Apple has considered removing the SIM card slot on some iPhone 14 models

Apple has discussed internally the idea of launching some iPhone models without a SIM card slot by next year. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said the move will be part of Apple's push to promote eSIMs.

Gurman said the SIM card slot may be removed on some iPhone 14 models, with Apple expected to release it three days later, although he said it's possible that change won't happen until next year's iPhone 15. News of the removal of the SIM card slot has been circulated several times before.

"Apple will give eSIM an even bigger push this time around, as carriers prepare to steer users toward a digital, embedded SIM card rather than a physical one," Gurman wrote in his newsletter. "In fact, Apple has considered removing the physical SIM card slot entirely for some models starting this year or next."

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a mobile phone number directly without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Availability of eSIM is expanding rapidly, but the technology is still not implemented in all countries, so some iPhone models with SIM card slots may still be available for at least a few years during the transition period. Eliminating the SIM card slot helps further improve the iPhone's water resistance and frees up tiny spaces inside the device.

Apple is expected to officially release the iPhone 14 series at a special event at the Steve Jobs Theater at 1:00 am Beijing time on September 8 (this Thursday). Other products expected to be released include the Apple Watch Series 8, the new Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Pro, and the new AirPods Pro.