Apple's ultra-thin iPhone, no physical SIM card?

The ultra-thin iPhone that Apple will release next fall may not have a physical SIM card slot?

According to technology media The Information, Apple plans to launch a new series of iPhones next year, including the highly anticipated ultra-thin model, but it does not feature a design for a physical SIM card tray.

In China, physical SIM cards remain mainstream, and if this issue cannot be resolved, Apple's ultra-thin design concept may hinder its product promotion in the Chinese market.

The report also stated that Apple's latest iPhone models will undergo significant design changes next year. For example, Apple will remove the iPhone Plus from its product line, and the thin iPhone will switch to an aluminum frame made of stainless steel and titanium alloy, with only one speaker in its earpiece.

Physical SIM cards are mainstream in China

This ultra-thin iPhone is seen as one of Apple's most important design innovations in years and will lay the groundwork for the foldable iPhone that Apple plans to launch in 2026.

The prototype thickness of the new iPhone is between 5 and 6 millimeters, while the thickness of the iPhone 16 is 7.8 millimeters. The Information cited two people involved in the project, stating that so far, Apple's engineers have not been able to install a physical tray for the SIM card in this thin device.

The report mentioned that this ultra-thin iPhone is currently undergoing small-batch trial production at Foxconn and has successfully passed the proto-1 stage, entering the proto-2 stage. Sources revealed that Apple engineers need to resolve the integration issue of the physical SIM card tray before next summer to finalize the product design, production process, and equipment.

Since 2018, Apple has been gradually trying to eliminate physical SIM card trays. For the past two years, the U.S. version of the iPhone has not used a physical SIM card tray and has utilized eSIM technology. This technology can remotely verify customers' identities and activate phones.

Most iPhones sold by Apple in regions around the world are equipped with physical SIM card trays. Even in areas that support eSIM, traditional physical SIM cards are still available. In China, physical SIM cards are mainstream.

Therefore, unless Apple's designers can solve the problem of how to install a physical SIM card tray, the new iPhone may find it difficult to sell in China.

In its ambition to continuously push the boundaries of industrial design and technology, Apple often clashes with regulations in various regions.

Previously, the European Union criticized Apple for using proprietary ports and non-removable batteries, passing laws to force Apple to redesign its hardware. Apple believes such regulations stifle innovation.

Significant design changes for the new iPhone

The report stated that Apple's latest iPhone models will undergo significant design changes next year.

For example, Apple will remove the iPhone Plus from its product line to make way for the new thin model, internally codenamed D23. The report cited informed sources saying that Apple plans to double the production of this lightweight iPhone compared to the iPhone PlusIn addition, the new models will switch to aluminum frames made of stainless steel and titanium alloy. The upper half of the back cover of the Pro and Pro Max is made of aluminum, while the lower half is made of glass to support wireless charging.

The slim iPhone has only one speaker in the earpiece, as there is no space at the bottom to accommodate a second speaker. Its back features a large centered camera bump, which contains one lens, while the standard iPhone has two lenses, and the Pro models have three lenses.

Reports also indicate that this slim iPhone will be among the first to use Apple's in-house 5G modem next year, rather than the modem provided by Qualcomm