eSIM-exclusive iPhones with the iPhone 17 lineup, another speculation supports that Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone Fold will adopt the same approach. The most recent leaker to reaffirm this speculation is the Weibo user Instant Digital. With machine learning translation, Instant Digital states: “The foldable iPhone will likely arrive without a SIM card slot, functioning solely with eSIM. It’s complex, but hopefully, mainland China enhances the eSIM experience shortly.”
Since the leaker resides in China, they reflect apprehensions regarding the eSIM-exclusive design. Unlike other regions, China is the sole country where Apple provides a dual SIM option for its iPhone devices, with the iPhone Air being the first Apple smartphone in the region to be eSIM-exclusive. Nevertheless, eSIM compatibility is still restricted to China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, and users must visit a physical store to activate their eSIM. Regardless, Apple intends to pursue an eSIM configuration to maximize space in the iPhone while slightly enhancing battery performance.
