The answer, surprisingly, is not a mere software restriction, but an imposed limitation for the hardware and Apple’s strategic decisions regarding design and functionality.
What SIM options do we have on iPhones?
Currently, Apple offers different SIM and eSIM configurations on its devices, varying by model and market. In the most recent iPhones sold in the United States, the SIM card slot has been completely eliminated in favor of an exclusively eSIM configuration. In other models, such as previous generation iPhones and some iPads, Apple offers different combinations:
- iPhones with dual SIM (Dual SIM) using two eSIMs: In these models, Apple incorporates two eSIM modules into the device, allowing simultaneous activation of both, resulting in a fully digital Dual SIM experience.
- iPhones with a physical SIM and an eSIM: Here, Apple keeps the physical SIM slot, along with a single eSIM module, allowing two lines to be used but limiting the possibilities to just one physical line and one digital line.
- iPads and other iPhones with SIM or eSIM capability: In this case, Apple has designed the hardware to support only one active line, whether through physical SIM or eSIM.
Why doesn’t Apple allow three active lines?
Given that the hardware of certain devices, such as iPhones and iPads, would potentially allow more than one eSIM or physical SIM line to be managed, why doesn’t Apple enable it? According to various sources, the company considers that the additional cost including hardware that supports multiple connections would not be justifiable for the average user.
Apple’s trend towards the exclusive use of eSIM could consolidate in the near future, and it is expected that, once the majority of operators in the world offer support for this technology, Apple will completely eliminate the SIM slot in all its devices globally.
The advantages and limits of eSIM technology
The arrival of the eSIM and its ability to manage multiple lines on the same device has brought multiple advantages for those who need to connect their devices to networks in different countries or with several operators. However, it has also generated certain limitations. The hardware restriction, which limits the number of active eSIMs to two, may be an inconvenience for users who expected to be able to use three lines at the same time.
For many power users, such as frequent travelers or those who manage multiple numbers for personal and professional reasons, the current system may be insufficient. Even so, the use of Dual SIM through eSIM offers enough flexibility for most, allowing configure multiple lines and toggle them as needed.
Apple’s decision to limit the simultaneous use of SIM/eSIM lines to just two responds to both design issues and the company’s vision of what its users really need. Although this restriction may not satisfy the most demanding users, the transition to eSIM and the eventual elimination of the physical SIM slot in the future reflects the direction Apple is taking to simplify and optimize your devices.
For the average user, the current Dual SIM system with eSIM already represents a significant improvement in convenience and flexibility. Thus, while eSIM technology continues to develop, the future points to an ecosystem that is increasingly digital and adapted to the needs of the majority, although along the way some advanced users may feel that they are left wanting a little more.
