Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Air, expected to launch in September 2025, may bring a significant change by eliminating the physical SIM card slot entirely, according to industry expert Ming-Chi Kuo.
Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s slimmest model yet, measuring just 5.5mm at its thinnest point. To achieve this sleek design, Apple could remove the physical SIM tray, transitioning the device to an eSIM-only format worldwide.
This move is part of Apple’s ongoing shift towards eSIM technology, which began with the iPhone 14 series in the U.S. While eSIM adoption continues to grow, fully removing the physical SIM slot could present some challenges.
One notable concern is China, where Apple has already seen a 10-12% decline in sales. The country does not widely promote eSIM-only devices, which could limit the iPhone 17 Air’s availability and sales in this key market.
Additionally, some users value the flexibility of a physical SIM, especially for international travel. Without a SIM tray, switching between carriers or using local prepaid SIM cards could become more complicated.
While Apple has not officially confirmed these details, the iPhone 17 Air could be a major step toward a portless, SIM-free future. However, the response from consumers and global markets remains to be seen.
