- Apple’s latest iPhone Air has deleted the SIM tray worldwide
- Operators must support ESIM integration and FAQs or risk customers by losing
- Currently, only China Unicom supports ESIM for the iPhone Air in China
It was a week busy for Apple enthusiasts, Apple revealing the new iPhone 17 series. Although the range offers a lot to unpack, the spotlights are on iPhone air being the most thin iPhone of all time and to go entirely ESIM.
In August 2025, we saw Google Pixel 10 making a similar movement by abandoning the physical locations of the SIM card. The movement signals a future only ESIM and pushes other OEMs to follow the plunge.
Disturbance for carriers but possibility for ESIM suppliers
Analysts warn the risks Losing itinerant income because users will discover cheaper ESIM alternatives like Holafly, Ubigi or Saily.
“Mobile operators have everywhere to arm their retail and online support support channels for a wave of new ESIM customer problems and to publish clear user guidelines for ESIM and a FAQ,” explains Emma Mohr-McClune, chief telecommunications analyst at Globaldata.
Another series of questions arises around telephone numbers and consumer preparation. All ESIM suppliers do not offer telephone numbers, because many simply offer data plans. With iPhone 17 air, the request for phone numbers may increase; Otherwise, consumers will be forced to stick to traditional carriers for calls / SMS.
ESIM suppliers are now faced with an increasing opportunity (and pressure) to develop in the offer of phone numbers. Alosim was one of the first suppliers of ESIM to offer local telephone numbers to users when they travel.
When I asked the CEO of Alosim, Justin Shimoon, about ESIMS offering phone numbers, he explained: “Our customers immediately saw the advantage of being able to fully prevent their main SIM card while traveling internationally – no risk of charges on their next telephone bill – and using the combination of Alosim and Hush to stay connected.”
But the change also exhibits regional roadblocks. The iPhone Air models purchased outside of continental China cannot be installed with the continental transporter Esims. Chinese telecommunications providers will have to adapt quickly to this growing change, because slow adoption could affect sales.
However, despite these obstacles, TrendForce projects iPhone 17 shipments to increase 3.5% compared to the iPhone 16. Consumers are likely to engage with this change, because operators’ switching will become easier and users will be able to download mobile plans in application stores.
“With Esims, connectivity becomes a digital product. Users will download the SIM profiles from the comfort of their homes, as is the installation of an application.
