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Apple Could Go All-in on eSIMs with the iPhone 17 – and Release a Redesigned Phone Case

Apple will require EU retailers to complete eSIM training by September 5 ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, reflecting a push to enhance security and convenience by removing physical SIM slots.

  • Ahead of the September 9 launch, Apple has required Apple retail employees and Apple Authorized Resellers in the EU to complete eSIM training via the SEED app by Friday, September 5, as MacRumors reported the iPhone 17 series will remove physical SIM trays across the EU.
  • Apple began the shift in 2022 when it removed the physical SIM tray with the iPhone 14 lineup, initially limited to United States models, promoting eSIM technology's convenience and security benefits.
  • Battery design leaks show two iPhone 17 Pro variants, one likely for eSIM-only and another with SIM tray space; the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is expected to omit the SIM tray entirely.
  • If the reports hold true, iPhone 17 models sold in Germany, France, and Spain will only support eSIMs, while models in China and India may retain a physical SIM slot.
  • Technical caveats include Apple planning next year to eliminate physical SIMs in more countries, but eSIM setup and device switching may create short-term challenges for consumers and carriers.
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Given a recent partition made by a source familiar with the topic, it is estimated that Apple will remove the physical door of the iPhones SIM card in more countries, especially Europeans, even...

·Portugal
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Apple apparently wants to start offering its iPhones in the EU in versions without a built-in SIM slot. According to the company's sources, support employees are currently being trained to prepare for the waiver of SIM slots in more countries. (Continue reading)

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MacRumors broke the news in United States on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
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