It is rumored that some models of iPhone 14 will completely cancel the SIM card slot
It is rumored that some models of iPhone 14 will completely cancel the SIM card slot. Related news says that some models of iPhone 14 will cancel the physical form. SIM card slot, it may only be a matter of time before Apple abandons physical SIM cards. It is rumored that some iPhone 14 models will completely eliminate the SIM card slot. It is rumored that some iPhone 14 models will completely cancel the SIM card slot 1
Emma Mohr-McClune, director of technical services at GlobalData, recently revealed that some models of the iPhone 14 series will cancel the physical SIM card slot and completely switch to eSIM virtual phone cards. , it is only a matter of time before Apple phones completely abandon physical SIM cards.
This is explosive news for the mobile phone industry. eSIM has long been mature. Apple mobile phones have also started to support eSIM starting from iPhone XR and iPhone XS. The iPhone 13 series officially supports dual-SIM eSIM, but the physical SIM has been completely cancelled. Card, no mobile phone manufacturer has dared to do this before.
Source: Apple official website
The iPhone and the SIM seem to have always been inconsistent. There have been many problems related to the SIM card. For example, the phone often has no signal, and even system freezes due to SIM card-related bugs. Based on two years of iPhone use experience, the iPhone 13 series has still not solved the problem of sudden no signal. It is often necessary to turn on and off airplane mode to resume Internet access.
Could it be said that Apple wants to cut the knot quickly and directly cancel the SIM card slot to permanently solve the system problems related to SIM cards?
Why does Apple forcefully promote SIM?
eSIM is an embedded mobile phone card. The chip is directly integrated into the motherboard. There is no need for a physical SIM card. You can access the Internet after activating the package. At present, eSIM cards are mainly used in hardware such as smart watches. Because the size is too small, it is troublesome to design a physical SIM card slot, so eSIM cards are chosen for calls and Internet access. For example, Huawei Watch 3, OPPO Watch 2, etc. all have eSIM. Version. After adding eSIM to a smart watch, it can get rid of its dependence on mobile phones.
In the mobile phone industry, it is not just Apple that is studying eSIM. Google, the developer of the Android system, is also making efforts in the field of eSIM. In April this year, foreign media Esper broke the news that Android 13 will support the activation of multiple eSIM mobile cards with one native chip, and will support switching operators. For the mobile phone industry, this is tantamount to a blockbuster. Earlier, a mobile phone only supported the activation of one eSIM card, so Apple adopted a physical SIM + eSIM solution to facilitate users to have dual cards and dual standby.
Picture source: pixabay
Although Android 13 supports dual eSIM cards, I am afraid not many mobile phone manufacturers will be radical enough to directly cancel the physical SIM card slot. Instead, the physical SIM card will be retained, and eSIM will be gradually implemented according to the plans of regional operators. So why is Apple so radical in trying to cancel the physical SIM card in the iPhone 14 series?
We all know that every inch of space inside a mobile phone is precious. Because the SIM card slot takes up space, mobile phone manufacturers have to make compromises on their advantages, such as reducing battery capacity or changing battery design.
More importantly, the competition in the mobile phone industry is too fierce. 1-inch COMS is gradually becoming more and more popular, taking up more and more internal space. Take the Xiaomi 12S series, which uses a 1-inch super large bottom main camera. The lens bulge is almost close to 5mm. Eliminating the physical SIM card slot will help mobile phone manufacturers allocate internal space more rationally.
Picture source: pixabay
Supply chain news said that the iPhone 14 series will use Sony’s customized ultra-large bottom 48-megapixel main camera, which will undoubtedly make The internal space of mobile phones is even tighter. Therefore, in order to ensure battery life, especially the small 6.1-inch version with only about 3000mAh battery.
