iPhone 17 May Drop SIM Card Slot In More Countries

Apple looks ready to take another big step in its push for eSIM. According to new reports, the company is preparing to remove the physical SIM card tray from iPhone 17 models in more countries, moving beyond the U.S., where the transition started two years ago.

The Latest Hint From Apple Training

A source told MacRumors that Apple Authorized Reseller employees across all 27 EU countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands, must complete training on eSIM support by September 5. This deadline comes just four days before the expected iPhone 17 launch on September 9. The training appears in Apple’s SEED app, a global platform used to deliver internal courses and product updates to employees. Its presence there suggests the eSIM shift may extend beyond Europe.

This lines up with The Information’s earlier report that Apple would expand eSIM-only models internationally with the iPhone 17 series. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air will almost certainly ship without a SIM card tray in most countries. Other models, including the standard iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max, are also likely to drop it, although China remains a key exception, as the country has not yet approved eSIM technology.

Why Apple Is Pushing eSIM

The U.S. already saw the switch in 2022 when all iPhone 14 models arrived without SIM card slots. Apple pitched eSIM as more secure since it can’t be removed from a lost or stolen iPhone. It also makes travel easier, with support for managing at least eight eSIMs on a single iPhone. That eliminates the need to carry or swap tiny plastic SIM cards while moving between carriers and countries.

Still, adoption outside the U.S. has been slower, with carrier support varying widely across regions. Apple maintains an official support document that lists global carriers supporting eSIM, and the number has been growing steadily.

What to Expect With iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive on September 9, and the push toward eSIM could mark one of its biggest global changes. At minimum, the iPhone 17 Air will be eSIM-only nearly everywhere. However, if the reseller training is any indication, Apple may be preparing to expand the transition across its entire lineup in more regions than ever before.

For now, the big question remains: how quickly carriers in markets like Europe and Asia can catch up, and whether China will hold out on eSIM-only models or finally approve the technology.