIM card slot in addition to eSIM support.

Citing an apparently legitimate document shared by an anonymous tipster, MacRumors reports that Apple has recommended major US operators prepare for eSIM-only smartphones by September. Some carriers would start offering select iPhone 13 models without a Nano SIM in the box in Q2 2022 as part of the transition. This would allow users to access their primary network using eSIM.

It is important to note that unlike previous models, the iPhone 13 series supports multiple eSIM profiles that enable dual-SIM support with eSIM. This means that users can access two different networks on the latest iPhone models without using their Nano SIM cards. It could be just the beginning, as there’s speculation that Apple will transition to the full eSIM model next year.

A tipster who uses the pseudonym Dylan on Twitter also has tweeted to confirm the news that Apple plans to remove physical SIM card support from its iPhone models.

By removing the Nano SIM card slot, Apple may be able to offer future iPhone models better water resistance and improved design. It would also give the manufacturer the leeway to add some other components instead of the physical SIM card slot.

Gadgets 360 has reached out to Apple for comment and will update this article when the company responds.

In India, three major private telecom operators – Airtel, Vi and Jio – support eSIM connectivity. Indian telcos would therefore not be required to make additional efforts to go along with Apple’s reported decision to ditch nano-SIM card slots in the future.