iPhone 18 Pro is eSIM-Only in These Countries

Apple has been transitioning away from physical SIM card trays, adopting eSIM technology in the latest iPhone models. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are eSIM-only in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The iPhone 17 Pro models maintain eSIM-only functionality in these same countries, so there is no alteration this year.

While iPhone 18 Pro models continue to support a physical SIM card slot in all other nations, including the U.K. and Europe. The eSIM, essentially a digital SIM card, is paired with a larger battery that previously accommodated the SIM card tray. Earlier reports highlighted the battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max listed on EU regulatory labels, though these values apply to models retaining a SIM card tray.

Apple began removing SIM cards with the iPhone 14 series, initially in the U.S. Only iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and other locales still feature nano-SIM card trays alongside eSIM support. In China, devices support various configurations: two nano-SIM cards, one nano-SIM card and one eSIM, or two eSIMs.

The iPhone Duo, featuring an eSIM-only design, operates globally. Upon the iPhone 14 series launch in 2022, Apple highlighted eSIMs' enhanced security compared to physical SIM cards, emphasizing their non-removability from lost or stolen iPhones. Moreover, up to eight eSIMs can be managed on an iPhone simultaneously, negating the need to acquire, carry, and swap SIM cards during international travel.