With the iPhone 14, Apple removed the SIM tray to encourage its US consumers to migrate to eSIM. However, this was not true in other markets where the phone was sold. Now that the iPhone 16 series is available, you may be wondering whether these new phones will include a SIM tray in your region. We have an answer to your question, so read the article below to learn more.
Do the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro have a SIM Card Slot?
The answer to this question varies on where you live. If you are native to the U.S., then you get no option for a physical SIM. Apple has removed the SIM card tray entirely from all its U.S. models, starting from the iPhone 14. But you can still set up two e-SIMs at the same time.
| Region | iPhone 16 | iPhone 16 Plus | iPhone 16 Pro | iPhone 16 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S.A. | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM | Dual e-SIM |
| China | Dual Physical SIM | Dual Physical SIM | Dual Physical SIM | Dual Physical 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 one physical SIM and one e-SIM if they want to use two carriers simultaneously. Only in mainland China will you get the option to use dual physical SIM cards.
So any iPhone 16 sold outside the US and China will have the option to either use two e-SIMs or one e-SIM along with a physical nano SIM. You can learn more on the official iPhone 16 page.
So now if you were planning to ask your U.S. relatives to get you an iPhone 16, then you know that you won’t get to use a physical SIM card. Apple’s motive to switch users to e-SIM is a good initiative, but there are still issues with its infrastructure, which is why the company still offers physical SIM support in other countries. If you have any other queries, then let us know in the comments section below.
