iPhone 14 eSIM-only: blessing or curse?
I still remember the day when everyone was shocked to see the release of the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack. In a sense, this increased the chances that the iPhone would become portless.
Years later, we still have the same questions, analyzes, and thoughts about the iPhone without a port. Thanks to Apple’s decision to make eSIM for the iPhone 14 series only for the US market. Apple promises a flawless future with eSIM. At least he hopes so.
This leaves me with a lot of doubts: will Apple force the industry to follow them, as it once did, by removing the headphone jack? Or is this the first step towards the long-awaited iPhone without a port? And above all, will Apple succeed with the eSIM movement? Join me as I explore the full potential of the eSIM-only iPhone 14 for the US market.
What is eSIM?
eSIM, as the name suggests, is an electronic version of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The eSIM is directly integrated into your smartphone and you never have to physically interact with it.
Everything (well, almost everything) that you did with a physical SIM, such as changing numbers or switching to other networks, is also possible with an eSIM. We already have a detailed guide if you want to know more about how to activate eSIM on iPhone.
Will life now be like a SIM card?
Since most of our experience with the “e”version has been great, you can expect the same from eSIM. Before I share my thoughts, you can make up your own mind by looking at the pros and cons of eSIM.
Benefits you can enjoy
- Doesn’t waste space: Yes, it sounds like what brands were saying when they ditched the headphone jack to save space. But think again. As smartphones now come with bigger and better hardware, every piece of real estate is just as valuable.
- Security: There have been many situations where SIM cards have been stolen and used by thieves for malpractice. Things can get even worse if they are able to trick the 2FA login with your SIM and gain access to your accounts. Well, that worry is now thrown out the window!
- Track your device. Speaking of device theft, we should pay attention to this huge advantage that eSIMs have. Because the physical SIM does not need to be removed, the phone can be traced. In addition, we might see some FindMy-like features that carriers have introduced to attract consumers.
- Multiple SIM Storage: For people who have to carry multiple devices with them to use multiple SIMs, this will be a huge relief. Now iPhone 14 can accommodate up to 8 eSIMs! It’s still great! Remember that you can only use 2 active eSIM cards at the same time.
- Easier Switching: Although eSIM is now the digital version of a SIM card, technically you are expected to be able to switch to other networks or change numbers without too much trouble. Unfortunately, a lot depends on your carrier. More on this later.
- Physically undamaged: I once swapped SIM cards between my devices, and after inserting the SIM card into one device, I lost the other. It turned out that it was safe in my pocket. But since I remember the starfish, I spent the whole day looking for it. With eSIM, this will no longer be the case, and there is no need to worry about damaging the SIM card or the SIM tray.
Cons that kill joy
Although eSIM technology has been around for quite some time, it is by no means mature or perfect. As expected, this comes with unwanted issues. This includes:
- Activation issues
- Switching problems
- Transfer problems
Although I’m pretty sure that the operators will solve the problems mentioned above once the user base grows. Even after that, there are some issues that you may continue to run into.
- Unsupported careers: While Apple said in its iPhone 14 keynote that there are currently over 400 carriers in 100 countries that support eSIM, that’s still a small number. Don’t believe me? Take a look at Apple’s page on carriers that support eSIM for iPhone. You will realize that only a few carriers currently have full support for eSIM services. And if you’re on any of the following US network carriers, you’re left with no choice but to switch carriers if you want to use an eSIM on your iPhone.
List of US carriers that don’t support eSIM:
– Ting
– Consumer Cellular
– Net10
– Republic Wireless
– Simple Mobile
– Tello Mobile
– Total Wireless
– Ultra Mobile
– Walmart Mobile
And a whole lot more.
- Issues when switching to Android: While switching an eSIM between one iPhone and another isn’t that difficult, you’ll have to contact your carrier if you want to switch to an Android flagship with an eSIM. It will be interesting to see if this process will be ‘SIM’plified or not over time.
- What to do if you break your device? Then, my friend, you have to go for a walk. You won’t worry about switching to another device with a physical SIM card. Just take out the SIM card and insert it into any other device. But with an eSIM, you have to perform additional steps, such as contacting the carrier and performing all the eSIM switching processes between devices. Last time I checked, it took more time than it saved time.
eSIM on iPhone: this is what Steve Jobs wanted
The community is divided into two sides, one supports Apple and the other criticizes. But I’m pretty sure Steve Jobs would have been happy with this decision. Why? Because he never wanted to include a SIM tray in an iPhone, mostly because of his design philosophy.
According to Tony Fadell, former senior vice president of the iPod division, Steve Jobs told the iPhone team, “We don’t want another hole in it.”Jobs was inspired by Verizon’s CDMA service, which does not require a SIM card; they are directly connected to the operator’s network.
Steve Jobs wanted to make the first iPhone exclusive to the CDMA network. But the problem with CDMA networks is that they are carrier locked, which, you might guess, will cause a lot of headaches for consumers looking to switch.
He wasn’t convinced until the team came up with market data that CDMA wasn’t in widespread use. It was one of the few Apple engineers who had to resist Jobs’ decisions.
So if you’re a dedicated Steve Jobs fan, you’ll be happy that Apple shares the vision of the co-founder. While I’m curious how iPhone supporters will react to this new change, Apple seems pretty confident about the future of eSIM.
Will Apple influence other OEMs to follow the same path?
If you remember the headphone jack period, most competitors were busy criticizing and ridiculing Apple. But in the end, almost everyone went down the same path, at least for their flagships.
That was the first thing that came to my mind when Apple announced that the 14 Series would not have a SIM card slot for the US market. While this may not be as important as removing the headphone jack, since this has been the case for all devices around the world, the answer is very similar.
What’s more, the removal of the headphone jack has spurred the slow-growing TWS market. Admit it or not, it was after Apple introduced the AirPods that the entire TWS market began to reinvent their products. Many new brands have introduced value-for-money products, drawing consumer attention to this segment like never before.
I think Apple is just as confident about the eSIM situation. While many criticize the current situation, I think they will bring the SIM-free iPhone to more markets in the coming years.
With eSIMs, Apple is giving consumers more reasons to stick with the ecosystem. And since this is a good move on Apple’s part, I’m sure competitors will also try to keep their customers, and eSIM could be a game changer.
And ICYMI, this is what has happened so far; OEMs have already begun rolling out their own version of Dynamic Island. Apple is innovating today; other OEMs will follow tomorrow.
eSIM iPhone: a step towards a future without ports?
I still don’t think Apple’s future without ports will be a reality anytime soon. As they removed physical SIMs from the iPhone 14, carriers around the world should embrace the future of eSIM because it’s only a matter of time before other OEMs follow suit.
Apple still needs to figure out how they will replace the physical buttons and how effective this change will be. Past iterations from many brands have not gone as well as expected. And while there is MagSafe for charging, which works well in my opinion, data transfer will still be a problem.
Since we all know that Apple won’t take such a bold step until they are completely sure about the quality and how well it will perform, I’m not sure if we should have high hopes for an iPhone without a port. That being said, removing the physical eSIM for the US market is certainly a small step towards a port-free tomorrow.
Some Common Questions Related to eSIM on iPhone
No, eSIM is a technology used by many other smartphones and gadgets besides Apple. Although Apple was one of the pioneers, many others used eSIM on their devices.
There are currently no additional costs to convert your physical SIM card to an eSIM.
Yes, you can use an eSIM without an internet connection. The Internet is only needed to activate or convert eSIM.
Yes. As with a regular SIM card, once the eSIM is activated, it will also be provided with a phone number.
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