iPhone Air is a reality and the eSIM takes flight
It arrived only a few weeks ago, but it has already marked a turning point: iPhone Air, the latest addition to the Apple family, has completely eliminated the physical SIM. No more slots, no more cards to insert or remove. Only eSIM, the virtual card that lives inside the phone and is activated digitally. A bold choice, but also an inevitable one. […]
It arrived only a few weeks ago, but it has already marked a turning point: iPhone Air, the latest addition to the Apple family, has completely eliminated the physical SIM. No more slots, no more cards to insert or remove. Only eSIM, the virtual chip that lives inside the phone and is activated digitally.
A bold choice, but also an inevitable one. Because it marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new way of understanding connectivity.
What has really changed?
The big news is that the traditional SIM slot no longer exists. The new iPhone Air works exclusively with eSIM, which has already been supported for years in Switzerland by the main operators (Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt).
This means that to activate your number, you no longer need to visit a store or wait for an envelope containing a SIM: you simply scan a QR code or follow an online procedure, and you are connected in seconds.
For those already familiar with these systems, it is a huge step forward. For others, it may initially seem like a complication.
Why is it an important breakthrough?
- No more plastic, no more cards to cut, lose, or break
• Ability to have multiple active numbers on the same phone (e.g., work and private)
• Quick activations and deactivations, even abroad
• More internal space for the battery or new components
• A more secure architecture that is less vulnerable to theft or physical cloning
But above all, Apple has sent a clear signal: the future will be without a physical SIM.
And in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, we are lucky: most operators are already prepared. Even frequent travelers can activate international or temporary eSIMs in a few clicks (e.g., via Airalo or Holafly), avoiding roaming costs and waiting times.
The iPhone Air could therefore push many users to make the leap to this new technology, even among those who had remained skeptical until now.
Not just Apple
Other manufacturers are also following the same path. Some Google Pixel and Samsung models already offer eSIM-only versions for the American market. But as always, it is Apple that makes "normal" what previously seemed to be for the few.
It is easy to predict that, within a couple of years, most high-end smartphones will say goodbye to the traditional SIM.
And for those who aren't ready?
Those who still prefer the classic method can rest easy: for now, many models remain "hybrids" and will continue to offer a SIM slot. But it is the right time to start familiarizing yourself with eSIM, perhaps by activating it alongside your physical card, if the phone allows it.
An invisible revolution
The real innovation of the iPhone Air cannot be seen, but it can be felt: more lightness, less space occupied, more flexibility. And above all, a new freedom in managing your numbers and your connection.
It is a small change that opens up great possibilities. And if until yesterday changing operators was something of an odyssey, from today one click is enough.