Forced eSIMs: Difference between revisions

The current global modern standard by market adoption for [[wikipedia:SIM_card#Developments|SIM (Subscriber Identity Module)]] cards are Nano-SIM form factor, [[wikipedia:Universal_integrated_circuit_card|Universal integrated circuit card (UICC)]] SOC's (system on a chip) cards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIM Card Developments |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Developments |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260217190656/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_Card |archive-date=17 Feb 2026}}</ref> This is the smaller SIM card you started seeing in every handset from every major phone manufacturer beginning with hardware releases after 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nano-SIM |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card#Nano-SIM |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128085759/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> Just like your phone, computer, or any other device, these cards have their own CPU, RAM, ROM and Digital I/O.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universal integrated circuit card |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card#design |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251229230153/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_integrated_circuit_card |archive-date=29 Dec 2025}}</ref> '''eUICC''' (embedded UICC), also known as e-SIM cards, are a form of highly re-programmable SIM typically as [[wikipedia:Ball_grid_array|BGA]] IC chips soldered directly to the phone's logic board during manufacturing.   

Apple introduced eUICC chips & eSIM support alongside the release of the [[wikipedia:IPhone_12|iPhone 12]] series in 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple iPhone 12 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_12-10509.php |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=GSM Arena |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128125301/https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_12-10509.php |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhone 12 |url=https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=[[Apple]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250728172557/https://www.apple.com/by/iphone-12/specs/ |archive-date=28 Jul 2025}}</ref> and has continued this feature to date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=iPhones with eSIM support |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?chkESIM=selected&chkReview=selected&sMakers=48&sAvailabilities=1,2&s5Gs=0&idCardslot=3 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=GSM Arena |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405083105/https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?s5Gs=0&idCardslot=3&chkESIM=selected&chkReview=selected&sMakers=48&sAvailabilities=1%2C2 |archive-date=5 Apr 2025}}</ref> With the launch of the US model of the iPhone 14 series, iPhones dropped hardware support of user replaceable UICC Nano-SIM cards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple iPhone 14 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_14-11861.php |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=GSM Arena |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128034701/https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_14-11861.php |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=About eSIM on iPhone |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=[[Apple]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209120313/https://support.apple.com/en-us/118669 |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> According to Apple, "'''iPhone 14''' models and later that are '''eSIM only''' can activate without a Wi-Fi network."<ref name=":2" /> In all other Apple model varieties that came out prior to mid 2025 - International and China - Nano-SIM remained supported outside the United States; by the 14 series, 15 series and 16 series. The 17 series drops Nano-SIM support in 11 additional countries: Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the U.S. Virgin Islands <ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=9 Sep 2025 |title=iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Models Are eSIM-Only in These Countries |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/09/iphone-17-esim-only-countries-list/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=MacRumors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230022641/https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/09/iphone-17-esim-only-countries-list/ |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Apple iPhone 17 won't accept SIM cards in Canada |url=https://www.blogto.com/tech/2025/09/apple-iphone-17-sim-cards-canada/ |url-status=live |access-date=23 Feb 2026 |website=BlogTo |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250923221624/https://www.blogto.com/tech/2025/09/apple-iphone-17-sim-cards-canada/ |archive-date=23 Sep 2025}}</ref>. All versions of the 17 Air iPhone model, in all countries, only support eSIM<ref name=":3" />. (Most recent edit as of writing 2/23/2026)  

This transition raised further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]] in the form of [[used market restrictions]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Control is yours. |url=https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=[[Apple]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128152438/https://www.apple.com/privacy/control/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Planned obsolescence |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128190628/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref>

'''''-NOTE-  The sources below are not to this wiki's overall standards of credibility and will likely be changed to first party sources from the manufacturer later once more reliable information is available. This section was written before the iPhone 17 came out.'''''

