Apple is gearing up to launch its thinnest and lightest iPhone yet, the iPhone 17 Air, at the “Awe Dropping” event on September 9. Leaks and rumors about this new model have been circulating for over a year, revealing much of its design and features. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be just 5.5mm thick, but this slim profile may come with compromises such as a single camera and a smaller battery.
A fresh leak suggests another significant change: Apple might eliminate the physical SIM card slot entirely on the iPhone 17 Air. According to Macrumors, Apple has instructed retail employees at authorized resellers in the EU to complete eSIM support training by September 5. Although the training is currently specified for the EU, the phone’s ultra-thin design hints it could rely solely on eSIM globally.
Since the iPhone 14, Apple has only supported eSIMs in the U.S., promoting them as more secure than physical SIMs because they cannot be removed if stolen. However, it remains unclear if this change will be limited to the iPhone 17 Air or extend to other iPhone 17 variants.