In addition, eliminating the physical SIM card will also help the mobile phone to become integrated and non-porous, improve the degree of integration, improve sealing, and reduce the maintenance rate of the product. In the past few years, vivo, OPPO and other manufacturers have exhibited hole-free concept phones, and these phones have eliminated the physical SIM card slot. Although the technology is not mature yet, non-porous is definitely one of the general directions for future mobile phone design.
Apple canceled the physical SIM card. On the one hand, it should be to save the internal space of the mobile phone. On the other hand, it should be to test the non-porous design and test and layout in advance. As a leader in the smartphone industry, Android manufacturers have radically upgraded configurations in recent years, such as 2K 120Hz screens, periscope telephoto, etc., all before Apple applied them.
It seems that Apple is also planning to be radical, and it is innovative and radical. Maybe it won’t take too long before we see Android manufacturers follow Apple’s lead and cancel the physical SIM card slot.
Cancel physical SIM? In fact, it has nothing to do with Chinese users
iPhone 14 will soon cancel the physical SIM, but don’t panic, the National Bank version will definitely have a physical SIM card slot, and Apple will develop a special version of the iPhone for us.
For example, the current dual-SIM iPhone is basically limited to the Chinese market. Because Chinese people generally have dual-SIM needs, foreign mobile phone manufacturers need to cooperate with operators. Operators are worried about losing users and want to bind users. , so dual SIM cards on mobile phones are prohibited. Previously, the Mexican operator Telcel used cards and glue to violently block the secondary card slot of Xiaomi mobile phones in order to prevent users from having dual SIM cards.
In other words, Chinese users have no connection with Apple’s eSIM, but this does not mean that iPhone 14 abandons the physical SIM card slot and has no impact on Chinese consumers. Although the vast majority of Chinese consumers buy iPhones from major e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo, or Apple’s official website, there are still some people who buy parallel-imported phones.
The so-called parallel-imported mobile phones do not refer to fakes, but mobile phones that have flowed into the country through illegal channels without customs declaration and tax payment. When we enter Apple’s official website, we can see that an iPhone 13 priced at 6,799 yuan requires a tax of 789 yuan. There is no tax on parallel-imported mobile phones, and due to exchange rate issues, the price may be much lower than in the mainland. Therefore, a large number of iPhones are smuggled into the mainland every year.
Source: Apple official website
The iPhone 14 series cancels the SIM card slot and uses eSIM instead. This is definitely a fatal blow to parallel-imported iPhones because of domestic operations. Mobile phone operators generally do not support eSIM. If a parallel-imported iPhone 14 wants to connect to the Internet, it must go through an overseas operator. However, when foreign numbers use the Internet in China, roaming charges are horribly high.
What we didn’t expect was that it was not strict laws and hard-working law enforcement officers that eliminated parallel iPhone smuggling, but Apple’s elimination of physical SIM card slots. It's no wonder, after all, there is profit involved, and even if there is a risk of going to jail, some people still choose to take the risk.
Due to the existence of China’s special version of the iPhone, the cancellation of the physical SIM card slot in iPhone 14 has nothing to do with the vast majority of Chinese consumers. Only a small number of users who plan to buy parallel iPhones may be affected. .
eSIM allows us to completely say goodbye to the "card pin", a tool that has accompanied mobile phone users for decades, and also allows Chinese people to experience the convenience of not having to change cards. Apple has issued a questionnaire earlier and intends to remove the SIM card pin from the package. However, the phone still has a physical SIM card, and hastily canceling the SIM card pin will cause a lot of inconvenience to users. By eliminating the eSIM card slot, the number of accessories in the package can be reduced, which can have a certain environmental impact.
eSIM is not so perfect
I have seen netizens on many platforms discussing why domestic operators do not support eSIM for mobile phones. Some conspiracy theorists even questioned the three major operators. I think they banned eSIM because they were worried that eSIM registration would be too convenient and users might be lost. It is indeed convenient to register for eSIM, but operators really don’t worry about losing users.
