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iPhone 17 Air is going to be thin which means Apple could ditch the regular SIM slot for network but what about markets like India?
iPhone 17 Air design could force Apple to ditch the SIM
iPhone 17 Air is launching next week, and most rumours have confirmed the existence of this product, replacing the Plus moniker in the lineup. The ultra thin iPhone Air or Slim variant will most likely skimp on some basic needs, like a big battery and maybe ditch one camera sensor that takes up extra space. But latest reports say that Apple could leave out a serious feature from the iPhone 17 Air that is pivotal in markets like India and China.
The report by MacRumors claims Apple is looking to expand its eSIM-only iPhone variants to more countries, and the iPhone 17 Air could be part of the change from this year onwards.
eSIM-Only iPhones For More Countries But Why?
The report says Apple has started training its employees and staff at other stores to set up eSIMs on iPhones and also help them explain to the customer how they benefit from its use. Apple has been selling eSIM variants in the US since it launched the iPhone 14 series, while other regions got the physical SIM slot because of compatibility and market trends.
But now the company could be forced to make the big change and give just eSIM as the network option on the iPhone 17 Air if it proves to be thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. Apple’s main goal in the future is to have port-less iPhones and that means the regular SIM slots will have to go away for good.
So, how does Apple navigate this issue when markets like China and India are still predominantly running on the regular SIM cards? It would be unlikely that we see the iPhone 17 Air launch in eSIM and physical SIM variants, which adds up to the overall cost of making the device for the company.
Having said that, we have seen Apple make eSIM variants and the regular iPhones in other regions for the last few years, and it might feel the extra cost could be worth its availability in two of the biggest growing markets for the brand.
Either way, we’ll know more about Apple’s eSIM plans at the launch on September 9 where Tim Cook and Co. show us a whole new range of products.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
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