eSIM is not illegal in China, Apple is selling iPad with eSIM in China. China Unicom is the only carrier support eSIM on iPad.
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Other iPhone 17 Pro - No SIM card slot
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eSIM is not illegal in China, Apple is selling iPad with eSIM in China. China Unicom is the only carrier support eSIM on iPad.
eSims are not illegal in China, but their regulations do require that phones have a sim slot.
Not all places/countries yet fully support eSIM yet, just a random example, some may accept postpaid, but not prepaid (which would be one of the popular usages of eSIM for pre-paid while travelling/tourism). Some have transferring eSIM from phone to phone very buggy etc.
I like both eSIM and physical for different scenarions. A random example of eSIM being an advantage is when for me AT&T was able to sign me up for a new line and activate an esim for it, while being half a world away. That saved me.
So both have have cons and pros. Overall I believe eSIM is several years away from being magical and fully embraced by carriers.
I see, illegal is the wrong word. They are allowed in China but not supported on Chinese phone models so far.
No it’s not. eSIM it’s not a SIM card, nor it uses the same technology.
By the way I’m using an eSIM since iPhone 14 PM and I’m happy about that. The swap to the new iPhone 16 PM was an easy process.
For sure carriers all over the world should support it.
eSIM is still SIM card... it uses same protocol, same electrical interface, same standard. You can even un-solider the eSIM card from iPhone and solider physical SIM card to the eSIM's connection pins on the motherboard.
That's good for you. My carrier won't support swap eSIM between iPhones and iPhone certainly can't transfer the eSIM to my Pixel phones.
The eSIM is pain in the ass to deal with. It is difficult to swap SIM between different types of phones, if you accidentally deleted SIM or you need to reset your iPhone, you need to get new eSIM code.
Sure. Until that day, physical SIM is here to stay
Again, no you’re wrong and I don’t know why do you insist.
Blame your carrier about that, not the technology. Technically to swap an eSIM you just need to have a standing QR code from your carrier and deactivate the eSIM on the phone where it is installed before activate it on the new one.
Operators who choose to have a different way are just trying to limit your freedom …
If Apple chooses otherwise, many carriers will follow, considering the huge user base.
I think ability to easily swap SIM card between devices is more free than have to request carrier for new QR code each time you need to change SIM.
Sure. Not until China approves use of eSIM... Physical card is here to stay.
I don't know why you keep insist eSIM is entirely different technology than physical SIM. It is like you are arguing soldered SSD with removable SSD.
eSIM still follows same security protocol, communicate with cell tower in same way, function exactly same way. Believe or not, there was a programable physical SIM card before.
You keep speaking about things you don’t know: you don’t have to request a new QR code each time. The QR code is in your email box to stay.
So now China has to “approve” eSIM ? Above you wrote they are legal…
Again NO. That’s basic cellular working principles. Security protocols have nothing to do with the fact of using an ‘80 technology like a physical SIM card which takes more space in the phone (the tray is taking A LOT of space even for a nanoSIM).
Does not matter if one agrees or not. The industry is moving away from removable SIM cards.
No. I have been use eSIM for very long time. QR code are one time use only and cannot be used if you setup on other phone.
This is the annoying part of eSIM. New QR code will need to generated each time if you want transfer to new phone.
They are legal, but not being used on phones. Until a time, when all Chinese carriers starting accepting eSIM, physical card is here to stay.
Again, no. The physical SIM is LOT more convenient. Until all carriers supports eSIM, and allow switch eSIM between phones (between iPhone and Android), then physical SIM card won’t replace eSIM.
eSIMS have come a long way in that it's so easy to swap them from phone-phone these days. I like em!
Better for the Pro and regular iPhone lineup to keep the SIM for most of the world. Problem is most of the world doesn’t support eSIM. Apple doesn’t want to cut out like 3/4ths of the world from enjoying their latest phones.
But the iPhone Air could very well cut out physical SIM, Apple would squeeze every last cubic millimeter out of its internals. That would be the carrot to get carriers to support eSIM who don’t now.
But the iPhone Air could very well cut out physical SIM, Apple would squeeze every last cubic millimeter out of its internals. That would be the carrot to get carriers to support eSIM who don’t now.
That’s carrier choice. In EU several carriers use a QR code connected to a number. You can move to another phone. You just have to remember to deactivate it on the current phone first (under WiFi coverage).
World doesn’t end in China
A lot more convenient FOR YOU. In many countries, including US, eSIM already replaced physical SIMs
Right. That just proves the point that eSIM is nowhere near to the point for mass adoption. None of the Canadian carriers offer the ability to move eSIM to other phone without go through bunch of hoops.
Not mention any prepaid carriers.
Secondly: eSIM requires Wi-Fi. Imagine you are in spot where there is no Wi-Fi coverage and you need change your SIM. This happened to me where I did not activated eSIM intended for US. I couldn’t activate eSIM until I got into my hotel.
World doesn’t end in US. There is reason why Apple only offer eSIM only in United States.
There are a LOT more countries don’t offer eSIM than one does.
eSIM has been pain in the a** for me. I am going to keep use physical SIM. If Apple were to choose force eSIM upon on me, then I will ditch iPhone.
Sure, many countries still aren’t ready for eSIM, but Apple could “force” a little bit the upgrade process. They already did in the past (3.5mm jack ?).
Physical SIMs are a way for carriers to “control” customers (that’s why China doesn’t like eSIM, because they are technically even more advanced than US as a market), so they are not very keen to ditch it. But to take very precious space inside a smartphone with a ‘90 technology like SIM is a waste of resources.
3.5mm jack is not dead technology, there are phones are still included 3.5mm. 3.5mm is also include on Macs and iPads.
Whether or not it is due to carrier control, you can’t deny the versatility of physical SIM.
This is great news. The SIM card slot will probably be replaced by a memory chip in 2026. They need to make place for it. R.I.P. SIM card slot.
www.macrumors.com
Apple Looking to Fundamentally Change iPhone Memory Design to Enhance AI Performance
Apple is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone hardware design by transitioning to discrete memory packaging to enhance on-device AI...
www.macrumors.com
The news was a fake.This is great news. The SIM card slot will probably be replaced by a memory chip in 2026. They need to make place for it. R.I.P. SIM card slot.
Apple Looking to Fundamentally Change iPhone Memory Design to Enhance AI Performance
Apple is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone hardware design by transitioning to discrete memory packaging to enhance on-device AI...
By the way it isn’t sure they were planning to remove SIM slot to make space…
Let's hope that you are correct. The iPad has been eSIM only for at least two generations now, and there's no sign of Apple backing out. Worst case some countries will switch out of Apple's cellular devices due to no support for physical SIM (and puny support for eSIM by local cellular providers).
I see Apple going to eSIM only is another way for them to tie iPhone users into its ecosystem. The eSIM transfer function between iPhone and Android is non-existence and some Canadian carriers charges fee for issuing new eSIM QR code.
I am switching phones a lot. I typically go iPhone for half year and Android for half year. I am not going to pay carrier a fee each time I switch phones.