iPhone 14: The first eSIM-only phone in the US!

BIG news from Apple! The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro (launch date 16th September 2022) are Apple's first phones that do not accept a physical SIM card (for US-models only; models outside the US will still ship with a physical SIM tray). They will instead use an eSIM, which is embedded in the device and cannot be removed. Because SIM cards have been used in cell phones for decades, their removal may be confusing to some consumers.

What’s an eSIM and how does it relate to the iPhone 14?

In the iPhone 14, an eSIM provides the same function as a regular SIM card. So in practice, it will be no different than any other iPhone. For example, if you purchase a phone from a carrier, the device will be provisioned for you. And if you buy an unlocked device, you can buy a mobile data plan from any carrier that provides eSIM plans and install the eSIM easily.

In the US, this move makes a lot of sense since the 3 major providers (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile) all support eSIM and customers can download an eSIM directly without going to a store.

At Nomad of course, we’re huge believers in the magic of eSIM so we’re pumped to hear this news. Need a primer on eSIM though? You can find everything you need to know about eSIM in our articles What is an eSIM and How to install an eSIM.

What about travel?

If you're planning on getting a new iPhone 14, don't worry Nomad has your back! Simply choose one of our data plans that suits you best. You can get a prepaid data plan at local rates in 100+ countries!

Many people purchase local SIM cards to save money on data roaming when traveling. That is not an option if you purchase an iPhone 14 in the United States. Fortunately, there is Nomad.

Apple first introduced eSIMs with the Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017, and it has been available as an optional feature on iPhones since 2018. The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, on the other hand, are the first Apple phones to completely remove the option to use a regular SIM card. Their main advantage is greater reliability, increased network security, and they take up less space.

On the Nomad app at least, there are typically just 5 steps to install an eSIM (once you’ve downloaded and installed the app for the first time): Browse plans -> Select -> Purchase -> One-click to install the eSIM -> Activate the plan. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes.

You can even purchase an eSIM from your desktop/laptop if you visit our web store. You can buy a plan you like before you travel, install the eSIM, and activate it only when you land in your destination 1 week later.

Don’t get left behind on the eSIM revolution - and save on data roaming while you’re at it. #GetNomad!