Apple Might Make iPhone 17 eSIM-Only in Europe

In a unique start to his ruling against President Donald Trump’s administration on September 30, U.S. District Court Judge William Young included a scanned handwritten note sent to his office. The note read: “Trump has pardons and tanks – what do you have?” At the top of Young’s opinion in AAUP v. Rubio, which ruled that Trump’s effort to deport foreign-born student protesters was unconstitutional.

October 8, 2025

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Apple is set to make a bold move with the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup, as reports suggest that the company plans to default to eSIMs in the EU. Up until now, physical SIM cards have been standard in many countries outside the US, but this could soon change with Apple’s next generation of iPhones.

Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup may launch as eSIM-only in the EU, pointing to a worldwide move away from physical SIM cards

The biggest indication comes from Apple’s decision to have retail and reseller staff in the European Union complete eSIM training by September 5 (via MacRumors). This suggests that Apple is gearing up to announce the iPhone 17 series as eSIM-only variants in Europe, a move that could soon extend to global markets. The company has already gone all-in on eSIMs since the iPhone 14, dropping support for physical SIM cards in every model in the US. This shift has been gradual elsewhere but is now becoming more evident.

eSIM-only models offer several advantages over those with a physical SIM, including extra space inside the device and better water and dust resistance capabilities. The removal of a physical SIM card also allows for streamlined hardware design globally. However, it remains to be seen if Apple will implement these changes in Asian markets, where physical SIM cards are still widely used.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has noted that at least one model from the lineup, potentially the iPhone 17 Air, will almost certainly launch as eSIM-only everywhere. This model was designed with no room for a SIM tray to maintain its ultra-thin profile, which is one of the compromises Apple had to make.

The design benefits include enhanced water and dust resistance due to fewer openings in the device. Additionally, eSIMs provide better security since they cannot be removed from the device. The iPhone 17 lineup will be announced soon, and we will cover the event extensively for more details.