Apple today unveiled its new iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
For the first time, the physical SIM tray has been eliminated in Canada for a new iPhone series, as this year’s models only support eSIM.
Each phone supports two active eSIMs and can store 8 or more eSIMs. Apple says these new iPhones supports “advanced eSIM technology for more convenience and security (not compatible with physical SIM cards)”.
The following Canadian telecoms support eSIM, as per Apple’s website at the moment:
While not listed on Apple’s website yet, Videotron in Quebec launched support for eSIM earlier this year.
So what does this mean? If you’re moving from an older iPhone with a physical SIM card, you’ll have to leverage ‘eSIM Quick Transfer’. This lets you transfer your number from an older iPhone to a new iPhone without contacting your pesky wireless carrier. This feature also supports converting a physical SIM to an eSIM. These carriers are listed on Apple’s website:
Are you keen on switching over to an eSIM or are you going to hold onto physical SIM cards forever? Apple said eliminating the physical SIM card slot gave more space for a bigger battery, allowing for 2 hours more video on an iPhone 17 Pro series.
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I have mixed feelings on this announcement!
Why?
Because eSim is not easy to work with! I have been working in carriers stores trying to help customer set up and transfer eSims to new devices and they are an absolute mess! No one knows how to set them up properly! For traveling, yes they makes sense, but for people that don’t travel they do not! A lot of customers will not be buying the 17 series for this very reason!
People have always been slow to adapt, its nothing new.
No point trying to convince the wealthy NPCs of this fact.
People these days are so flush they’ll drop $10–15+ on a one-time-use replacement eSIM QR code without blinking.
Meanwhile in the US, replacing the QR code is free. Canadians are deep in main-character delulu about this, that's nothing new.
eSIMs are more secure and carriers have finally made them easier to set up.
Public Mobile continues to charge for a new eSIM each time you switch devices.
Thanks to this announcement, I don’t think that practice will carry on for much longer
The price will go up from 10-$15 average to $25.
You can contact them and they will reimburse the $5.
From my experience, reaching out to Public isn't worth the $5.
But there are still places around the world where you need to start with a physical SIM before moving to eSIM. Hopefully this eventually changes, but it feels like another example of Apple imagining that a person might never need to lead a life in more than one country.
And water is wet!
eSIM in Canada isn't friendly. Unlike in other countries eSIM in Canada is one time use only. Need to regenerate an eSIM because you replaced your phone or swap devices? You will pay extra for that.
Yeah, it is rare but Freedom Mobile emails you a QR code and you’re activated. No need to wait for a shipped physical SIM, and can regenerate the eSIM for free too.
Finally! we get the bigger battery
Fizz mobile also has eSIMS
Was hoping they would do this.
Wait until you get nailed $25+ "service" fee for the carrier to regenerate a new QR eSIM code for you.
$5 on Public. Big deal.
I guess I'm not upgrading
I know for fact Samsung isn't going this route. Once people start hearing about corrupt eSIM and carriers raising prices on re-generating eSIM QR codes, you will have people whining but because it's Apple doing that (or Trump) they'll be fine with it.
Somebody is in need of a hurting. Either iPhone in Canada or the other bloggers who have said only the iPhone 17 Air is eSIM only. The rest in Canada will have physical SIM trays.