Why Apple iPhone does not support dual SIM cards? Because the interests of operators will be damaged

Before each generation of iPhone is released, there are rumors that Apple’s new product will adopt a dual-SIM card design, and each time it will attract a lot of applause.

For iPhone users, the dual-SIM card function that has long been popular in Android phones has always been one of their most anticipated features. However, to this day, there is still no iPhone that supports dual SIM cards. Why doesn't Apple allow iPhone to support dual SIM cards?

● iPhone internal design is "every inch of space is worth a lot of money"

The main reason why iPhone has never supported dual SIM cards is because of its internal layout. I believe many users are confused: Why do Android phones support dual SIM cards while iPhone cannot, even though the overall size is similar?

Take the iPhone X as an example. If we look at the real disassembly diagram of the iPhone X, we may be able to get a rough idea.

Compared with Android devices, the internal design of iPhone X is undoubtedly more compact. The motherboard, battery, sensors, etc. occupy the entire body. If it is designed according to Android devices, the battery capacity of iPhone X may be further reduced, making the battery life of the phone unguaranteed. After weighing the pros and cons, giving up dual SIM cards is undoubtedly a better choice.

In fact, in order to improve the utilization of the body, Apple has twice taken the lead in reducing the space occupied by the SIM card in the body. It has brought the mobile phone SIM card into the era of Micro-SIM card and Nano-SIM card. It is hard to imagine that Apple will increase the space occupied by the SIM card for dual SIM cards.

● “Dual SIM” is not the mainstream in foreign markets

The more important reason is that unlike many domestic mobile phone manufacturers, iPhone is based in the global market. However, in other regions except China and India, dual SIM cards are still the mainstream.

Taking the US market as an example, foreign users often purchase mobile phones through operator contracts, and dual SIM cards will undoubtedly harm the interests of operators, which means that most mobile phones sold in the US market are single-SIM.

Moreover, there are no roaming charges in the US market, so you don’t need to consider your location. You can also port your number to another network, so you don’t have to hold on to your SIM card for too long just because you want to change your plan.

● Will iPhone support dual SIM cards in the future?

I think the answer is yes, and the opportunity is the eSIM in the picture above.

At the Apple new product launch event this fall, the iPhone X attracted most people's attention, which also made the Apple Watch Series 3 launched by Apple dim a lot. The most noteworthy point of this product is that it provides a cellular network version for selection.

Although the cellular network function of this product still cannot be used normally, it undoubtedly sends a positive signal: Apple is already negotiating with domestic operators on the use of eSIM. In other words, after the issue of interest division among operators is resolved, it is not impossible for the new iPhone to add eSIM.

Moreover, in recent years, eSIM has begun to be used in many fields: including some children's watches, the Xiaomi Notebook Air 4G version released by Xiaomi this year, etc.

I think that if the future Apple iPhone adds the eSIM function, realizing the dual-SIM function will not be a problem (of course, there may also be a transition period of eSIM+SIM card).

Summarize:

In fact, the operating mechanism of domestic operators has also been gradually changing in the past two years, from the initial cancellation of roaming fees to the recent switch of old users to Internet packages, and the popularization of number portability before 2020. In the future, domestic users' demand for SIM cards may also face huge changes. By then, whether the iPhone supports dual SIM cards may no longer be important.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.