iPhone 17 Air Could Ditch the SIM Card Slot in More Countries

iPhone 17 Air is expected to be the slimmest iPhone ever released, but it could also mark the beginning of the end for physical SIM card trays outside of the US. According to the latest report, the iPhone 17 Air could be eSIM-only in more countries.

While Apple has already ditched SIM cards for eSIM in the US since iPhone 14, a report from MacRumors suggests Apple has started training its retail employees on courses related to eSIM-only iPhone models in the EU.

It further reveals that employees are expected to finish the course before September 5, 2025, before the Apple launch event on September 9, 2025. This could be part of the Cupertino giant's broader eSIM-only push to more countries with the iPhone 17 Air.

While the list of countries is currently unknown, it could include France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and more. We're not sure if the device will be eSIM-only in India, but considering carriers like Jio and Airtel have made switching to eSIM effortless, the iPhone 17 Air could very well arrive without a SIM card slot in the subcontinent.

The lack of a physical SIM card slot is facilitated by the 17 Air's slim design, rumoured to be just 5.65mm thick. Besides, Apple says eSIMs are more secure. It also makes it easier to track the device in case of phone theft.

Inspired by Apple, Google also made a push to eSIM-only with its latest Pixel 10 series. However, Pixels sold outside the US still boast a physical SIM card slot.

However, some may still argue the broad compatibility and may appreciate the simple device transfers with physical SIM cards. Apple's wider push toward eSIMs could potentially kill physical SIM card slots, but it should be interesting to see if that actually happens.