iPhone 18 eSIM: Do the new iPhones have a SIM card slot?

Is the iPhone 18 eSIM only?

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are eSIM only in 12 countries and regions — Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, and the US Virgin Islands. Everywhere else, including the UK and the rest of Europe, the phones keep a physical nano-SIM tray. The same split applied to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which Apple sold without SIM trays in the same 12 markets. 

On eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, you can have two eSIM lines active at the same time and store eight or more eSIM profiles on the device. Apple says more than 500 carriers worldwide now support eSIM technology.

Mainland China is an exception to the usual iPhone 18 physical SIM configuration and eSIM setup. iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models sold there support two nano-SIM cards, one nano-SIM and one eSIM, or two active eSIMs. The table below  outlines which regions use what SIM structure and how that might impact you while you travel.

💡 Good to know: So far, the iPhone has used three generations of insertable SIM cards (SIM stands for “subscriber identity module”). Apple dropped support for insertable SIM cards in the US in 2022 with versions of the iPhone 14. If you’re comparing generations, you can also check whether the iPhone 11 has a SIM card.

Does the iPhone 18 Pro have a SIM card slot in Europe?

eSIM technology is available on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in every market worldwide. Pre-launch reports predicted Apple would remove the physical SIM tray in Europe this year, but that didn’t happen.

If you buy your iPhone in Europe, you can still use an eSIM — the physical tray simply gives you another option. You can keep a nano-SIM in the phone while storing and using eSIM profiles at the same time. That flexibility is a big win for travelers — you can leave your home SIM in the tray and add a travel data eSIM as a second line, keeping both active simultaneously.

Apple’s continued expansion of eSIM support is part of a broader industry shift, though. Learn more about why the physical SIM card is fading out.

Is the iPhone Duo eSIM only?

The iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, has no physical SIM tray in any market, making it eSIM only worldwide, including in Europe and the UK. The Duo — not the iPhone 18 Pro — is the first iPhone sold in Europe without a physical SIM card slot. Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open October 16, 2026, with sales beginning October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, including Germany, France, and the UK. 

How does this affect iPhone Duo users who travel regularly? It eliminates the physical-SIM fallback option. Every cellular line you use must be an eSIM, including local or travel plans you buy while abroad.

Does removing the SIM tray give the iPhone 18 Pro a bigger battery?

Apple’s regional battery-life ratings show that eSIM-only versions provide up to two additional hours of video playback compared with models that retain a SIM tray. The battery capacities published on EU regulatory labels apply to European versions with a physical SIM tray, so those figures shouldn’t be used to determine the capacity of an eSIM-only model.

In practical terms, buyers in the 12 eSIM-only markets get slightly more battery life than buyers of the same iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max with a physical SIM card.

Does the iPhone 18 support eSIM technology?

iPhone 18 Pro eSIM is available in every market, and iPhone 18 Pro Max eSIM is available worldwide as well. Apple describes eSIMs as more secure than physical SIMs because it can’t simply be removed from a lost or stolen phone. An eSIM is a digital SIM profile stored on the device rather than a plastic card inserted into a SIM tray, and you typically install eSIMs through a carrier or eSIM app. 

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max can store multiple eSIM profiles and run two lines active at the same time. That means you can keep your home number reachable while using a separate travel data plan abroad.

Learn what an eSIM is or how to change an eSIM on an iPhone to understand this technology better. And if you’re comparing devices, see the full list of iPhones that support eSIM technology.

💡 Good to know: Apple advises against deleting an eSIM as a troubleshooting step unless your carrier tells you to. If you’re resetting your phone instead, you may also have the option to keep your eSIM when erasing data.

What “eSIM only” means when you travel

On an eSIM-only iPhone, you can’t insert a local plastic SIM card after you arrive, so mobile data abroad comes from either your home carrier’s roaming service or a travel eSIM. 

Saily is a travel eSIM app with data plans available for more than 200 destinations. You can install your eSIM directly through the Saily eSIM app, with no QR or activation code to scan. Every plan includes Saily’s built-in security suite, which combines the ability to change your virtual location with 115+ locations, an ad blocker, and web protection — a combination no other eSIM provider offers.

💡 Good to know: If you’re moving away from physical SIMs altogether, it’s also worth knowing what to do with your old SIM card.

Tips for preparing your iPhone 18 eSIM for travel

Before you travel, get your iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max and your eSIM plan ready while you still have a reliable internet connection at home. Planning ahead can make staying connected while traveling much simpler once you arrive.

• Check that your iPhone is carrier unlocked. Go to “Settings” → “General” → “About” and look for “No SIM restrictions” next to “Carrier lock.” You’ll need a carrier-unlocked phone to use an eSIM from another provider.

• Buy and install your travel eSIM before you leave. Use your home Wi-Fi to set everything up so you don’t have to depend on airport Wi-Fi after you land. If you purchase a Saily plan through the app, setup happens directly in the app without a QR or activation code. 

• Label your cellular lines. In your iPhone’s cellular settings, name each line clearly, such as “Home” and “Travel.” Clear labels make it easier to see at a glance which line is handling calls, messages, and data.

• Set the travel eSIM as your data line. Choose your travel eSIM for cellular data and turn off data roaming on your home line. You can leave the home line active if you need to receive SMS verification codes while you’re away.

• Save your provider’s support information. Screenshot the relevant support or contact details before departure so you can find them even if you temporarily lose mobile data.

• Choose a plan that matches your trip. Saily offers travel data in 200+ destinations, with country, regional, and Global options, so if you’re traveling around Europe, for example, you can choose an eSIM for Europe that works across multiple countries. The plans include the ability to change your virtual location, an ad blocker, and web protection. 

• Consider Ultra if you use a lot of data. Saily Ultra provides unlimited data in 120+ destinations, including 30 GB of high-speed data each month followed by unlimited data at up to 1 Mbps. It also includes airport lounge access, fast-track security and check-in, NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker, Incogni, and priority 24/7 support. Ultra renews each month automatically and can be canceled before your next renewal. 

• Add calling if you need it. Saily plans are data only by default, but you can add a US-based phone number for calls and SMS. Calling plans cover local calls rather than international calls, though. With Saily’s Global phone-number plan, you can make calls while traveling in any supported country without buying a separate calling plan for each destination.

Saily Global eSIM plans

We do our best to keep everything accurate and up to date, but eSIM service provider prices, plans, and features can change quickly. If you spot something that seems outdated or incorrect, feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected] — we’d really appreciate the heads-up!