iPhone 14 will be eSIM only, but only in the US
The new iPhone 14 devices unveiled at Apple’s Far Out event on September 7 will not have SIM trays for models sold in the United States.
While devices sold overseas will retain their physical SIM card slot, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max devices sold in the United States will be eSIM only. Read: What is Dual SIM on iPhone? How is it configured and used?
“iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max remove the SIM tray for US models, allowing users to set up their device faster and easier,” Apple’s press release reads. eSIM simplifies the management of multiple phone numbers and cellular services without having to swap physical SIM cards (like separate work and home numbers).
But the technology hasn’t rolled out to all carriers in the US, leaving users with one of the smaller carriers an easy choice: either switch to a carrier that supports eSIM, or skip this year’s iPhone. .
In contrast, the iPhone is the most popular smartphone in the United States, and the switch to SIM-only could push smaller carriers to eSIM.
Implications of an eSIM-only approach
Whichever way you look at it, the move to eSIM will temporarily bother some US customers – until the technology is available on all US carriers.
For people traveling outside the US, the lack of a physical SIM tray could mean having to buy an iPhone 14 outside the US just to be able to switch carriers and get cellular service from non-US carriers. to use, which do not support eSIM. Technology. Again, only iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro units sold outside the US can store multiple eSIM profiles and use two active SIMs at the same time (one physical SIM and one eSIM or two eSIMs). In addition to iPhone XS and later, Apple Watch Series 3 and later also supports eSIM and all iPads manufactured in 2018 or later.
What are the benefits of eSIM technology?
All iPhone models from iPhone XS (2018) onwards have supported both physical SIM cards and eSIM technology, so this is the first time US iPhones will work exclusively with eSIM. With an eSIM, you can digitally sign up for a cellular service, without going to a courier or waiting for a physical SIM card to arrive. With eSIM, you can do things that are not possible with physical SIM cards, such as subscribing to a new plan directly on your device, transferring your existing cellular plan to another device (via Bluetooth, if you are using iOS 16), switch between multiple cellular subscriptions and phone numbers by storing multiple eSIM profiles on your device and so on.
According to The Verge, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro store at least eight eSIMs, although two may be active at the same time, a feature called dual SIM.
How dual SIM technology works
It allows you to buy a prepaid SIM in the destination country to make low-cast local calls and maybe surf the web a bit without roaming costs, keeping your phone number for incoming calls from home.
Visit Apple’s website for a list of wireless carriers that support eSIM.
eSIM also frees up valuable space which can be used for a larger battery or other functions and is safer because no one can remove the SIM card if the phone is lost or stolen. Read: Using a friend’s iPhone to locate your lost device
