Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 smartphones might ditch SIM slots for slimmer bodies

Many iPhones found on Amazon come as eSIM-only units, as Apple has decided to go that way in certain regions, North America included. Therefore, those who actually want to keep their SIM cards might have to go with Android alternatives to the 16 Pro or Pro Max such as the OnePlus 13 or Pixel 9 Pro instead.

That possibility might be a thing of the past soon, though, as non-iPhone OEMs are now tipped to start phasing physical SIM card support out with the introduction of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 (currently known as the Qualcomm SM8850 in leak circles) for their next-gen flagships.

Fortunately, the 'feature' might be confined to the supposedly oncoming wave of ultra-slim handsets. They might be able to accommodate specs such as the "SM8850", but not a SIM card slot, according to the typically accurate tipster Digital Chat Station.

The chances of this trend taking hold apparently depend on a number of factors, however, the success or failure of the rumored iPhone 17 Air (and also, presumably, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge) included.