Apple’s upcoming iPhone 14 series smartphones have been making the rounds for the past few months, despite the lineup being months away from getting launched. There have been several reports about the upgraded features of the device.

The iPhone 14 models are also rumored to ditch the nano-SIM card slot and will instead have support for eSIM. Now, an analyst has indicated that this could indeed turn out to be true and the Cupertino-based tech giant may launch eSIM-only iPhone models this year.

Emma Mohr-McClune, a Technology Service Director at GlobalData, says (via iMore) that the Apple iPhone 14 series may come with only eSIM support without any nano-SIM card slot. However, Mohr-McClune adds that the company may offer a variant with a SIM card slot for those carriers that still don’t support eSIM functionality.

The company has been slowly expanding the eSIM functionality on its smartphones. It first added support for eSIM with the iPhone XS and XS Max launch and with the recent iPhone 13 models, it added support for dual eSIMs.

Recently, it was reported that Apple is even working on a transition as some U.S. carriers will start offering select iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM card in the retail box from Q2 2022. The company is already selling iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM in the box if the product is sold through Apple Store or Apple.com.

If the reports about the eSIM-only models for the upcoming smartphones from Apple turn out to be true, then Apple must be testing waters and expect the company to completely do away with the physical SIM cards for the iPhones with new iterations.

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A couple of days ago, it was reported that the Apple iPhone 15 Pro series models, which will get launched in the year 2023, could come without a physical nano-SIM card slot and only support dual eSIM cards.

Now, a new report indicates that the switch from physical SIM to eSIM only could happen earlier than expected. It is being claimed that the iPhone 14 series models getting launched in 2022 could lack physical nano-SIM slots.

According to a report from MacRumors, Apple has advised major network carriers in the United States to prepare for the launch of eSIM-only smartphones by September 2022. They have also accessed a document outlining the timeframe for this initiative, although the document doesn’t specifically mention Apple or the iPhone.

The company is even working on a transition as some U.S. carriers will start offering select iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM card in the retail box from Q2 2022. The company is already selling iPhone 13 models without a nano-SIM in the box if the product is sold through Apple Store or Apple.com.

We expect the Cupertino-based technology giant to still make iPhone models with physical SIM card slots for the regions where eSIM functionality isn’t available.

Prior to this, there were rumors about Apple planning to remove the Lightning port from the smartphones and if the company also gets rid of the physical SIM card slot, then it would be a step further for a seamless design as well as improve water resistance.

Apple has a track record of taking some bold decisions so there’s a possibility that this information could turn out to be true. We expect to get more information about this in the coming weeks or months.

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Every mobile phone requires a SIM to work. It can either be an eSIM or a removable SIM. The average person knows that a SIM card is what allows them to connect to the service provided by a network operator.

Every mobile phone also has built-in storage which is where your phone’s operating system, pre-installed and downloaded apps, images, videos, and other files are stored. Some phones have a storage expansion slot that allows you to add extra storage to your device while others do not, which means if you run out of space, you have no choice but to delete files or back them up to the cloud or another device like your computer.

Talking about phones with support for storage expansion, some have a hybrid SIM tray that allows you to either use a MicroSD card or a SIM card in one of the SIM slots. So, if you are going to use up a slot for the MicroSD card, you can only use one SIM card on your phone.

But it doesn’t have to be this way – if you own a Super SIM.

What is a Super SIM?

A Super SIM combines a SIM card and a MicroSD card into a single card. The first Super SIM was announced last year in China and it comes in various capacities starting from 32GB and goes up to 128GB. These Super SIM cards also have read and write speeds of 90MB/s and 60MB/s respectively.

When compared to what a traditional SIM can store which is about 128KB, a Super SIM can store millions more of data. Super SIMs also have a one-click backup and restore feature, so you can pop it into a new phone and have your data from your old phone restored. They are also secure (CC EAL6+ security certification) so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your data.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi patents a two in one SIM and Memory Card, offers 5G and Storage

Advantages of a Super SIM

As a user, you don’t have to choose between a SIM card or a MicroSD card if your phone has a hybrid SIM tray. Just purchase a Super SIM and you have both additional storage and a second SIM.

For manufacturers, there is no need to make a phone with a triple card tray or one with a dedicated MicroSD card slot. This means, there can be extra space for a slightly larger battery or an extra component.

Disadvantages of a Super SIM

At the moment, Super SIMs are limited to China and are still pretty expensive. A 32GB Super SIM sells for ¥99 (~$14) while a 64GB card sells for ¥199 (~$28). That is pretty expensive when compared to the price of a MicroSD card with the same amount of storage.

While price will and can come down in the future, adoption is another thing. The first 5G SuperSIM sold in China is a partnership between China’s UNIIC memory technology Co. Ltd, makers of UNIC Memory and China Unicom. Unless more network operators adopt the Super SIM and partner with storage manufacturers, Super SIM may not become mainstream and may actually even be abandoned.

Another disadvantage is that a Super SIM can only work with a phone that has a hybrid SIM card tray. These rules out phones (especially flagships) without that type of SIM tray, thus making adoption difficult.

Another possible disadvantage is customers’ unwillingness to purchase a Super SIM and the hassle of replacing their regular SIM card with a Super SIM. With more people ordering phones online and just popping their SIM card into the new device, there isn’t a need to go to your network operator’s outlet for anything.

One question that pops up in relation to this is what happens to your Super SIM when you switch to a phone that doesn’t support storage expansion?

Is Super SIM the future of SIM cards?

While the Super SIM does have its advantages, it seems like a novelty feature and one that might not scale if network operators do not adopt it.

There is also the case of manufacturers such as Apple and OnePlus who will rather not add support for storage expansion to their devices.

Nevertheless, Super SIMs should be given a chance by more network operators. While a lot of flagships don’t have support for storage expansion, millions of mid-range phones and entry-level phones with a hybrid SIM tray are sold annually and these customers can be the target for Super SIMs.

UP NEXT: Lexar launches NM Card for Huawei devices; starts at ¥199 (~$28)

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