Tech Desk 
Sep 03, 2025
With Apple's iPhone 17 launch event, titled "Awe Dropping", inching closer with each passing day, the rumour mill has let out a report, suggesting that the iPhone maker will likely eliminate the physical SIM card slot from its upcoming iPhone 17 series in the European Union.
The removal of the tangible SIM card slot from Apple's latest flagship iPhone series comes after a similar decision was recently made in the US with the iPhone 14
Citing a report from a reliable source, ProPakistani outlined that employees of Apple Authorised Resellers across the EU have been instructed to be fully trained on eSIM functionality by September 5.
The development comes as Apple gears up to shake the top-tier smartphone market with the debut of its latest iPhone lineup at its September 9 event.
With these hints in place, chances are great that eSIM-only iPhone models could be normalised in Europe.
The training materials are available through Apple’s internal SEED app, which is used by Apple Stores and resellers worldwide. This suggests that Apple might consider expanding the eSIM-only approach beyond the US, although regions like China, where eSIM adoption is limited, may still retain physical SIM slots.
The iPhone creator first introduced eSIM-only devices in the iPhone 14 sold in the US, ditching the need for a physical SIM tray. Apple's this mobile network innovation for iPhones simplified the device design and made remote activation easier for carriers.
The speculated iPhone 17 Air, scheduled to be launched at the upcoming Apple event on September 9, 2025, is said to bring a sleek design, likely doing away with the SIM card slot.
If the current is to stay, the transition to eSIMs might also apply to the entire iPhone 17 lineup in the EU, which will dramatically change how users connect to mobile networks.
