A Dual-SIM iPhone Could Be Coming Soon

Apple has been previously rumoured to be launching a dual-SIM option for its next iPhone. The company is expected to launch at least three different iPhone devices later this year, and it could offer a new dual-SIM option for some of these models.

In the iOS 12 developer beta 5, the folks at 9to5Mac found references to support for a second SIM on the software. It references things like a “second SIM tray status” and a “dual SIM device” which clearly means a dual-SIM iPhone is imminent.

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This would be a first for Apple’s iPhones, but it also highlights a recent change in Apple’s strategy. The company has been lately focusing a lot on developing countries like India and Brazil, where dual SIM devices are incredibly popular. Over here in countries like the UK and the US, we don’t really use more than one SIM mainly because of our mobile contracts, and that’s not the case in countries like India.

It’s still not clear whether the new dual-SIM option will be available for all the three iPhone models Apple is launching this year, though previous rumours suggested it would only be available on the large 6.5-inch model. That’s certainly a bit unusual as people in developing countries are more likely to get the cheapest version of the iPhone than the most expensive one, especially since the 6.5-inch 2018 iPhone is expected to cost a whopping $1000.

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Conversation 9 comments

  • dontbe evil

    31 July, 2018 - 8:37 am

    <p>wow that's revolutionary, apple invent something first once again</p>

    • MikeGalos

      31 July, 2018 - 10:53 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#297367">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>I hear that someday they'll invent a wireless charger. Imagine. What times we live in.</p>

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    31 July, 2018 - 9:04 am

    <p>These is probably for the Indian market where they have limited penetration and dual sim is vital. </p>

  • thea2_

    Premium Member
    31 July, 2018 - 9:07 am

    <p>Dual sim on Windows phones had the second sim limited to 2g; so when the carriers turned off that bandwidth. No more dual sim. Wonder if these iphones will have both slots with LTE? </p>

    • GarethB

      Premium Member
      01 August, 2018 - 9:34 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#297400">In reply to thea2_:</a></em></blockquote><p>That was a limitation of the older Qualcomm chipsets – same with the Android devices based on the same hardware.</p><p>There's no reason to have a limitation like that today – it would make the second slot completely useless in many (if not all) markets. </p>

  • AnOldAmigaUser

    Premium Member
    31 July, 2018 - 9:49 am

    <p>I wonder if the second SIM slot could be used for a micro-SD card. That would be very interesting.</p>

  • UbelhorJ

    Premium Member
    31 July, 2018 - 12:36 pm

    <p>I don't know why they haven't done this already. When I was in Thailand I noticed that most people had two phone plans (and thus two SIMS). One as cheap as possible for their phone number, and then pre-paid SIMs for data. Line was used for most communication, so people with iPhones had to carry a separate brick phone for making actual phone calls. </p>

  • fgdsfgd

    31 July, 2018 - 1:12 pm

    <p>Nice, now I wont need to carry two iPhones – one for my wife to call me on and one for the girlfriend! </p>

  • BeckoningEagle

    Premium Member
    31 July, 2018 - 2:13 pm

    <p>I need a Dual-SIM, unfortunately they tend to be GSM only. I would like to have AT&amp;T and Sprint in just one phone. It would also work wonders in emergency situations like the aftermath of Hurricane María (I had an unlocked S8 and was able to switch carriers by just switching the SIM, but it would be better if I didn't have to do that).</p>

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