With the iPhone 14, Apple removed the SIM tray to encourage its US consumers to migrate to eSIM. However, this was not the case in other markets where the phone was sold. Now that the iPhone 16 series is available, you may be wondering if these new phones will include a SIM tray in your region. We have an answer to your question, so read the article below to find out more.
Do the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro have a SIM card slot?
The answer to this question varies depending on where you live. If you are from the United Statesthen you get no option for a physical SIM card. Apple has completely removed the SIM card tray from all of its US models, starting with the iPhone 14. But you can still configure two e-SIMs at the same time.
| Region | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM |
| China | Physical dual SIM | Physical dual SIM | Physical dual SIM | Physical dual SIM |
| Rest of the world | Dual e-SIM or one e-SIM + nano SIM | Dual e-SIM or one e-SIM + nano SIM | Dual e-SIM or one e-SIM + nano SIM | Dual e-SIM or one e-SIM + nano SIM |
For the rest of the world, the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will still retain the SIM card slot. Users can use a physical SIM and an e-SIM if they want to use two carriers simultaneously. Only in mainland China will you have the option to use two physical SIM cards. Here is a table to help you understand better.
So any iPhone 16 sold outside the US and China will have the option to use either two e-SIMs or one e-SIM with a physical nano SIM. You can learn more about the iPhone 16 official page.
If you’re thinking about asking your American loved ones to get you an iPhone 16, you should know that you won’t be able to use a physical SIM card. Apple’s push to transition users to e-SIM is a good move, but its infrastructure still has issues, which is why the company is still offering physical SIM support in other countries. If you have any further questions, let us know in the comments section below.
