Other Will iPhone 15 be SIM free for the rest of the world (except HK & China)?

[9Benua]

We know Apple is trying to force esim and yet most of the world is not ready. Will they

1. Phase out PSIM for the rest of the world next year (iPhone 15)
2. Expand SIM free to some countries who are ready (EU, Canada, Australia etc) and still provide PSIM version to other countries (Asia region)?
3. Provide pSIM version for US (unlikely IMHO)

What's your prediction?

 

[mystery hill]

eSIM for everywhere, except China.

Carriers in Hong Kong have supported eSIM for a while, and the eSIM iPhone edition is currently sold there.

 

[JPack]

Definitely not entire world. Just count the number of carriers on this page that support carrier activation and use common sense.

Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone - Apple Support

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile data plan from your network provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out which wireless carriers in your country or region offer cellular plans on an eSIM, either activated by eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick...

support.apple.com

 

[mystery hill]

Carriers in over 80 countries support eSIM via other activation methods.

iPhone 14 and 14 Pro being eSIM-only in the US should signal to carriers everywhere else that Apple is moving on from physical SIMs.

 

[JPack]

Carriers in over 80 countries support eSIM via other activation methods.

iPhone 14 and 14 Pro being eSIM-only in the US should signal to carriers everywhere else that Apple is moving on from physical SIMs.

It's not really about the # of countries, it's the # of carriers in each country and the method used. Apple cares about a low friction OOBE.

In theory, Apple would love to cut costs and make Canada eSIM only, but nobody in Canada supports eSIM carrier activation.

 

[StuBFrost]

esim is very hit and miss in the uk and isn’t even available to pay as you go and many corporate customers so unless that changes in the near future then uk sales would drop drastically.

 

[JDP1970]

As long as China doesn’t have eSIM, I wouldn’t expect a physical SIM free phone to be rolled out in Asia.

In many countries, I doubt physical SIM’s are going away anytime soon - a lot of people can’t afford the latest smartphones.

As for Europe, I fear the worst & suspect my next iPhone will be purchased in Asia, rather than the UK.

 

[9Benua]

I wonder when will Samsung follow suit as well

 

[Paddle1]

Who said that those countries are ready? Some Canadian carriers will force you get a physical QR code just to set up an eSIM. My carrier has no eSIM support at all.

It's clear that even in the United States that Apple had to make special arrangements to get the carriers in-line with it, good luck to them doing that all around the world.

 

[9Benua]

Who said that those countries are ready? Some Canadian carriers will force you get a physical QR code just to set up an eSIM. My carrier has no eSIM support at all.

It's clear that even in the United States that Apple had to make special arrangements to get the carriers in-line with it, good luck to them doing that all around the world.

My assumption is those carrier takes the hint from Apple and have 1 year to be ready for eSIM adoption. Whether you want to admit it or not, the future is most likely eSIM. The question is how fast will we get there. Unless you want to argue that PSIM is here to stay.

 

[Paddle1]

My assumption is those carrier takes the hint from Apple and have 1 year to be ready for eSIM adoption. Whether you want to admit it or not, the future is most likely eSIM. The question is how fast will we get there. Unless you want to argue that PSIM is here to stay.

A "hint" may not be enough. It depends on whether the carriers/countries want to comply or not. The ones that are actively against it could slow things down.

Removing it in more regions next year certainly sounds like something Apple would try though. It's frustrating too because eSIM gives carriers the ability to make things much more difficult. Canada literally has the world's most expensive carriers who happen to like to collude and it will easily create a more consumer-hostile environment. Some time for laws to catch up could help with that in theory.

 

[JDP1970]

Believe it or not, a colleague of mine doesn’t own a smartphone & that’s in the UK.

I don’t doubt that ultimately, an eSIM will be the future, however, perhaps physical SIM cards are going to be around a lot longer than Apple would like.

 

[9Benua]

A "hint" may not be enough. It depends on whether the carriers/countries want to comply or not. The ones that are actively against it could slow things down.

Removing it in more regions next year certainly sounds like something Apple would try though. It's frustrating too because eSIM gives carriers the ability to make things much more difficult. Canada literally has the world's most expensive carriers who happen to like to collude and it will easily create a more consumer-hostile environment. Some time for laws to catch up could help with that in theory.

If only we can know where Apple plans to expand the simfree iPhone version next so I can make the decision to buy the 14 from Canada this year or get the 15 CA version next year with pSIM

 

[Ram65]

Will the new apple modem that will be featured in the Iphone 15 series be worldwide eSim ?

 

[nyermen]

Suspect the answer to this could be if they go for no ports next year at all. Scrap the lightning for magsafe (forget usb-c) and it would make sense they'd want to scrap the sim tray too.

Hope they dont personally, because I like to stick my work sim in my personal phone (BYOD), but don't think they're setup to give us esims.

 

[Feyl]

If so, iPhone 14 Pro will be my last iPhone. It will happen but I think it will probably take more than 2 years.

 

[casjohnr]

Randomly brings back memories of when I was growing up as a kid in the early 00s and helped a family friend on a car boot / market stall every weekend (flea market in USA lingo!)

SIM cards used to cost money those days but every so often O2 did a free SIM card promotion, so I abused it slightly and used about 10 different addresses of family and friends to receive loads of free SIM cards and then sold them on the stall for £5 a piece and they absolutely flew out every time, made me feel like a millionaire at that age!

Even became clever and started to hold back the 'golden numbers' (easy to remember numbers) and sold those on eBay for a much higher price too!

 

[jamesrick80]

This is not a good idea for those who travel a lot. It's a definite "no buy" from me. Physical Sim cards can be a lifesaver in certain countries. I don't think Samsung will implement this currently due to a reduction in potential sales and I would be cautious to purchase this year's iPhone if you are someone who is a worldwide traveler.

For what you pay for this device, both options should be there at least for the next 5 years until other countries really catch up. It seems like another Apple Money grab and it looks like they removed the physical sim tray/slot to increase their profits and as usual they place the customer needs on the back burner. I am really starting to question their business practices.

I do wonder how many non tech people who have ordered the new iPhone do not have any idea that it does not have the Sim tray. Many people will be surprised.

 

[NickRivas]

I was worried about this then realized my current 14 pro order in the EU (and basically everywhere outside the US) has both eSIM and the physical SIM slot. Best of both worlds. It would suck if the 15 is eSim everywhere. It's not so much an issue in the EU but I do travel often and many countries in Central & South America haven't caught up to eSIM, and those that do are limited and don't offer it for prepaid plans, I think around 2 years and the situation will be better. Hopefully the 15 supports SIM cards outside the US, and maybe by the time the 16 is released, eSIM is well adapted around the world.