Apple iPhone 17 (Pro) rumored to be dispensing with SIM slot in Europe

The Apple iPhone 16 supports both nano-SIM and eSIM in Europe, whereas the iPhone 16 in the US only supports two eSIMs. With the launch of the iPhone 17 on September 9, Apple may choose to also support exclusively digital SIM cards in Europe and permanently remove the SIM card slot.

MacRumors discovered a note in Apple's SEED app, which is used to train Apple Store employees, stating that employees in the European Union must complete training on iPhones with eSIM support by September 5 at the latest. The timing suggests that this training is intended as preparation for the launch of the iPhone 17 series. However, it is currently not known whether the SIM card slot will be omitted from all four models of the iPhone 17 series, or only from the iPhone 17 Air, which may not have space for a physical SIM card due to its ultra-thin casing.

In the US, iPhones have been able to use two eSIM cards simultaneously since the iPhone 14 and manage up to eight eSIM cards directly on the smartphone, making it easier to carry multiple SIM cards while traveling. However, this also means users no longer have the option of buying a SIM card directly at airports and inserting it into their iPhone. Instead, eSIMs must be purchased online, which may require some users to adjust. In addition, when switching to a new iPhone, it is important to note that a SIM card may need to be replaced with an eSIM.