The Downsides of eSIM-only iPhone 14s
When Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 last week, it delivered a bombshell: traditional SIM cards will be phased out in favor of integrated (or eSIM) cards. In this article, we’ll deconstruct that news and look at what it implies for iPhone users in terms of privacy and other important factors.
eSIM Cards: How Does it Work
eSIM cards are SIM cards that have been implanted. They are “hardwired into the phone itself,” according to the FCC, and may be separate components affixed to the phone’s circuit board, a semiconductor module built into the phone’s principal chipset, or just a secured algorithm running on the phone’s software, depending on the manufacturer.
Apple installed eSIM as “hardware components that are physically soldered into” the phone, according to Juniper Research. Other sources have contacted Apple to learn if the eSIM in the iPhone 14 is implemented purely via its own dedicated hardware component, built within the SBC (single-board computer), or through software. We will notify you if we get a response.
Despite the hype surrounding Apple’s September 7 launch, eSIM was not implemented with the iPhone 14. Only SIM cards were supported by iPhones up to and including the iPhone X. iPhones following the iPhone X, XR, and 13 series allowed what Apple refers to as Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM). These devices, in essence, feature a SIM tray with a detachable SIM card as well as eSIM functionality. The iPhone 13 series also included the ability to support Dual eSIM as well as Android phone transfer capability.
The iPhone 14 is distinguished by the removal of physical SIM support for all US-sold phones in favor of eSIM exclusively. It, too, supports dual eSIM. According to XDA, there will be three SIM variations of the iPhone.
Further Details
This is a perk that we’ve heard about on the internet. The idea has some validity. Smartphones must pack a lot of power into a little package that you can carry in your palm. SIM trays have a volume of around 100 square millimeters, which isn’t much, but phone manufacturers might utilize that space for one additional chip or a very slightly larger battery.
However, you may have to give up some privacy. You cannot stay completely anonymous when using an eSIM-only phone. To acquire a phone plan, you must first register with a carrier, and that registration will include your name and financial information. Using eSIM-only phones as burner phones will be much more difficult, if not impossible.
Furthermore, the absence of a SIM tray makes travel with US-sold iPhone 14s far less easy. Gone are the days of arriving at an airport, simply purchasing a new SIM card, and then using the local phone system. Instead, passengers will very certainly pay significant roaming or switching fees in order to supply an eSIM in the destination country.
In certain situations, discount carriers will be unavailable, so whether in the United States or overseas, individuals used to obtaining the greatest bargains will likely pay more.
