Since the iPhone 14, Apple’s smartphones in the US have lost their SIM card slot, while in other countries, they support a combination of physical and eSIM. A new rumor surfaced suggesting Apple is about to eliminate the physical SIM card tray from the iPhone 17 in more countries.
Retail employers at Apple Authorized Resellers in the European Union are required to complete training related to eSIM, according to a report by MacRumors. Sources familiar with the matter say that the deadline to complete the course is Friday, September 5.
Apple’s “Awe dropping.” event is scheduled for only four days later, and it’ll be held on Tuesday, September 9. The company is expected to announce the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a new thin model, which might be known as iPhone 17 Air, at the event.
The change may not be limited to the European Union. The training information is available to European retail employers through Apple’s SEED app. That platform is used by employers of the official Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers worldwide, and it isn’t limited to Europe.
Expanding that change to more countries would make sense, especially considering the rumors we’ve heard over the last year. Reports that the iPhone 17 Air may lack a SIM card slot due to being too thin have surfaced as early as last October. Other rumors have claimed that the change might extend to the whole iPhone 17 lineup across markets.
Would you get an eSIM-only iPhone 17?
Yes, I already use eSIM
27.78%
Maybe, if my carrier supports it
33.33%
No, I need a physical SIM
38.89%
It is likely that Apple will keep the physical SIM option at least in some countries, including China. While in most countries iPhones support both eSIM and physical SIM, in China and a few other markets, they feature dual SIM with two physical cards.
Recently, Google released the Pixel 10 with eSIM only in the US, following Apple’s lead. Samsung offers the Galaxy S25 with a combination of eSIM and physical SIM support, including in the US. However, in some markets outside the US, Samsung phones have dual physical SIMs, and the Pixel 10 has a combination of physical and eSIM.
When I travel abroad, I love having connectivity options, so losing the physical SIM slot would be a bummer. Sometimes it’s cheaper and easier to buy a local SIM and just pop it in your phone. However, there are various international eSIM services that are sometimes easier and cheaper for travelers, and I like having access to that. So, I hope that in my market, Apple keeps both options available.
Recommended Stories
"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!
Good news everyone! Over the past year we've been working on an exciting passion project of ours and we're thrilled to announce it will be ready to release in just a few short months.
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every tech-head that will bring you on a journey to relive the greatest technological revolution of the 21st century. For more details, simply follow the link below!
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
![Verizon is down across the US, and no one knows when service will be back [UPDATED]](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/173671-wide-two_350/Verizon-is-down-across-the-US-and-no-one-knows-when-service-will-be-back-UPDATED.webp)
![Some T-Mobile users need to restart their phones [UPDATED]](https://m-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/173654-wide-two_350/Some-T-Mobile-users-need-to-restart-their-phones-UPDATED.webp)
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: