14 DAY TRIAL // One of the new features coming to iPhones with the 2018 generation is support for eSIM, which will enable Apple’s smartphones to offer dual-SIM support for the first time in history.
While this functionality will be enabled at a later time with an iOS 12 update, market research firm ABI Research says Apple introducing eSIM support on the iPhones is just the beginning of widespread adoption of this particular feature.
The company estimates that by 2022, the eSIM smartphone market could reach 420 million units annually, and it’s all thanks to Apple bringing it to iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
Other phone makers likely to use it too
The rest of the manufacturers are also expected to embrace this approach on their smartphones, starting with Samsung, who would probably bring eSIM to flagships first, ABI Research says.
“Samsung is a clear contender for the next Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) likely to launch an eSIM handset. However, Samsung will likely adopt a tiered approach, integrating the eSIM into its S and Note range first, then expand into its A and C ranges later. Huawei is another, but we should not dismiss other OEMs, including LG and Xiaomi, who both have a range of high-end smartphones, or even other more localized vendors, including OPPO, who are looking to expand beyond China,” Phil Sealy, Principal Analyst, says.
The traditional SIM will continue to be available, however, and the research firm emphasizes that the market isn’t yet ready to make the full switch to eSIM, also due to the lack of MNO eSIM readiness.
Apple will launch special-edition 2018 iPhones in China where instead of a traditional SIM + eSIM, the devices will come with a standard dual-SIM system. This means a special tray with support for two different SIM cards would be offered on this market, and Apple has no plans to expand this approach to other markets across the world.