Does the iPhone 16 have a SIM card slot?
Whether an iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, or 16 Pro Max has a physical SIM card slot depends on the region the device was bought in. When Apple showcased the new generation of its smartphones in September 2024, the phonemaker disclosed that all iPhone 16 models purchased in the United States would only support eSIMs. Any iPhone 16 purchased outside of the US also had a physical SIM card tray, with models built for China, Hong Kong, and Macau supporting dual physical SIMs, but not eSIMs.
The easiest way to check whether your iPhone 16 was purchased in the US and is eSIM only is to look at the phone itself. If your iPhone 16 has a SIM card tray on the left side of the body of the device, it wasn’t bought in the US. If it has no SIM card slot, the iPhone 16 is made for the US market, with the left side of the phone’s body being a smooth unibody up to the two volume control buttons.
Except for China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the iPhone 16 models come with a physical SIM card tray and support eSIMs as well. Because of how dual SIMs work on an iPhone, your physical SIM and your eSIM can be active simultaneously.
In China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the iPhone 16 models do not support eSIMs. Instead, devices sold in the country have a SIM tray with two nano SIM card slots. If you’re curious which iPhones have eSIM support in China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the only models to have eSIMs are the iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo.
Why doesn’t the iPhone 16 have a SIM card slot in the US?
With the introduction of the iPhone 14, which was the first eSIM-only device in its lineup, Apple sold the idea of removing the physical SIM card tray as a way for users to “more quickly and easily set up their device.” Apple added at the time that an eSIM is a “more secure alternative to a physical SIM card, and allows for multiple cellular plans on a single device.”
The US mobile network operator (MNO) market is unique because the country only has three active national players providing coverage in the whole country — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), such as Google Fi, Mint, H2O Wireless, and others, utilize the cell networks of the aforementioned MNOs. A consolidated MNO market can easily adapt to devices being eSIM only, and it’s much easier for Apple to ensure that cell networks support eSIMs when it has only three MNOs to deal with nationwide.
Users only began seeing hardware benefits of the move away from physical SIMs with the iPhone 17 series. Following teardowns of the physical SIM and eSIM-only iPhone 17s, it was confirmed that the eSIM-only devices had bigger batteries. However, the eSIM-only iPhone 16 devices still had plastic spacers where the SIM card tray is located for iPhone 16s sold elsewhere in the world.
Where is the SIM card tray on the iPhone 16?
If your iPhone 16 wasn’t sold in the US, you’ll find the SIM card tray on the left side of the iPhone 16’s body, regardless of your exact model. The tray, which can be opened with a hairpin or a SIM-eject tool, is just below the two volume control buttons.
On the iPhone 16 models sold in the US, the part of the body where there’s a SIM card tray in other markets is a smooth aluminum unibody. That’s the only difference when you’re comparing the eSIM vs. physical SIM-supporting iPhone 16 models.
Do the iPhone 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max have a SIM card slot?
Whether an iPhone 16 model has a SIM card slot doesn’t depend on the model itself, but on the region where it’s sold. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Does the iPhone 16 support dual SIMs?
All iPhone 16 models support dual SIM functionality, regardless of whether they’re eSIM only or not, since an eSIM is, in essence, a SIM card. The eSIM initialism stands for “embedded subscriber identity module,” meaning that an eSIM functions identically to a SIM, helping cell towers to identify you, the subscriber, allowing you to call, text, or use mobile data. The only difference is that an eSIM is embedded within the iPhone 16 itself, with no way to remove the module unless you open up the phone’s back.
In the US, you can use two eSIMs simultaneously with an iPhone 16. While the number of eSIM profiles an iPhone 16 can store is up to eight, only two can be used concurrently. Elsewhere in the world — except for China, Hong Kong, and Macau — you can have an active physical SIM card and an eSIM at the same time as well as store up to eight eSIMs on your phone.
In China, Hong Kong, and Macau, users with any of the iPhone 16 models can insert two nano SIM cards into the SIM tray and use both together.
How to set up an eSIM on an iPhone 16
Setting up an eSIM on an iPhone 16 is an easy process that will take no longer than a few minutes. These are the eSIM installation steps that you usually have to follow once you receive a QR code from your eSIM provider or mobile carrier:
Turn on and begin setting up your iPhone.
When the “Set up cellular” screen appears, tap “Use QR code.”
Scan the code and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
If you’ve already set up your iPhone, you can install a new eSIM profile like this:
Scan the QR code you’ve been sent by your provider or carrier.
Tap the “Cellular plan detected” notification once it appears at the top of your screen.
Tap “Continue.”
Tap “Add cellular plan.”
If during the installation process you’re asked to enter a confirmation code, use the code that was given to you by your eSIM provider or carrier.
If your device is locked to your carrier, you won’t be able to install an eSIM from another provider or carrier. To check whether your iPhone is carrier locked or not:
Go to “Settings.”
Tap “General.”
Tap “About.”
Scroll down until you see “Carrier lock” or “Network provider lock.” If you see “No SIM restrictions,” your device is not locked to a single carrier.
Usually, carriers lock phones to their networks or a single eSIM/SIM card when the device is on an installment plan and hasn’t been paid off in full. You’ll have to contact your MNO or MVNO to unlock your iPhone 16 to be able to use eSIMs from other carriers.
Best eSIM for iPhone 16 series phones
The choice of an eSIM for your iPhone 16 will depend on your needs. You can opt for the most expensive plans with such extras as free subscriptions to various streaming services, or buy a prepaid eSIM that only provides call minutes, text messages, and data.
Local eSIM
Your choice of MNO or MVNO comes down to your budget and your needs. Premium US plans usually bundle unlimited data, calls, and texts with perks like entertainment subscriptions. Operators’ cheaper plans or prepaid cards stick to the basics — voice minutes, text messages, and mobile data.
Travel eSIM — Saily
Compared to local operators’ eSIMs, which usually come with fixed-term contracts, travel eSIMs don’t require you to commit. They also allow you to stay connected while traveling by offering a set number of gigabytes or unlimited data in a specific country or region.
One option is Saily, which is a travel eSIM app. Beyond Saily’s country, region, or Global eSIM plans, the eSIM app has the Saily Ultra plan. In addition to high-speed data (10 GB or 30 GB), Saily Ultra’s perks include fast-track service, airport lounge access, and complimentary subscriptions to NordVPN, ClassPass, and other services.
Regardless of your plan or the destination you’re traveling to, Saily offers its security features — ad blocker, virtual location, and web protection — at no extra cost.
Setting up a travel eSIM like Saily is a similar process to a local eSIM. Download the Saily eSIM app, purchase your plan, scan the QR code you’ve been sent to set up your eSIM, and follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the setup process. Remember to disable your primary phone line when you’re abroad and using Saily so you don’t rack up roaming charges.
Once your Saily eSIM profile is set up, you won’t have to repeat the process.
Key takeaways
Whether an iPhone 16 or any of that generation’s models support physical SIM cards depends on the region where the device was sold, not the model. All iPhone 16s made for the US market only support eSIMs. iPhone 16 models made for Canada, Europe, or anywhere else in the world — except China, Macau, and Hong Kong — are eSIM-compatible devices and have a slot for a single physical SIM card. In China, Hong Kong, and Macau, iPhone 16s support dual physical SIM cards, but not eSIMs.
When you’re traveling, remember to download a travel eSIM app like Saily to stay connected and avoid excessive roaming charges.