According to unofficial preliminary specifications for the iPhone 17 Air, support for Nano-SIM will be entirely dropped for the model across the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple iPhone 17 Air |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_air-13502.php |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=GSM Arena |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130164354/https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_air-13502.php |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=[[Apple]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260124005519/https://support.apple.com/en-us/101569 |archive-date=24 Jan 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SIM Tray |url=https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/#sim_tray |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Mac Rumors |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260218012315/https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/ |archive-date=18 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ma |first=Wayne |last2=Liu |first2=Qianer |title=Apple’s Thin iPhone Has No Physical SIMs—That Could Dampen China Sales |url=https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-thin-iphone-has-no-physical-sims-that-could-dampen-china-sales |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=www.theinformation.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260207121430/https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apples-thin-iphone-has-no-physical-sims-that-could-dampen-china-sales |archive-date=7 Feb 2026}}</ref> This is based on rumors and speculations, however the physical size of the device has been disclosed as "5.5mm" by Ming-Chi Kuo (a medium tech trade blogger described as "TF International Securities analyst who shares observations and predictions of tech industry trends"), which would make Nano-SIM support a significant enough engineering challenge, as it's widely considered unviable and/or unlikely.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuo |first=Ming-Chi |date=10 Jan 2025 |title=Apple在2025年可能將面臨更為嚴峻的挑戰，須謹慎面對市場先前過度樂觀導致的潛在下行風險 |url=https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Medium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251004011109/https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d |archive-date=4 Oct 2025}}</ref>

The industry transition to '''Integrated SIM (iSIM)''' will be indistinguishable from EUICC e-SIMs to the end user. However with iSIM, it would be embedded directly into the phone's SoC or CPU die.<ref>{{Cite web |title=eSIM |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=Wikipedia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128044138/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> This will irreversibly link data identifiers like SIM ID history with the device's IMEI and hardware IDs, even through highly technical means such as micro-soldering.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liu |first=Haoyu |last2=Patras |first2=Paul |last3=Leith |first3=Douglas J. |date=18 Jan 2023 |title=On the data privacy practices of Android OEMs |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9847909/#sec001 |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=National Library of Medicine |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708183216/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9847909/ |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>

This transition would raise further concerns about potentials for abuse if unregulated, including [[wikipedia:Vendor_lock-in|Vendor lock in]], [[planned obsolescence]], and [[Anti competitive behavior]], in the form of [[Activation|used market restrictions]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Samsung introduced e-SIM support in 2020 with the Galaxy S20 series of phones and continues nano-SIM support to the current day as of writing (with 2025's S25 series of Galaxy phones.)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samsung phones with eSIM support |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung-phones-9.php |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2025 |website=GSM Arena |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260220164816/https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung-phones-9.php |archive-date=20 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Google Pixel 10 series no longer support nano-SIM in the US<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schenck |first=Stephen |date=22 Aug 2025 |title=Google abandoning physical SIM cards on the Pixel 10 is an abject loss for consumers |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/killing-sim-cards-3590141/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250826013428/https://www.androidauthority.com/killing-sim-cards-3590141/ |archive-date=26 Aug 2025 |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Android Authority}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=20 Aug 2025 |title=Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL remove support for physical SIM cards in the US |url=https://9to5google.com/2025/08/20/pixel-10-10-pro-and-10-pro-xl-remove-support-for-physical-sim-cards-in-the-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250820171129/https://9to5google.com/2025/08/20/pixel-10-10-pro-and-10-pro-xl-remove-support-for-physical-sim-cards-in-the-us/ |archive-date=20 Aug 2025 |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=9to5Google}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Isaiah |date=22 Aug 2025 |title=Google Pixel 10 Now eSIM Exclusive, Ditches Physical SIM Cards But Makes Transfers Easier |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/311650/20250822/google-pixel-10-now-esim-exclusive-ditches-physical-sim-cards-makes-transfers-easier.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250823085228/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/311650/20250822/google-pixel-10-now-esim-exclusive-ditches-physical-sim-cards-makes-transfers-easier.htm |archive-date=23 Aug 2025 |access-date=27 Aug 2025 |website=Techtimes}}</ref>.