Apple’s newly launched iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models continue to be equipped with a physical SIM card slot in markets outside the United States.
The technical specifications on Apple’s official website confirm that the four iPhone 16 models are compatible with nano-SIM cards in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Singapore, and all other sales regions. In most countries, these devices also continue to support eSIM, allowing users to achieve dual-SIM functionality for cellular networks.
Two years ago, Apple removed the physical SIM card slot from all iPhone 14 models in the U.S. market, forcing U.S. users to switch to eSIM, or electronic SIM card, a digital SIM card that allows users to activate cellular network plans without using a physical nano-SIM card. Apple lists a list of operators around the world that support eSIM technology in its support documents.
When the iPhone 14 series was released in the United States, Apple promoted that eSIM is safer than physical SIM cards because the eSIM cannot be removed once the iPhone is lost or stolen. Apple also said that up to eight eSIMs can be managed in the iPhone’s “Settings” app, eliminating the need for users to obtain, carry and replace physical SIM cards when traveling. iPhone 13 and later models can activate two eSIMs at the same time.
Foreign media said that with the popularization of eSIM, the physical SIM card slot of iPhone in non-US markets may be cancelled in the future, but at present, this design will be retained for at least one year.
