Dear all,
It is time for me to get a new iPhone. Old one is an iPhone 6. Right now, new iPhones in the USA use “eSim.” But we rove a lot (live on a boat) and currently in some countries in Europe eSim is not available.
Locally, a iPhone costs about 80% more than one does stateside.
So is there a way to but a stateside phone that also contains an real SIM card option.
Thanks
Lee
iPhone 13 (or Mini), the iPhone 12, and iPhone SE still have physical SIM slots. Only the iPhone 14 phones are eSIM only.
At this time, the following refurbished iPhones all have physical SIM cards and are available directly from Apple:
It’s not clear to me whether there is any restriction on shipping these items internationally but perhaps Apple restricts international shipping to orders on non-US Apple Stores.
Perhaps other retailers such as Amazon will ship a domestic order internationally.
Deal All.
I wish to close this topic.
It turns out that if you go to a cell provider’s store in any of the countries that are in the Eastern Mediterranean that are NOT at war, the eSIM option exist. It is not advertised. Activation REQUIRES that you, your phone and your passport all be in the “main store” of the cell phone provider to activate. My SWAG is that they are concerned about somehow eSIM phones can become “burner” phones which on this side of the pond, are nearly ABSOLUTELY Illegal. Thanks for the replies. Apple Istanbul and Apple Athens + Apple outlets in Albania all sell 14s with eSIM. I did find that Apple CHINA sells 14’s with either two SIM card option of eSIM/Sim option. It is DEFINITELY NOT worth the hassle to have an iPhone from China shipped westward. Thanks again to all. Lee