Apple Is Making iPhone 17 And iPhone 17 Pro Models e-SIM Only In These Countries

By
Brand Spur
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Apple will expand eSIM-only iPhones to more countries with the iPhone 17 series. Selected regions will receive models without a physical SIM tray. This change allows for a larger battery. Other regions, including India, will still have nano-SIM support. The new iPhone 17 Pro Max will cross Rupees 2 lakh in India.

Sep 10, 2025

Apple is continuing its shift away from physical SIM cards, making the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max eSIM-only in a wider range of countries. This marks a significant change for consumers in these regions, who will now rely entirely on digital SIM cards.
It is to be noted that the newly announced ultra-thin iPhone Air, however, will be an eSIM-only model worldwide, including in China.

According to Apple, the following countries and regions will receive eSIM-only versions of the new iPhones:

  • Bahrain
  • Canada
  • Guam
  • Japan
  • Kuwait
  • Mexico
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • United States
  • US Virgin Islands

This is an expansion from the iPhone 14, which was the first series to go eSIM-only, but only in the US.

The company states that by removing the physical SIM card tray, the new iPhone models have a larger battery to fill the freed-up space.

While these regions will not have a physical SIM card tray, iPhones sold in other parts of the world, including India, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea, will still have a nano-SIM card tray alongside eSIM support. In China, the devices will support nano-SIM cards only.

Apple has promoted eSIMs as being more secure than physical SIM cards, as they cannot be removed from a lost or stolen iPhone.

Additionally, iPhones with eSIM capabilities can manage at least eight eSIMs.

iPhone price crosses Rs 2 lakh threshold

Apple’s newly-launched iPhone 17 series has also set a new price record in India, with the top-end 2TB variant of the iPhone 17 Pro Max priced at Rs 2,29,900. This makes it the first iPhone to exceed the Rs 2 lakh price point in the country.

The new pricing represents a significant increase compared to previous models. The iPhone 17 series features several new capabilities, including a redesigned body, an advanced camera system, and the new A19 Pro chip.