There’s a big difference between the iPhone 16 you buy in the US and UK – and fans say it’s ‘really frustrating’
APPLE is continuing to make two different iPhones for the US and the rest of the world – and it’s frustrating some users.
While on the surface the new iPhone 16 models look pretty much the same, there is one significant variation.
And that’s to do with SIMs.
Starting with the iPhone 14 series in 2022, Apple decided to make US versions eSIM only.
eSIM does everything electronically instead of needing a physical SIM card.
While it’s easier once you get the hang of it, some people complain that making the phone eSIM only means less choice, especially when going abroad.
The rest of the world and the UK get a slightly different build of iPhone, with the physical SIM tray still available alongside eSIM support too.
Some had expected Apple to finally make all iPhones across the world eSIM only with the iPhone 16, but it turned out not to be the case.
The continued difference has annoyed American iPhone fans once again.
“It’s stupid,” one person wrote on Reddit.
“I want a physical sim for when I travel.
“If you go to places like London, Paris, Barcelona yeah you can get an esim no problem.
“Once you go off the beaten path a bit to a place like Cambodia you might not be able to get an esim.
“Apple would have made every carrier in the world adapt to esim if they made all models like the U.S. models with esim only but they allowed everyone else a physical sim.”
Another commented: “I hate this so much I can’t even articulate how annoying and dumb of a decision this is.
“Let us have our sim trays.”
A third person said: “It’s really frustrating to not have the choice in the US. I don’t see an inherent benefit to removing it.”
EU MISSES APPLE INTELLIGENCE
US buyers aren’t the only iPhone customers who will have something a bit different on the new model.
Across the pond, EU customers won’t find Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 when it eventually launches later this year.
They will be delayed until a later stage over new EU digital rules, the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act and the AI Act.
But EU users will have access to third party app stores as well as alternatives to Apple Pay for NFC payments.
Why are people bothered about eSIM?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor
I’ve used eSIM loads when travelling and it’s a lot easier to shop around for deals in advance so your phone is prepared as soon as you land.
While the US and UK may have plenty of eSIM options available these days, other countries may have a more limited choice on offer.
This means US iPhones, which are eSIM only, have a lot less choice when travelling to some countries compared to those with the old physical SIM tray that.
Many had hoped Apple would make all iPhone 16 devices across the world eSIM only to force networks to support eSIM widely.
But it hasn’t turned out to be the case this year.