Sticking with Physical SIM Cards: Apples iPhone 16 Series Retains SIM Card Tray Outside the US

Sticking with Physical SIM Cards: Apples iPhone 16 Series Retains SIM Card Tray Outside the USApples newly launched iPhone 16 series, consisting of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, still feature physical SIM card trays in regions outside the United States. Despite doing away with SIM card trays for all iPhone 14 models in the US two years ago, forcing users to rely on eSIMs, the latest iPhone 16 series retains physical SIM card support in most parts of the world

Sticking with Physical SIM Cards: Apples iPhone 16 Series Retains SIM Card Tray Outside the US

Apples newly launched iPhone 16 series, consisting of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, still feature physical SIM card trays in regions outside the United States. Despite doing away with SIM card trays for all iPhone 14 models in the US two years ago, forcing users to rely on eSIMs, the latest iPhone 16 series retains physical SIM card support in most parts of the world.

According to technical specifications on Apples website, all four iPhone 16 models sold outside the US remain compatible with nano-SIM cards. Countries and regions including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, and Singapore will continue to support physical SIM cards on these devices. Additionally, most of these regions also support eSIMs, allowing for dual SIM functionality with cellular networks.

Two years ago, Apple removed the physical SIM card tray from the iPhone 14 series in the US, opting solely for eSIM support. At the time, Apple touted eSIMs as being more secure than physical SIM cards, as they cannot be physically removed from the iPhone in case of loss or theft. Apple also added that up to 8 eSIMs can be managed within the iPhone's settings app, eliminating the hassle of getting, carrying, and switching physical SIMs while traveling.

However, despite the growing availability of eSIMs, Apple seems to be holding back on fully abandoning physical SIM cards. The inclusion of physical SIM card trays in the newly released iPhone 16 series in most parts of the world indicates that Apple has not completely made the shift to eSIMs.

In a support document, Apple has outlined a list of global carriers that support eSIM technology. This document offers detailed information for those who wish to explore eSIM functionality and compatibility.

While eSIM adoption is likely to continue, physical SIM cards appear to be here for the foreseeable future. This is undoubtedly good news for those who are accustomed to using physical SIM cards.