Apple says goodbye to the SIM card tray with its new iPhone model

Apple is taking a revolutionary step in its iPhone series by aiming to completely eliminate the physical SIM card tray in its new foldable model, the iPhone Fold. Industry sources indicate that this model will offer support only for eSIM.

Rumors are growing regarding the iPhone Fold, which is expected to be unveiled in 2026. Chinese leaker Instant Digital claimed that this device will be released without a physical SIM slot. Previously, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had stated that the device's slim design would be made possible by the removal of the SIM tray.

While the removal of the physical SIM tray allows for a thinner device, the fact that global eSIM usage has not yet become widespread poses a risk for Apple. Especially in the Chinese market, user interest in physical SIM cards persists. When Apple launched the iPhone Air model in China, it had made agreements with China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom for eSIM support. However, users had to visit stores to activate the eSIM.

The iPhone Fold is expected to be introduced in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Furthermore, there is talk that Apple may change its annual launch cycle after 2026, shifting to a strategy of introducing products twice a year.