**The Advancement of SIM Technology: From Physical Cards to eSIMs**
Although Apple began supporting eSIMs in 2018, it is only this year that the company has fully embraced the technology. For the first time, Apple is utilizing the area previously taken up by an insertable SIM card slot to increase battery capacity in its newest devices.
### A Brief Timeline of SIMs
SIM, which stands for Subscriber Identity Module, refers to an integrated circuit or smart card that stores your phone’s identification number and other information. In the early days of mobile phones, it was typical to keep contacts on the SIM rather than on the phone itself. There have been four iterations of insertable SIM cards:
– Original (credit card sized!)
– Mini
– Micro
– Nano
### eSIMs
Insertable SIM cards are gradually being substituted for eSIMs, which are software-based SIMs located on a circuit board inside the smartphone itself. These eSIMs provide various advantages, especially for travelers. Instead of waiting to acquire a local SIM when you arrive at your destination, you can activate an eSIM prior to your trip. Furthermore, eSIMs remove the risk of misplacing your original SIM or harming the contacts when inserting or removing a SIM card.
Apple first incorporated eSIMs with the iPhone XS and XR in 2018. However, it wasn’t until the iPhone 14 series that the company eliminated support for insertable SIM cards in US versions. Interestingly, Steve Jobs envisioned a SIM-free iPhone from the start, even before eSIM technology was available.
### A New Advantage This Year
With the iPhone 14, 15, and 16, there was no notable benefit for the US model compared to those intended for other regions, aside from a more refined design without the SIM tray cutout. Apple simply inserted a piece of plastic in the area where the SIM tray would be in other models.
This year, however, Apple has taken advantage of the internal redesign to repurpose that area for increased battery capacity. Consequently, eSIM-only iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models possess slightly more battery capacity than those equipped with a physical SIM tray. While the difference might be slight, it presents a strong incentive to move towards eSIM-only models globally, especially with the anticipated iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 series, excluding China.
Even though eSIMs are not universally supported by every carrier in all countries, the slow adoption is often attributed to carriers’ hesitation to embrace the technology. Moving to eSIM-only iPhones could effectively motivate carriers to adopt this advancement.
China may present an exception, as eSIMs are essentially prohibited for Chinese citizens. The government mandates in-person ID verification for mobile accounts, and the remote activation model of eSIMs challenges this control. Nonetheless, Apple has a history of designing China-specific models to meet local regulations.
### Conclusion
As technology advances, the shift from physical SIM cards to eSIMs signifies a substantial progression in mobile communication. The advantages of eSIMs, including convenience and improved device functionalities, indicate that it may be time to phase out traditional SIM cards. What are your opinions on this transition? Is it time to consign these pieces of plasticized cardboard to the past?
