In the United States, the iPhone 14 is eSIM-only

The new iPhone 14 series will not have a real SIM card port in the United States. Instead, Apple is focusing only on eSIM technology. While some iPhone users have already switched to eSIM, the majority have not. Before the first iPhone 14 orders arrive on September 16, here are some specifics on Apple’s eSIM support.

iPhone 14 will be eSIM only in the United States

For many years, the iPhone family has supported eSIM technology. The iPhone XS was the first model to have the technology, and every subsequent iPhone has supported eSIM. Each of the iPhone versions had a nano SIM card slot. So you didn’t have to use an eSIM if you didn’t want to.

eSIMs, also known as embedded SIMs, are SIM cards that may be programmed electronically. This implies there is no actual SIM card to install or activate in your iPhone. Instead, you provide your carrier information and the carrier remotely configures your iPhone to connect to their network.

Once this procedure has been finished, your iPhone functions exactly as it would with a real SIM card. It’s also worth noting that only the iPhone 14 devices shipped in the United States will support eSIM. Other nations’ models will retain a nano-SIM card slot.

Apple notes in a support page that you will be able to switch your physical SIM to an eSIM during the iPhone 14 setup procedure. Even if you’ve never used an eSIM before, you can do it. Make sure you read that paper.

Concerns Regarding eSIM-Only iPhones

Rumors circulated prior to the iPhone 14 presentation that Apple intended to expand its emphasis on eSIM technology. Although it had been speculated that Apple might abandon the real SIM card entirely, many people were taken aback by the revelation.

Most consumers should find the iPhone 14 eSIM transition to be as good as, if not better than, using a traditional SIM. It won’t be as drastic a lifestyle adjustment as the iPhone 7’s removal of the headphone jack was. The issue is, of course, how smooth the procedure is to get there. While Apple has defined the changeover process, there are other things to consider.

Could carriers become overwhelmed and experience activation troubles on the day the iPhone 14 is released? Transitioning millions of people to eSIM must be more difficult than just switching SIM cards and using the move to iOS app from an old iPhone to a new iPhone. Apple’s servers may prove problematic during this changeover, and we doubt the whole procedure will be without problems.

Another issue is that this may give carriers greater authority. They might impose user-hostile restrictions and make switching to a competitor network more difficult. They may levy extra “activation” costs. US carriers have a history of pushing the boundaries of what smartphone customers are prepared to accept.

Even if there are some hiccups in the transition to eSIM, the end outcome will be much more convenient for the vast majority of consumers. In terms of foreign travel, the iPhone 14’s ability to accommodate several eSIMs should make the procedure simpler. The trick will be to choose a carrier that supports eSIMs at all. This may be a difficulty for tourists utilizing an iPhone 14 from the United States in a nation where eSIM technology is not widely available.

We’re interested to see how this plays out, and we hope it’s an easier transition for the majority of consumers.