Apple has confirmed the cellular hardware specifications for the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In 12 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, and Japan, these models will be sold exclusively with eSIM support, completely removing the physical SIM card tray. This list remains unchanged from the previous iPhone 17 Pro series, indicating no expansion of the eSIM-only strategy for the Pro lineup this year.
The list of regions with eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro models includes the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Bahrain, Guam, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US Virgin Islands. In these markets, users must activate cellular services via digital profiles. Meanwhile, the new foldable iPhone Duo model features an eSIM-only design across all global markets, marking a more aggressive transition to digital-only connectivity for that specific product line.
Most other global markets, such as the UK, Europe, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea, will continue to offer models with a physical nano-SIM slot alongside eSIM support. In mainland China, Apple provides various configurations, including dual physical nano-SIMs, single nano-SIM with eSIM, or dual eSIM options. The removal of the physical tray allows for increased internal battery capacity in the eSIM-only versions.
Apple first introduced eSIM-only models with the iPhone 14 series in 2022. The company highlights that eSIM technology improves device security, as the SIM cannot be physically removed if the phone is stolen. Additionally, users can store at least 8 eSIM profiles on a single device, which simplifies network switching and international travel. Apple continues to move toward a fully digital communication strategy.