The three major operators have all launched the number portability function. You can apply for it on the mobile app, which does not prevent you from changing operators. The reason why China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom do not implement eSIM is simple. eSIM is not perfect and has many security risks.
Picture source: pixabay
The first problem with eSIM is that when changing mobile phones, it is too troublesome to change the bound mobile phone, and you need to contact the operator Applying is no more convenient than number portability. Fortunately, iOS 16 may support eSIM Bluetooth replacement, making it easier for users to change phones. But if you want to dual-hold your phone, after transferring your phone number, you have to re-activate eSIM on the old phone and apply for a package. It is far less convenient and affordable than applying for a secondary card with a physical card.
Secondly, eSIM relies on a remote management platform, which may be hacked or infected by viruses. Air interface transmission increases the generation and writing of keys, certificates and other information, which is prone to eavesdropping or interference, and terminal eSIM management Applications may also have security vulnerabilities. These circumstances result in eSIM users’ personal information being more easily leaked than physical SIM.
In addition, because eSIM registration is too convenient, it is very easy to be used for telecommunications fraud. The three major domestic operators have taken strict precautions against telecom fraud. A mobile phone card used for Internet access has been blocked by China Mobile even because it has not made any calls. eSIM is simply the dream tool of telecom fraud gangs. You no longer need to go to the business hall or ask staff to come to activate it, and you can register and cancel at any time.
Picture source: pixabay
It is undeniable that eSIM will have a very broad application space in the future, and it is likely to replace physical SIM in the future, but at this stage, privacy security The problem cannot be solved, and it opens the door to telecommunications fraud. The advantages of saving mobile phone space cannot make up for the shortcomings. Whether it is for the sake of user privacy and security, or to control telecommunications fraud, the three major operators should not implement eSIM.
As for Apple’s implementation of eSIM, as a leader in the mobile phone industry, Apple does have the responsibility to lead the development direction of mobile phone functions, but it seems to be too hasty to cancel the physical SIM card rashly. It is rumored that some models of iPhone 14 will completely cancel the SIM card slot 2
Recently, relevant news said that some models of iPhone 14 will cancel the physical SIM card slot. It may be only a matter of time before Apple gives up the physical SIM card. Moreover, Apple will completely cancel the SIM card slot on subsequent iPhone 15 Pro models and change it to an eSIM virtual card only design. Emma Mohr-McClune, director of technical services at GlobalData, also said that MacRumors said at the beginning of the year that Apple had discussed with major US operators to implement eSIM-only solutions for the iPhone 14 series.
eSIM is an electronic SIM card that can achieve exactly the same functions without inserting a physical card. It is reported that the benefit of eSIM is that it can save space inside the mobile phone system, allowing it to accommodate a larger battery or other parts. eSIM can also support multiple network access at the same time without switching physical SIM cards.
However, everything has two sides, there are advantages and disadvantages. For example, it is very troublesome for users to switch mobile phone numbers or virtual SIM cards. They have to use another mobile phone to scan the QR code to change, which is not as convenient as a physical SIM card.
After all, Apple had applied for a relevant patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as early as 2011 for this technology. The application of eSIM technology abroad is still very mature, so some in the industry speculate that Apple will launch optional models supporting eSIM services in some markets this year. However, this may still require a process for everyone to adapt to, that is, as it is said, it will be a matter of time.
This reminds me of the 3.5mm wired headphone jack function that was cut off before. Now many have canceled the 3.5mm headphone jack, and Apple was indeed the first to implement this. Apple canceled the phone's original 3.5mm headphone wired jack in the iPhone 7 released in September 2016, and instead adopted a Lightning interface, which doubled as a charging interface.
Apple officials said that the cancellation of the 3.5mm wired headphone jack was to make the phone lighter and thinner. After it was announced that the iPhone 7 would cancel the 3.5mm wired headphone jack, AirPods true wireless Bluetooth headphones subsequently appeared.
