If you’re living in the US, chances are if you bought the iPhone 14 or newer, your device does not come with a SIM card slot. Instead, you’d have to rely on an eSIM to select your carrier. However, in other parts of the world, iPhone customers had the option of going eSIM or regular SIM, but that could change for EU customers looking to buy the iPhone 17 .
iPhone 17 to be eSIM-only in the EU
According to a MacRumors report, they cite a source familiar with the matter that claims the iPhone 17 will be eSIM-only in the EU . The report says that retail employees at Apple Authorized Resellers in the EU are now required to undergo and complete a training source related to iPhones with eSIMs.
This is actually not the first time that we’ve heard this rumor. Last year, The Information already hinted that Apple plans to drop the physical SIM card slot in more countries. However, back then, the report did not say which model in particular. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had also earlier opined that the iPhone 17 Air could already be eSIM-only. This is because of its ultra-thin design, which forces Apple to ditch the physical SIM slot.
The analyst did not mention anything about the base iPhone 17 or the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models . However, there is a good chance Apple might apply it across the entire lineup, at least for the sake of consistency.
Why go eSIM?
For years, many of us relied on physical SIM cards to gain access to a cellular network. However, over the years, we’ve started to see the rise in the popularity of eSIMs. This is because eSIMs ditch the need for a physical SIM. Those SIM cards are so annoyingly tiny that if you’re traveling, it’s easy to lose them.
eSIMs, on the other hand, can be accessed through your phone’s settings. Apple claims that the iPhone can support as many as eight eSIMs at once. This means if you’re globe-trotting, swapping between local telcos will be a breeze. You will also no longer have to fiddle with SIM card slots or look for an ejector tool.
Apple also says that eSIMs are more secure than physical SIMs. This is because they cannot be removed, so physical SIM swap attacks are not possible.
