Khaberni - Apple is heading towards expanding its strategy based on dispensing with the traditional SIM card (SIM), after this step began in the United States with the launch of the iPhone 14, where the company relied only on eSIM there.
Today, new reports indicate that this move may reach Europe with the next generation of iPhones.
iPhone 18 in Europe supports only eSIM
According to a report by the Greek site "Techmaniacs", the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro models may be launched in the European markets with dual support for eSIM only, without any port for the actual SIM card.
If this happens, Europe will join markets such as the United States, Mexico, and Japan, which already have versions of the iPhone without a traditional SIM card.
Dispensing with the actual SIM port provides "Apple" with additional internal space that can be used for other improvements, most notably the battery.
Leaks suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro Max might come with a battery capacity of up to 5200 milliampere-hour, which is a significant increase compared to previous generations.
The same scenario was repeated previously with some iPhone 17 models, and the iPhone Air was the first globally to dispense with the actual SIM card, but this move affected its sales in China, where eSIM is still limited in its spread.
Challenges for users and telecommunications companies
Despite the advantages of eSIM in terms of security and ease of activation, some users in Europe may face difficulties, as some telecommunications companies still impose additional fees for issuing eSIM, while others do not provide it for prepaid lines, which could confuse travelers who rely on buying cheap local SIM cards upon arrival.
However, observers expect that telecommunications companies will be forced to expand eSIM support if "Apple" decides to finally dispense with the traditional SIM card in Europe, but this transition may take years.
Except for American models of Pixel 10, most smartphones around the world, including iPhone, still support a mix of actual SIM and eSIM together.
Travel may become more costly
While some welcome a larger battery and a simpler internal design, international travel may become more complicated and costly.
While eSIM packages are available for travelers, pre-paid local SIM remains the cheaper and easier option in many destinations.
"Apple's" step seems inevitable in its journey towards a world without traditional SIM cards.
