No SIM Tray in the U.S.? Apple’s iPhone 16 Keeps It Old-School for International Users

Apple’s iPhone 16 series, now available in countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and China, continues to include a nano SIM card tray. This model also supports eSIM, allowing users outside the U.S. to utilize dual SIM functionality. This provides flexibility for users who want to switch between travel, work, and personal lines or want to benefit from multiple carriers.

In contrast, in the U.S., Apple has completely removed the physical SIM tray from iPhones, starting with the iPhone 14, as noted by the PhoneArena on September 10. This change was made to enhance security by using eSIM only.

Although eSIM adoption is increasing worldwide, it hasn’t become universal. In some regions and with certain carriers, users may still prefer the familiarity of physical SIM cards. Keeping the SIM tray could help ensure more users are comfortable with Apple’s new iPhones.

Apple is expected to eventually phase out the SIM tray entirely as eSIM infrastructure becomes more widespread, but the transition is expected to take some time.