After the headphone jack, the SIM card slot too? According to a message published over the Christmas holidays, Apple is planning the end of the physical SIM for the “iPhone 15 Pro”. Allegedly, the smartphones planned for autumn 2023 lack a slot for the cards currently supported in nano design for the first time.
One year grace period?
Instead, Apple will then rely entirely on the eSIM technology, which Apple first introduced in 2018 with the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, it is said. Only the LTE-capable Apple Watch has never had a SIM card slot, and iPads with cellular radio capability also have corresponding compartments. The “iPhone 14” planned for next year should continue to work with nano SIMs, so there would be a grace period of one year.
Like the one coming out in Brazil Blog do iPhone claims that Apple wants to take another step towards a “completely wireless” smartphone with the measure. There have been rumors for years that Apple is also setting the Lightning port and charging (via MagSafe) and synchronizing (via WLAN or LTE / 5G) completely wirelessly.
Better sealing
A missing SIM card slot would also have the advantage that the iPhone would be easier to seal against the ingress of water. Then Apple would only have to protect the switches and the (probably preserved) Lightning connector from the effects of liquids. Replacing the SIM card compartment component including the slot would no longer be necessary; repairs have so far been necessary here. The headphone jack had already been buried by Apple on the iPhone 7.
With the iPhone 13, Apple supports eSIMs in dual operation for the first time. This means that there is actually no longer any reason to use physical SIMs – at least in countries where all mobile phone providers offer eSIMs. However, physical SIMs have the advantage that you can easily get replacement cards – for example abroad. In China, for example, Apple relies on dual SIMs of a physical design, a feature that has never been seen in western iPhones.
(bsc)