Future smartphones developed by Apple will no longer have a physical SIM slot, and according to recent rumors (via MacRumors), this transition could happen sooner rather than later. The iPhone 14 series might be the first to launch exclusively with an eSIM next year, though some rumors indicate that Apple could postpone this change until the release of the iPhone 15.
Apple is Samsung's closest rival in the mobile world, and both OEMs often borrow ideas from each other. This could mean that at least some of Samsung's future phones could also abandon the physical SIM slot in favor of an eSIM, assuming that Apple popularizes the latter solution.
And in case you're wondering, an eSIM is a digital SIM card that can be programmed to offer coverage on a network of the user's choice. eSIMs appear to be the way of the future as more carriers worldwide continue adopting the technology, but there are also countless regions that lack eSIM support.
eSIMs won't replace physical SIM cards overnight
Technically speaking, an eSIM takes up less physical space in a phone compared to a SIM tray. Switching to eSIM technology could help a device's water resistance and make room for other, arguably more vital components. However, not every carrier supports eSIM technology.
Because the availability of eSIM technology isn't entirely dependent on smartphone brands, and because network operators have a thing to say, there may be a period of time in which OEMs like Apple and Samsung could release eSIM and non-eSIM versions of the same devices. That is until the entire market is ready to transition to eSIM technology. This change will likely take a few years, so don't throw away your physical SIM card yet.
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