In case you’re shopping for a brand new iPhone 16 mannequin within the US, it’s going to come and not using a SIM card tray, and you will want to change to an eSIM – as is the brand new Apple norm. However when you’re choosing one up anyplace else, you may nonetheless get a tool with the tray.
Ever for the reason that iPhone 14, Apple has been nudging the US towards a SIM-free existence. The newest greatest iPhone would not include a SIM card tray, however that is not the case anyplace else. In actual fact, the US iPhone 16 fashions have completely different mannequin numbers, indicating that they are the odd ones out. It nonetheless appears bizarre, as eSIMs are used all around the world. I have been utilizing an eSIM since 2020 within the UK, even on units with a SIM card tray.
However the SIM card tray is not the one distinction to US and non-US iPhone 16s. All iPhone 16 fashions exterior of the US lack help for 5G mmWave. This tech guarantees blistering obtain speeds, however provided that you are standing on prime of a 5G tower in the midst of an open discipline. 5G mmWave has been a blended bag, so this is not a specific loss for anybody. However, it nonetheless appears odd for Apple to proceed to solely add it to US iPhone fashions.
eSIMs are nonetheless supported
Whereas it sounds inconvenient at face worth, eradicating the SIM card tray and switching to eSIM can really be extremely helpful to iPhone customers. Notably, you should use as much as eight eSIMs in your machine, so you’ll be able to have a number of numbers and networks help on one machine. That is notably helpful when you journey steadily to completely different nations, or you’re Walter White. You may swap your quantity and community with out eradicating your SIM card, and gone are the times of dropping that pesky SIM pin it’s essential to pop the tray open.
Eradicating the SIM card tray additionally makes manufacturing the iPhone simpler for Apple, saving money and time, and it is one much less port for water and mud ingress, holding your iPhone’s internals safer and sounder.
Luckily, you’ll be able to nonetheless use eSIMs on any current iPhone mannequin with a SIM tray. So, you have acquired the choice to go absolutely digital if you want.