iPhone 17 Embraces eSIM: Bigger Battery and Hassle-Free Global Connectivity
iPhone 17 Launch and eSIM-Only Models
Apple’s new iPhone 17 series marks another step in phasing out the physical SIM card tray. The latest iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max rely solely on embedded digital SIMs (eSIMs) in many regions. In countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, Bahrain, and several others, these models do not have a physical nano-SIM slot at all, only supporting eSIM for cellular service. (An eSIM is essentially a programmable digital version of a SIM card built into the phone.) Outside of those eSIM-only markets, Apple still provides dual SIM options – for example, in most of Europe and Asia the iPhone 17 models include a nano-SIM tray plus eSIM capability, while in China the devices even stick with physical SIMs only due to local regulations. Overall, however, Apple is clearly pushing the transition to eSIM as the new standard, expanding eSIM-only iPhones from just the U.S. (starting with 2022’s iPhone 14) to a much broader range of countries in 2025. This means a growing number of users will be adapting to activating service with eSIM rather than inserting a tiny plastic card.
Using Freed Space for a Bigger Battery
An internal view of an iPhone 14 Pro Max (U.S. model) logic board, showing the empty space (filled by a plastic spacer) where the SIM card reader was removed. When Apple first removed the SIM tray in the iPhone 14 series, it didn’t immediately use the freed-up space for anything – teardowns revealed that the U.S. iPhone 14 had a small plastic block occupying the spot where the SIM slot used to be. In other words, the initial eSIM-only iPhones left a gap inside the phone that wasn’t contributing to battery size or other hardware. This year, Apple has capitalized on that opportunity. The iPhone 17’s eSIM-only models come equipped with a larger battery that literally fills the space formerly occupied by the SIM card tray. By ditching the plastic placeholder and reclaiming that internal volume for battery cells, Apple achieved meaningful capacity improvements without increasing the device’s external dimensions.
The numbers are telling. For instance, the iPhone 17 Pro in regions where it’s eSIM-only packs about an 18.7% higher battery capacity than the previous iPhone 16 Pro (jumping from ~3,582 mAh to 4,252 mAh). Likewise, the iPhone 17 Pro Max reportedly surpassed the 5,000 mAh threshold for the first time, roughly 8–9% larger than its predecessor. Apple noted that this design change translates to roughly two extra hours of video playback on eSIM versions of the new phones. Naturally, many users will gravitate toward the eSIM-only variants not only for the convenience of eSIM, but also for this tangible battery life upgrade. It’s a clever example of how removing the physical SIM slot can benefit device hardware – in this case, giving everyone more uptime between charges.
Advantages of eSIM and Global Adoption
eSIM technology offers several benefits over traditional SIM cards, which help explain why it’s becoming ubiquitous. Because an eSIM is embedded and programmable, you can activate a mobile plan digitally (often by scanning a QR code or using an app) without needing a physical card. This means no more fiddling with tiny chips or searching for a paperclip to swap SIMs. It’s also more secure – unlike a removable SIM, an eSIM can’t be taken out if your phone is lost or stolen. Apple touted eSIM’s security advantage when it first went eSIM-only in the U.S., since a thief can’t just remove your SIM to disable your line. Convenience is another big plus: modern iPhones can store and manage multiple eSIM profiles (up to 8 or more), and even have two eSIM plans active at the same time. This flexibility lets users easily switch carriers or add a local plan when traveling, all through software. In fact, Apple points out you no longer need to “obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards” when traveling if you have eSIM – no need to keep a collection of SIM cards for different countries.
The mobile industry globally has embraced eSIM support at a rapid pace. As of 2025, eSIM is supported by hundreds of carriers worldwide – over 500 carriers, including major providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and many others, according to Apple. Apple’s own support documentation notes that eSIM cellular plans are now offered in over 190 countries and regions around the world. In other words, the vast majority of places you might visit or live in have at least one carrier (if not many) that can activate service via eSIM. This broad adoption has allowed Apple to push eSIM-only iPhones in more markets: the iPhone 17 series launched with eSIM-only models not just in the U.S., but also across much of the Middle East, parts of Asia, and North America, etc.. (For example, countries like Canada, Mexico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan and more are on the eSIM-only list.) While a few regions still require physical SIMs for now, the trend is clearly toward embedded SIMs becoming the default. Industry standards and carrier infrastructure have evolved such that eSIM is now an industry-standard technology, and consumers are getting used to the idea that you can activate phone service with just a few taps or by scanning a QR code, without ever handling a physical chip.
