Apple’s iPhone Air, being released today, is not just the company’s thinnest-ever phone. It’s also its first to ditch compatibility with traditional plastic SIM cards in every market around the world. And just like when Apple dropped the 3.5-millimetre headphone jack almost a decade ago, some people will be unbothered as they’ve already adopted the new digital standard, while others may be caught off guard.

The digital alternative to SIM cards – eSIMs, which are loaded wirelessly into an embedded chip – has been around since 2016 and been an option in every iPhone since 2018. In the US and other parts of the world, many phones have long since ditched physical SIMs to rely on eSIMs only. But in Australia, the iPhone Air is breaking new ground. And, according to Apple’s vice president of wireless software technologies, Arun Mathias, the reason behind the push is similar to the elimination of the headphone jack.

“The physical SIM does take up valuable real estate. And it’s not just the plastic itself. It has to sit on other components like the SIM card tray, and there’s a SIM connector connected to it. There are structural elements to make it all work, as well as the [waterproofing] seal,” he said.

“That space can essentially be used for other things. Maybe it could be a larger battery. It could be enabling a form factor that we really otherwise wouldn’t be able to do. It really made it possible for us to deliver a product that’s so unbelievably thin and light as the iPhone Air, while still maintaining the battery life.”

Apple has used eSIMs for mobile connections in other thin devices including watches and tablets, and the prospect of better longevity stacks up; in the US, where iPhones have been eSIM only since 2022, this year’s iPhone 17 Pro has a larger battery than the version with a SIM tray. In Australia, the Air is the only 2025 model restricted to eSIM, but Apple appears committed to eliminating the physical cards globally.

“This is the start of the journey. We will be looking for how on any given product, if we don’t have to use the space for a physical SIM, what else we can do to deliver compelling features for our users,” Mathias said.

So, if you do happen to go for an ultra-thin Air as your next phone, how will the set-up work?

Since eSIMs have been around for a long time, the process – at least for most people – will be fairly easy. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone support Apple features called eSIM Carrier Activation and eSIM Quick Transfer. That means if you buy a new phone from them, they can allocate an eSIM to it in advance, which you’ll activate when you start the device. Or, you can bring your existing plan and number to a new eSIM during the iPhone set-up process, just by logging into your telco account.

Other telcos can send you an eSIM through their app, as a web link, or with a QR code you scan. Or you can also use your old phone to bring your SIM over; many telcos have an option to convert a physical SIM to an eSIM in their app, and then you transfer it over during set-up.

All up, most customers should be able to get started with an eSIM just by setting up the iPhone, following the prompts and logging into their telco account, while some may need to set up the phone without a mobile connection first, then contact their telco or use their app to get the eSIM.

Mariam Gabaji, utilities expert at comparison site Finder, said there were advantages to eSIMs besides removing the need to stick a safety pin into your phone and eject that little tray.

“They are more convenient. There’s no need to wait around for a physical SIM to arrive in the mail or to head out to buy one. They also give you the flexibility to have multiple SIMs on the same device. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve seen a boom in travel eSIMs,” she said.

“eSIMs are harder to steal because they can’t just be removed and popped into another phone, which adds a layer of security if your device is lost or stolen. They can also make SIM swap scams a little harder to pull off.”

According to Finder’s data, most Australian telcos offer eSIMs, with 31 options listed in its database. Telstra said it activates up to 1000 eSIMs every day; double the rate of last year.

iPhones can hold many eSIMs at the same time, and you can have two active. That means you could have separate lines for home and business, or you could easily buy new local SIMs and switch between them when travelling to another country.

“In the past you might have seen people with a stack of cards that are rubber-banded together if they’re travelling to a lot of different places. eSIM obviously makes that so much more seamless,” said Apple’s director of iPhone product marketing, Francesca Sweet.

“We have over 200 local carriers that offer prepaid plans all over the world, and there are also dozens of worldwide service providers that offer data-only packages to help keep you connected. And even if you turn off your home eSIM, you’ll continue to be able to use FaceTime and iMessage on that home number at no extra cost.”

Even if you’re not interested in the new phone, its release is a sure sign that the days of the physical SIM card are numbered. Yet unlike with the 3.5-millimetre jack, it doesn’t seem likely that anybody will miss the need to fiddle around with little plastic squares to move your number to a new phone, or add a service.

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