Apple is reportedly advising major U.S. wireless carriers to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only iPhones by September 2022, MacRumors reports. While the publication says that its anonymous source shared a seemingly legitimate document outlining the timeframe for this initiative, it also notes that the document doesn’t specifically mention Apple or the iPhone.
The transition would involve U.S. carriers offering certain iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM card in the box in the second quarter of 2022. iPhone 13 models sold at Apple Stores or on Apple.com already lack a nano-SIM card in the box.
The report indicates that given the September 2022 deadline, Apple may remove the physical SIM card slot in its iPhone 14 models, but that could be delayed as long as the iPhone 15.
eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate their cellular plans without the need for nano-SIM card. eSIM is currently not available in all countries, so it’s likely that iPhones with a SIM card slot may hang around in some markets.