Apple iPhone 17 in Europe may go eSIM-only as training begins

Apple is preparing a major shift for its next generation of iPhones in Europe. According to information surfacing from within retail channels, employees at Apple Authorized Resellers across the EU have been instructed to complete mandatory training on eSIM usage by early September. The timing of this training, just days before the official iPhone 17 unveiling on September 9, strongly suggests that Apple is ready to extend its eSIM-only strategy beyond the United States.

Since 2022, US buyers of the iPhone 14 and later have already had to adapt to a world without physical SIM card slots.

For European consumers, that transition now appears imminent. Training modules for staff, available via Apple’s internal SEED platform, are designed to help sales teams handle customer concerns and activation processes when physical SIM trays vanish. This aligns with persistent rumors that the iPhone 17 Air, with its ultra-thin design, would debut without a slot, and now it seems the rest of the lineup may follow suit across most regions – with possible exceptions like China where SIM tray demand remains high.

The decision is far from universally welcomed. Critics argue that removing the physical SIM limits consumer choice and adds hurdles for those who swap devices frequently, travel internationally, or rely on networks with limited eSIM support. Older users or those less comfortable with digital setups may also face confusion. At the same time, supporters point to the practicality of eSIM technology: remote provisioning, faster switching between plans, and the ability to juggle multiple numbers without carrying multiple cards. Services like Airalo, already popular for global travel, show how eSIM can simplify connectivity.

What remains clear is that Apple’s choices often ripple across the industry. If the iPhone 17 goes fully eSIM in Europe, it’s only a matter of time before rivals such as Samsung and Google follow. The move underscores Apple’s long-term vision of slimmer devices with fewer physical ports, though it reignites the ongoing debate between innovation and user freedom.