Apple is once again taking a bold step with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup, as the latest information suggests that the company is planning to make eSIM the default option in the EU. Up until now, physical SIM cards have remained standard in many countries outside of the United States, but it looks like that is about to change with Apple’s next generation of iPhones.

Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup may launch as eSIM-only in the EU, pointing to a worldwide move away from physical SIM cards

The biggest indication comes from Apple’s decision to have retail and reseller staff in the European Union complete eSIM training by September 5 (via MacRumors). The company basically wants staff to complete training before the iPhone 17 lineup is announced on September 9, making it hard to see this as a coincidence. The timing suggests that Apple is gearing up to announce the iPhone 17 series as eSIM-only variants in Europe, a move that could soon extend to the global markets.

In the United States, Apple has already gone all in on eSIM since the iPhone 14, with every model dropping support for the physical SIM. This also led the company to remove the SIM card tray in the U.S. The shift has been gradual elsewhere, but these subtle signs tell us that the move could soon go global. However, it remains to be seen when the company would push the same changes for the Asian markets, considering the region heavily relies on physical SIM cards.

eSIM-only models do have an upside compared to those with a physical SIM – the availability of extra space inside the device, which could be put to a different use case. The removal of a physical SIM card could also allow the company to streamline and align the hardware globally. We also have to take note that the EU has 27 countries, and it remains to be seen if the company will miss out on some regions in favor of others.

It was previously noted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that at least one model from the lineup, potentially the iPhone 17 Air, will almost certainly launch as eSIM-only everywhere. Apple designed this model with no room for a SIM tray in order to keep it as slim as possible. This is one of the compromises the company would have to make for the iPhone 17 Air to keep the ultra-thin profile.

There are certain benefits associated with the design as well, as one less opening in the device would enhance the water and dust resistance capabilities of the handset. Moreover, eSIMs also provide better security, since they cannot be removed from the device. The iPhone 17 lineup will be announced soon, and we will be covering the event extensively, so do stick around for more details.