Apple iPhone 17 for EU May Drop the Physical SIM Card Slot

Apple iPhone 17 May Not Have a SIM Card Slot

It looks like Apple might be gearing up to remove the physical SIM card slot from its upcoming iPhone 17 series in the European Union. This wouldn’t be entirely new territory for the tech giant, as they already made a similar switch in the US, starting with the iPhone 14.

The latest buzz comes from a report citing a source close to the matter. Apparently, Apple Authorized Reseller employees across the EU have been instructed to complete training on eSIM functionality by September 5th. This timing is incredibly telling, as it’s just days before the rumored iPhone 17 launch event on September 9th, strongly hinting that eSIM-only iPhones could soon land in the European market.

These training materials are reportedly accessible through Apple’s internal SEED app, which is used by Apple Stores and resellers worldwide. This detail opens up an intriguing possibility: Apple might be planning to expand its eSIM-only strategy beyond just the US and EU, potentially rolling it out globally, with exceptions perhaps in regions like China where eSIM adoption is still catching up.

The initial move to eSIM-only devices for the iPhone 14 in the US allowed Apple to eliminate the physical SIM tray, leading to a more streamlined device design and simplifying the remote activation process for various carriers.

While whispers of an ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air had already linked it to the removal of the SIM card slot, these new training directives suggest that the shift to eSIM could apply to the entire iPhone 17 lineup across the EU. Get ready for a potentially SIM-free future!