iPhone 17 Air Could Be An eSIM-Only Launch In All Countries

Apple might be shaking things up again next year by ditching the physical SIM card tray in more countries, according to The Information.

This change could roll out with the launch of the “iPhone 17 Air” next September, though no specific countries were named yet.

If you’re in the U.S., this probably isn’t news. Since the iPhone 14, Apple has fully embraced eSIM technology, leaving the SIM tray behind. But so far, this shift has been limited to the U.S. market. Now, it seems Apple is ready to take the eSIM-only approach international.

The report highlights that prototypes of the iPhone 17 Air don’t include a SIM tray. But there’s a catch: China, one of Apple’s largest markets, hasn’t approved eSIMs for smartphones yet. Whether that changes in time for the iPhone 17 remains to be seen.

Apple has been hyping eSIMs as more secure and practical than their physical counterparts. Unlike physical SIM cards, eSIMs can’t be removed from a stolen phone, and you can manage multiple eSIMs—up to eight—on a single device. This is especially handy for frequent travelers, as it eliminates the hassle of juggling physical SIM cards.

For those wondering if their carrier supports eSIM, Apple has a handy guide listing compatible providers worldwide. It looks like Apple’s vision for a sleeker, SIM-tray-free future is picking up speed—one country at a time.