【2024.09】Introduction of the iPhone 16 Series: eSIM Supported and Non-Supported Countries


Apple has announced its latest iPhone 16 series, featuring advanced design and functions that are attracting a lot of attention. For travelers and international business people, the key focus is on the support for eSIM. This article explains the eSIM support in the iPhone 16 series in detail.





What is eSIM?

First, let’s briefly review what eSIM is. eSIM is a digital SIM that eliminates the need for a physical SIM card. This allows users to switch carriers directly on their smartphones and manage multiple plans without swapping SIM cards.





eSIM Support in the iPhone 16 Series

The iPhone 16 series, like its predecessor, continues to support eSIM. The dual SIM functionality allows the use of both a physical SIM and an eSIM, making it more convenient for both domestic and international use.

However, not all countries and regions support eSIM. Below is a summary of the main countries that support eSIM and those that do not.





Major Countries/Regions that Support eSIM

  • United States: The shift towards fully eSIM-based models continues, and the iPhone 16 series supports eSIM.


  • Japan: Major Japanese carriers (Docomo, au, Softbank, and Rakuten Mobile) support eSIM.


  • Europe: Many European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain, support eSIM.


  • Asia: Many Asian countries, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, are also adopting eSIM.





Countries Where eSIM is Not Supported

On the other hand, some countries still rely solely on physical SIM cards and do not support eSIM.

  • China Mainland: The Chinese version of the iPhone continues to support only physical SIM cards, and eSIM is not available.


  • Other Parts of Asia and the Middle East: In some countries, the infrastructure for eSIM has not yet been established, and support is limited.




These are some of the countries that support eSIM.

If you are not sure if the iphone16 series issued in your country can be used with eSIM, please refer to the detailed list below.





Africa, Middle East, India Area



1. Bahrain√
2. Botswana⨉
3. Cameroun
4. République Centrafricaine
5. Côte d'Ivoire
6. Egypt
7. Guinea-Bissau
8. Guinée
9. India
10. Israel
11. Jordan
12. Kenya
13. Kuwait
14. Madagascar
15. Mali
16. Maroc
17. Maurice
18. Mozambique
19. Niger
20. Nigeria
21. Oman
22. Qatar
23. Saudi Arabia
24. Sénégal
25. South Africa
26. Tunisie
27. Uganda
28. United Arab Emirates





Asia/Pacific Area



1. Australia
2. 中国大陸
3. HongKong(香港)
4. Indonesia
5. 日本
6. 韓国
7. マカオ
8. Malaysia
9. New Zealand
10. Philippines
11. Singapore
12. Taiwan
13. Thailand
14. Vietnam



Europe Area



1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan
3. Brlarus
4. België√ 
5. Belgique√ 
6. България
7. Česko√ 
8. Danmark√ 
9. Deutschland√ 
10. Eesti
11. España√ 
12. France√ 
13. Georgia
14. Ελλάδα
15. Hrvatska
16. Ireland√ 
17. Italia√ 
18. Kazakhstan
19. Kyrgyzstan
20. Latvija
21. Liechtenstein
22. Lietuva
23. Luxembourg√ 
24. Magyarország√ 
25. Malta
26. Moldova
27. Montenegro
28. Nederland√ 
29. North Macedonia
30. Norg√ 
31. Österreich√ 
32. Polska√ 
33. Portugal√ 
34. România
35. Россия
36. Slovensko
37. Slovenia
38. Schweiz
39. Suisse√ 
40. Suomi√ 
41. Sverige√ 
42. Tajikistan
43. Türkiye√ 
44. Turkmenistan
45. United Kingdom√ 
46. Україна
47. Uzbekistan




North America Area



1. United States√ 
2. Canada√ 
3. Puerto Rico√ 




Latin America and Caribbean Area



All new models released in all Latin America and Caribbean countries are esim-capable.

https://www.apple.com/lae/iphone/compare/






Conclusion

The iPhone 16 series is designed to be used with eSIM worldwide, but some regions still do not fully support it. 


To make the most of the convenience that eSIM offers, it’s important to check the support status in your region before purchasing. 


For frequent travelers and business people, eSIM is a very useful feature, so it’s worth considering when choosing your next smartphone.