Not-too-distant rumors claimed that Apple could make the final transition to eSIM technology in its smartphones starting with the iPhone 14. However, a new report from GlobalData claims that this will not happen.
The document signed by analyst Emma Mohr-McClune states that the transition to the eSIM era will be gradual. This means that the iPhone 14 could be the last to hit the market with a physical SIM tray.
iPhone with eSIM only is a matter of “when” and not “if”
Emma Mohr-McClune is peremptory in her latest report on Apple’s migration to the eSIM era. According to the analyst, this transition will really happen, and it only remains to be seen when the change will take place.
Contrary to what Apple did with the removal of the 3.5mm jack, for example, the American will not simply remove physical SIM cards from its devices. There will be a transition period for operators and users to adapt to the new reality.
This means that, in a first phase, there will be two versions of the same iPhone. One will continue to use the current solution of dual-SIM models (eSIM plus physical card), while the other will only be compatible with the eSIM mode.
Therefore, operators will have the option to market both versions of the new Apple products. Ideally, there would be a balance between iPhone variants so that consumers can choose the version that best suits their needs.
Apple’s goal is, in the future, to sell its equipment only with the eSIM mode available. Something similar to what the company already practices in the versions with 4G and 5G connectivity of the iPad.
This change will also force telecommunications operators to adapt to the future. In other words, they will also have to start offering eSIM proposals to their customers so that they can enjoy their smartphones.
What is eSIM?
To help contextualize this future, it is important to clarify what eSIM technology is. In short, it is a virtual SIM card that you can associate with your compatible smartphone.
It will have the same possibilities as a physical SIM card, with the benefit that the new one does not take up space inside the device. In the case of currently sold iPhones, this allows the user to have two numbers on the same smartphone, which can even be from different carriers.
In Portugal, the three main telecommunications operators already have eSIM offers for their customers. This means that our market is ready to embrace what seems to be the future of mobile telecommunications.