Apple Planning To Release An eSIM-only iPhone 14 Model In Select Countries: Report

As many countries in Asia and Europe are adopting the eSIM technology, Apple could also fully switch to the new standard. As per a new report, the company may release the new iPhone 14 with eSIM-only versions in certain markets around the world. The Cupertino-based firm may not fully switch over to eSIM-only models for all its upcoming iPhones just yet. Rather, it could plan to test the waters before completely transitioning to the technology.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, physical SIM cards could soon be obsolete. Major U.S. wireless carriers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T echo a similar sentiment, predicting a future without SIM cards. To recall, the iPhone 13 came without physical SIM cards in the box. Meanwhile some Android phones were early adopters of the technology, with Google’s Pixel 2 phones being the first smartphone with eSIM tech in 2017. Moreover, Motorola’s foldable Razr phone went fully eSIM-only back in 2019.

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Mobile phone users in Asia and Europe tend to use dual SIM phones which allow them to switch between different service providers, and even keep work and personal life separate. However, those in the US still continue to stick with one carrier. But that could change soon.  Jeff Howard, vice president of mobile devices and accessories at AT&T calls the adoption of eSIM “a natural evolution” which will “make the experience better down the road.”

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The third-gen iPhone SE didn’t come with a physical SIM, which prompted Verizon to train its employees to bring more eSIM customers on board. Physical SIMs won’t immediately go out of fashion. However, the report states that once Apple stops offering support for physical SIM cards on the new iPhones, we can expect eSIM to be the new standard.