Apple has a long history of nudging users towards the future, even if it means pulling the plug on things that we are used to. First, it was the headphone jack, then the Lightning connector, and now, the SIM card tray is on the list of things the company will chop for good. With the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple seems to have found a clever way to speed things up by basically bribing customers with bigger batteries if they choose the eSIM-only variants.
Apple rewards iPhone 17 Pro eSIM users with bigger batteries, creating a strong incentive to leave physical SIM cards behind
If you are not familiar, the battery capacities tell the story of how Apple is pushing users towards a portless iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro with a physical SIM card tray comes with a battery of around 3,988 mAh, but if you buy the eSIM version, you get about 4,252 mAh. The iPhone 17 Pro Max shows a similar jump, which comes with a 4,823 mAh cell with a SIM card tray, against the 5,088 mAh variant, which is eSIM-only. Note that these numbers are not just something written on the specification sheet, but reflect an hour or so of extra use, whether you are watching videos, gaming, or just browsing.
Apple could have kept the battery capacities the same size, but it did not, as it silently wants to reward eSIM buyers with something that everyone cares about, which is more battery life. It is a subtle but effective incentive that could push customers toward eSIM adoption without ever stating it out loud. For the company, it is also a decisive move that puts pressure on carriers in countries that still push the physical SIM card option.
This is not the first time that Apple has urged users to switch to eSIM. The iPhone 14 launched in the United States without a SIM card tray, which forced customers to switch, giving them no option to use a physical SIM card. However, rolling out the strategy globally is quite tricky, as it could result in fewer sales, especially in areas where carriers have not fully embraced eSIM support. By giving eSIM iPhones a clear advantage in battery life, Apple is making the choice easier for users, but harder for carriers to ignore. Users would be demanding eSIM models from their respective carriers, and it would pressurize them to adopt the technology faster.
It is quite clear that Apple wants the future of iPhone to be eSIM only, and it is willing to give you something extra in return. For the end user, the trade-off is actually a good option, as a slightly bigger battery is one of the best “bribes” Apple could offer, and it might convince more people to leave the physical SIM card behind.
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