Upgrading to the iPhone 14 Means Saying Goodbye to Your SIM Card
This story is part of Focus point iPhone 2022CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice on Apple’s most popular product.
Upgrade to the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max requires a new step for most customers: Instead of moving your SIM card from a previous iPhone to the new one, you’ll need to set up an eSIM instead. When Apple announced the iPhone 14 line, the company revealed that US models will not have the physical SIM card tray commonly used in the phone industry. Internationally, however, the iPhone 14 line retains the SIM card tray for now.
With eSIMs, you’ll still be able to take full advantage of a carrier’s 4G LTE or 5G networks and use your phone the same way you have in the past. Apple has supported e-SIMs on iPhones dating back to 2018’s iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, and has long supported the technology on its recent cellular iPads and Apple Watches. The iPhone 13 line even allowed multiple eSIMs to be activated at the same time, useful for those who want a work number and personal number on just one device.
By embracing eSIMs, Apple and other manufacturers may also begin to ditch the physical SIM card slot, allowing more space for additional features on future devices.
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Why Apple uses eSIMs on the iPhone 14
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AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all support the use of eSIM, as do a number of smaller or prepaid providers such as Mint Mobile, Google Fi, or Verizon-owned Visible.
While the core experience shouldn’t change, there may be some notable benefits to no longer having to get a physical SIM card from a carrier. If a network adds a new feature, the carrier can just push an update directly to the phone, whereas in the past you might have had to order a new SIM card.
For example, upgrading from 4G devices to 5G required a new SIM card with some carriers to connect to the new networks. When you buy a phone from a carrier or with a carrier installment plan, you usually get the new SIM card in the box, so it’s not a big deal. However, if you purchased unlocked directly from Apple, you may have had to get a new SIM.
The use of eSIMs will make it easier for consumers to explore or switch cellular providers. T-Mobile and Verizon is visible use eSIMs as a way to give people the ability to try out their respective networks on their existing devices. Last week T-Mobile has updated its trial program to now give interested users three months of unlimited data to compare its 5G network with an existing provider.
If you want to switch, eSIM streamlines the process and allows you to be up and running significantly faster than waiting for a physical card to be sent out or taking your handset into a store.
