iPhone 17 without a SIM card?! Apple apparently thinks that plastic SIM cards will be as retro as floppy disks or DVDs in 2025. With the new iPhone 17 series, the SIM slot will be gone in Europe - and not just on the "Pro" models, but on the entire line.
iPhone 17 without a SIM card?! The latest signal that Apple is really drawing the line under physical SIM cards with the new iPhone 17 is mandatory training for employees across the EU. By Friday, salespeople and consultants must master the new rules of the game: the iPhone will only work with eSIM technology. The timing with September 9th – the day of the official presentation of the iPhone 17 – is anything but coincidental.
To be honest, we've been waiting for this moment. Apple first showed its teeth in the US in 2022, when the iPhone 14 came without a SIM slot. Europe is now the next stop. The only ones who will be inserting plastic cards for a while longer are users in China, where regulations require a different approach.
Why eSIM? iPhone 17 without SIM card!
Apple justifies its decision primarily by greater security – The eSIM cannot be physically removed, which means that a stolen phone is not so easy to “clean”. The second argument is practicality: You can store multiple eSIM profiles on one device, which is a godsend for those who frequently change countries, carriers, or life decisions.
Simply put - if we can travel with digital airline tickets today and pay with our watch, why would we still carry around a plastic card that we'd rather lose at the airport at three in the morning?
Operators – running out of excuses – iPhone 17 without SIM card
The key question is whether European operators are ready enough. Most of them already offer eSIM, but this time they are playing it safe – Apple is giving them no choice. If users are unable to activate their eSIM profile within a few minutes, they will blame the operators, not the iPhone. And we know how sensitive the public is when something goes wrong with “instant” technology.
What does this mean for users?
For most – a simplification of life. Less plastic, fewer slots, less card swapping with security pins that are never at hand. For a minority – especially those who swear by quickly swapping SIM cards between devices – it will mean a change of habits. Apple, in its style, is counting on everyone to adapt. And, let's be real, history shows that they are right.
