Overview
- Apple removed the SIM slot from the iPhone Air, requiring users to activate an eSIM profile to use the device.
- In the U.S., Apple has sold eSIM‑only iPhones since the iPhone 14, and Google’s current Pixel 10 lineup there is also eSIM‑only.
- Survey data show limited take‑up in Germany, with about 13% actively using an eSIM at the end of 2024 and another 7% having tried it before returning to a physical SIM.
- eSIMs free internal space, improve resistance to dust and water by eliminating a slot, enable multiple profiles on one device, and make switching providers faster.
- Not all carriers or low‑cost plans fully support eSIM and many budget phones still require a physical SIM, while cutting plastic SIM production could reduce waste measured at roughly 18,000 tonnes in 2021.