Key Takeaways
1. The iPhone 16 supports both nano-SIM and eSIM in Europe, while the US model only allows two eSIMs.
2. The iPhone 17, launching on September 9, may eliminate the physical SIM card slot in Europe.
3. Apple employees in the EU must complete training on eSIM-compatible iPhones by September 5 in preparation for the iPhone 17.
4. Since the iPhone 14, US users can manage two eSIMs and store up to eight eSIMs, but cannot use physical SIM cards.
5. Users must purchase eSIMs online instead of buying physical SIM cards, and may need to convert from a SIM card to an eSIM when upgrading to a new iPhone.
The Apple iPhone 16 offers support for both nano-SIM and eSIM in Europe, but in the US, it only allows the use of two eSIMs. With the upcoming release of the iPhone 17 set for September 9, there is a possibility that Apple will exclusively utilize digital SIM cards in Europe and eliminate the physical SIM card slot altogether.
Training for Apple Employees
MacRumors has found a note in Apple’s SEED app, which is aimed at training staff at Apple Stores. This note indicates that employees in the European Union are required to finish their training on eSIM-compatible iPhones by September 5 at the latest. The timing hints that this training is to prepare for the iPhone 17 launch. However, it’s still unclear whether all four models in the iPhone 17 series will lack the SIM card slot or if just the iPhone 17 Air will be without it due to its slim design.
Changes in eSIM Usage
In the US, since the iPhone 14, users can manage two eSIM cards at the same time and can store up to eight eSIMs on their devices, which simplifies handling various SIMs while traveling. Nevertheless, this also means that users can no longer simply buy a SIM card at the airport and insert it into their iPhone. Instead, they must purchase eSIMs online, which might require some adjustments. Furthermore, when moving to a new iPhone, users should be aware that they may need to swap out a SIM card for an eSIM.
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