eSIM Makes International Travel Easier
Digital eSIM services allow travelers to easily select and purchase mobile data plans for countries worldwide via an app or website, avoiding the need to buy local physical SIM cards on arrival. One of the most game-changing advantages of eSIM is how much it simplifies staying connected while traveling internationally. In the past, a frequent traveler might have to buy a new local SIM card in every country they visited. That often meant landing in a new place and immediately dealing with finding a carrier store or kiosk, possibly waiting in line and showing your passport to register a new SIM, and doing all this while jet-lagged and disconnected from mobile data. (Indeed, many countries require identification – like a passport – to purchase a local SIM due to registration laws.) With eSIM, much of this hassle goes away. You can shop for a prepaid local eSIM plan online – either from a local carrier or a global eSIM provider – and install it on your phone before you even depart or just as you land. Because you can download and activate it instantly, you’re covered the minute you arrive in a new country. There’s no need to scramble to find a vendor at the airport, and no downtime where you’re out of service. This saves time at the airport and ensures you can use maps, rideshare apps, and communicate right away upon arrival.
Furthermore, eSIM lets you keep your primary line active while adding a travel plan as a secondary line. For example, you can retain your home SIM (via eSIM) active for important calls or text messages (like banking OTPs), and simultaneously use a second eSIM for affordable local data in the country you’re visiting. Your phone can juggle both numbers at once, so you don’t miss calls on your regular number, and you don’t have to physically swap anything when switching back after the trip. Managing these is all built into the iPhone settings – no tiny cards to keep track of (and potentially lose).
The eSIM ecosystem for travelers has grown substantially. There are now numerous worldwide eSIM providers that offer prepaid data packages for travelers that work across many countries. For example, eSIM Prime (a U.S.-based service) sells eSIM plans with coverage in over 190 countries worldwide. Services like this allow you to purchase, say, a 5GB data plan for Europe or a specific country through a mobile app or website, and the eSIM QR code or profile is delivered instantly. Similarly, other popular travel eSIM marketplaces and apps (Airalo, Holafly, etc.) let you download an eSIM for your destination in minutes. The plans tend to be prepaid with no contracts, and you can top-up or switch as needed, which is very convenient for short trips. The process is typically as simple as: choose destination and plan, pay online, scan the provided QR code to install the eSIM, and you’re done. There’s no need to visit a shop or deal with local paperwork, and no fumbling with physical SIM ejector tools. In short, eSIM has made the process of getting mobile service in a foreign country as easy as downloading an app, radically simplifying the travel experience.
It’s also cost-effective and avoids nasty surprises. Instead of incurring expensive roaming fees from your home carrier, you can use these local eSIM plans which are often far cheaper. You can shop for the best deal (even compare multiple eSIM providers) online ahead of time. And because eSIM profiles are software-based, you can load up multiple ones (for different trips or regions) and just activate them when needed. For instance, if you regularly travel to two or three countries, you can keep those eSIM plans saved in your iPhone and simply toggle them on when you land, without having to buy a new SIM each time. The end result is that international travel is more seamless: you land in a new country and your phone can be ready to go with data and voice service in seconds. No more hunting for a SIM vendor, no more language-barrier issues buying a SIM, and no need to carry tiny SIM cards or risk losing your primary SIM.
In summary, the rise of eSIM – spearheaded by companies like Apple making eSIM-only phones – is delivering real benefits to consumers. In the iPhone 17, removing the SIM tray not only nudged users toward the convenience of eSIM, but also let Apple repurpose that space to give users extra battery life. Meanwhile, eSIM adoption worldwide means that most countries you visit will support a digital SIM option for getting online. The hassle and delay of acquiring physical SIM cards is becoming a thing of the past. Whether you’re a globetrotter who needs mobile data in 10 countries, or just someone who dislikes fiddling with small SIM cards, eSIM is a welcome change. It offers flexibility, security, and ease of use – you can switch carriers in minutes and manage plans right from your phone’s screen. With eSIM travel plans now available for virtually any destination, staying connected abroad is simpler and faster than ever before. This is one innovation where Apple’s bold move to eliminate a legacy feature (the SIM slot) is paying off by both improving the device and making the user experience better, especially for international travelers.
How eSIM Prime Makes Travel Simple
Services like eSIM Prime make global connectivity effortless. With coverage in more than 190 countries, eSIM Prime allows you to:
- Select a best eSIM for travel plan online.
- Receive a QR code instantly after purchase.
- Activate service in minutes without paperwork or visiting a shop.
For business or leisure trips, this means being connected at the airport, avoiding expensive roaming fees, and enjoying reliable internet anywhere you go.