Chance Miller
In the United States, the new iPhone 14 lineup won't ship with a physical
SIM card slot. Instead, Apple is pivoting entirely to eSIM technology. While
some iPhone users may have already made the transition to eSIM, most have
not. Ahead of the first iPhone 14 orders arriving on September 16, here are
some details on eSIM support from Apple.
What does eSIM mean for iPhone 14?
The iPhone lineup has supported eSIM technology for many years. The iPhone
XS was the first model to add the technology and each new iPhone since then
has supported eSIM. Each of those iPhone models also offered a nano SIM card
slot as well. So if you didn't want to use an eSIM, you didn't have to.
eSIMs, sometimes referred to as embedded SIMs, are still SIM cards, but
they're electronically programmable. This means there is no physical SIM
card that has to be inserted into your iPhone or activated. Instead, you log
in with your carrier information and the carrier will remotely provision
your iPhone so it can be connected to their network.
Once this process has been completed, your iPhone works just as it would
with a physical SIM card. It's also important to note that only the iPhone
14 models sold in the United States will be eSIM-only. Models sold in other
countries will still have a nano-SIM card slot.
An Apple spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that iPhone 14 and iPhone 14
Plus can store up to six eSIMs and two of those can be active at once. The
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max can store up to eight.
Option 1: Set up iPhone 14 with 'eSIM Quick Transfer'
In a support document, Apple explains that you'll be able to convert your
physical SIM to an eSIM during the iPhone 14 setup process. This can be done
even if you've never used an eSIM before.
During the setup process, you'll be asked to transfer your SIM from your old
iPhone to your new iPhone. This is also the process you'll use if you're
transferring an existing eSIM from your old iPhone to your new iPhone 14.
1. Choose a cellular plan to transfer from another device. If you don't
see a list of numbers, tap Transfer From Another Device. This requires both
devices to have iOS 16 or later.
2. Check for instructions on your previous iPhone to confirm the
transfer. To confirm, tap Transfer or, if asked for a verification code,
enter the code that's displayed on your new iPhone.
3. Wait for the cellular plan to activate on your new iPhone. Your
previous SIM is deactivated when the cellular plan on your new iPhone
activates.
4. If a banner appears on your new iPhone that says Finish Setting Up
Your Carrier's Cellular Plan, tap it. You will be redirected to your
carrier's webpage to transfer your eSIM. If you need help, contact your
carrier.
Option 2: Use a QR code from your carrier
Some carriers don't support what Apple refers to as "eSIM Quick Transfer."
If this is the case, you'll have to scan a QR code from your carrier to
activate the eSIM inside your iPhone 14. When you reach the "Set up
Cellular" screen in the iPhone 14 setup process, there will be an option to
use a QR code.
This will walk you through the process of scanning the QR code provided by
your carrier to activate your iPhone 14's eSIM. The process of getting that
QR code will vary from carrier to carrier.
Option 3: Convert a physical SIM to an eSIM with your current iPhone
If you want to get a headstart on the transition to eSIM, you can convert
the physical SIM inside your current iPhone to an eSIM. From there, you'll
be able to transfer that eSIM to your new iPhone 14 when it arrives.
1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular.
2. Tap Convert to eSIM. If you don't see this option, you'll have to
contact your carrier.
3. Tap Convert Cellular Plan.
4. Choose Convert to eSIM.
5. Wait for your eSIM to activate. Once this is complete, your previous
SIM card is deactivated.
6. Remove the physical SIM and reboot your iPhone.
9to5Mac's Take: Getting to an eSIM-only future
Leading up to the iPhone 14 event, there were rumors that Apple was planning
to increase its focus on eSIM technology. It'd been rumored that Apple might
ditch the physical SIM card altogether, but the announcement still came as a
surprise to many people. But keep in mind: Steve Jobs never wanted the
iPhone to have a SIM card tray.
For most people, the iPhone 14 eSIM transition should result in an
experience that's identical to a physical SIM, if not a better one. It won't
be nearly as dramatic of a lifestyle change as the removal of the headphone
jack with the iPhone 7 was. The question, of course, is how seamless the
process is to get to that point. While Apple has outlined the transition
process, there are a number of variables at play.
My biggest concern is this: could the carriers become overburdened and face
activation issues on iPhone 14 launch day? Presumably, transitioning
millions of people to eSIM is more burdensome than users simply swapping
their SIM card from their old iPhone to their new iPhone.
Remember the days when we had to plug in our iPhones to iTunes to activate
them? Apple's servers could prove unreliable during this process, but AT&T's
activation process was notoriously finicky. Could eSIM setups and
provisioning cause similar headaches?
Another concern of mine is that this could potentially give carriers more
power. They could implement user-hostile restrictions and make it harder to
switch to a competing network. They could charge additional "activation"
fees. US carriers have been known to push the limits on what smartphone
users are willing to put up with, so this will be something to keep an eye
on.
But even if there are some speedbumps in the transition to eSIM, the end
result will be a lot more convenient for (most) users. For example, it
should make the process of switching carriers much easier. It also means
there is one less physical port on your iPhone. When setting up a new
iPhone, you won't have to worry about losing or damaging your SIM card
either.
In terms of traveling internationally, the fact that the iPhone 14 can store
multiple eSIMs should make this process easier. The key, however, will be
using a carrier that supports eSIMs at all. This could present a problem for
travelers using an iPhone 14 from the United States in a country where eSIM
technology is not as widespread.
Long-term, I'm curious to see what removing the SIM card tray means for
iPhone design and durability. The removal of the headphone jack with the
iPhone 7 helped pave the way for improved water resistance and the iPhone
X's all-new design just one year later.
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