The previous wired headphone jack and the charging C port next to it are placed side by side, and it does not take up much space to the naked eye. But Apple did this, and later other brands of mobile phones also chose this kind of operation. Although we have seen that there are still some mobile phones that retain the 3.5mm wired headphone jack, in fact, most of them have directly cut off this function.
Do you still remember that the mobile phone card slot used earlier can put a memory card in here. But looking at the current smart phones, they are basically cancelled. Mobile phone manufacturers have chosen to directly increase the memory space of the mobile phone itself, with the maximum now being 512GB of storage.
All these changes seem to come from a very conspicuous statement, which is to make mobile phones thinner and lighter. When we consumers choose mobile phones, no one really likes the feeling of thickness, and we prefer mobile phones with thinner bodies. In order to make the phone thinner, the memory card slot and 3.5mm wired headphone jack must be cancelled.
Now it is indeed obvious to place the mobile phone card slot here on the frame of the mobile phone. Not only has the position been changed, but the size of the card slot has also become smaller and smaller. It was chosen to save space inside the mobile phone body. Or enhance other accessories.
What all these changes have resulted in is that today’s mobile phones are basically all-in-one machines. The only thing we can move is the card slot, and other parts cannot be removed. If your phone breaks down, you have to go to the store to find a professional for repair and maintenance. Since you are not a professional and don’t have professional tools, you can’t do anything.
However, we don’t need to be overly anxious about the news of canceling the SIM card slot. In foreign countries, one card can indeed switch operators freely, but this solution is currently unfeasible in China. Our domestic mobile phones support dual-card dual standby, because one card corresponds to one operator.
In summary, this situation can be said to be a benefit of technological development. But thinking about it from another perspective, if it is just to make the mobile phone thinner, the thinness and lightness may be there, but the weight of the mobile phone is also an issue. You can't just pursue the so-called lightness and ignore other usage experiences. The development of science and technology must always be people-oriented, and it is most important to fully consider the real needs of users. It is rumored that some iPhone 14 models will completely cancel the SIM card slot 3
According to previous reports, Apple is expected to hold an autumn new product launch conference on September 12 (early morning of September 13, Beijing time) this year, when the new The iPhone 14 series will officially meet with everyone, and will include four models: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. As the most watched mobile device in the world, this machine has attracted widespread attention from the outside world early on. Now there is the latest news. Recently, foreign media have further brought more details about the machine.
According to the latest information released by foreign media Macrumors, GlobalData technical services director Emma Mohr-McClune said that some models of the new iPhone 14 will cancel the physical SIM card slot, and only A virtual SIM card embedded directly into the device's chip is required to access the operator's network.
In fact, this is not the first time rumors that the iPhone will cancel the physical SIM card slot have been reported as early as the previous iPhone 13 and even the iPhone 12 series. According to previous reports, the advantage of eSIM is that it can save more internal space, but the disadvantage is that it will be troublesome for users to change their mobile phone numbers.
In other aspects, according to previously exposed news, the new iPhone 14 series may still continue the design of the iPhone 13 and continue to use the right-angled bezel solution.
Two of the Pro versions are the targets of this key upgrade. The front is expected to use an "exclamation point" perforated screen for the first time. It is expected to be equipped with a 120Hz high refresh screen and 6GB of memory. It supports the new generation of LTPO technology, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 MAX remain the same. For Liu Haiping.
In addition, the new phone will inevitably undergo comprehensive upgrades in terms of performance, imaging, etc., but only the Pro version will use A16, and the standard version of iPhone 14 The A15 chip will still be used. At the same time, the main camera of the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to be upgraded to 48 million pixels, which is said to pave the way for 8K video.
It is reported that the new iPhone 14 series may begin mass production and stocking as early as early August, and the price will be increased. The basic model of iPhone 14 may be priced at US$799, and the iPhone 14 Max will be priced at US$899. US dollars, while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be priced at US$1,099 and US$1,199 respectively. We'll have to wait and see for more details.