Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever just launched – and it’s forcing you into the eSIM future whether you like it or not

iPhone Air goes eSIM-only for ultimate thinness

The iPhone Air has no physical SIM tray. | Image credit – Apple

Apple’s new iPhone Air achieves its record-breaking 5.6mm thickness by removing the physical SIM tray and relying entirely on eSIM technology. This design choice saves internal space, helping make the device incredibly light and thin while still packing the usual iPhone features.

How eSIM benefits the iPhone Air

By removing the physical SIM slot, Apple frees up internal space that would otherwise be used for the tray and ejector mechanism. This reclaimed “real estate” can be used to slightly expand the battery, supporting one of the most common consumer requests: longer battery life.

A physical SIM slot is also a small but real point of vulnerability, allowing dust, dirt, or moisture to enter. Removing it helps improve the phone’s water and dust resistance, contributing to the Air’s strong durability and high IP rating.

Is the eSIM-only approach really good?

I know some of you might not be thrilled that the iPhone Air only supports eSIM. With a physical SIM, you can pop the card into another device instantly if your phone breaks, dies, or you just want to switch devices. That simple “plug-and-play” convenience is completely gone with an eSIM.

For users outside the US, this can also be a limitation. While eSIM is great for travelers using digital plans, not every local carrier supports it, and available options may be limited in some regions.

There’s also a privacy angle: a physical SIM can be removed to prevent the phone from connecting to a network, making it harder to track. An eSIM is embedded, so that simple method is no longer an option. Still, this trade-off is what enables the Air’s ultra-thin design, and for most users, it won’t be a major inconvenience.

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