iPhone 17: The Final Goodbye to the Physical SIM Card?

According to MacRumors, the iPhone 17 series is highly likely to eliminate the physical SIM card slot in more countries and regions, offering only an eSIM design. Apple first took this step in 2022 with the iPhone 14 series, where U.S. models were shipped entirely without SIM card slots, relying solely on eSIM.

With the imminent arrival of the iPhone 17, Apple has begun requiring authorised resellers and retail staff to complete eSIM training by 5 September—clearly a move to prepare for broader adoption of a “cardless” future worldwide. For users, eSIM offers the ability to manage multiple numbers on a single device and provides an additional layer of security since it cannot be stolen or removed like a traditional SIM, though not all markets are fully prepared.

In China, where physical SIM cards remain dominant, a too-aggressive push could necessitate closer coordination with the local telecom ecosystem; analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that the iPhone 17 Air may omit the physical SIM slot entirely, aligning with broader design aims to free up internal space.