For those who’re shopping for a brand new iPhone 16 mannequin within the US, it’s going to come with no SIM card tray, and you will want to change to an eSIM – as is the brand new Apple norm. However in case 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 outdoors of the US lack assist for 5G mmWave. This tech guarantees blistering obtain speeds, however provided that you are standing on high of a 5G tower in the midst of an open subject. 5G mmWave has been a blended bag, so this is not a selected 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 truly be extremely useful to iPhone customers. Notably, you should use as much as eight eSIMs in your gadget, so you possibly can have a number of numbers and networks assist on one gadget. That is notably helpful in case you journey continuously to completely different nations, or you might be Walter White. You’ll be able to swap your quantity and community with out eradicating your SIM card, and gone are the times of shedding that pesky SIM pin you have 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, conserving your iPhone’s internals safer and sounder.
Thankfully, you possibly can nonetheless use eSIMs on any latest iPhone mannequin with a SIM tray. So, you have acquired the choice to go totally digital if you want.
