Differences of iPhone 17 US version

The empty space when removing the SIM slot on the iPhone 17 series will be used for the battery. Photo: REWA Lab .

Apple started releasing eSIM versions of the iPhone in 2018, but it wasn’t until this year that the space left by removing the SIM slot was fully utilized. As a result, the iPhone 17 without a physical SIM card has a higher battery capacity. In many countries, including the US, Apple only sells the eSIM version.

SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is a term that refers to an integrated circuit used to store identification numbers and other data of a phone. In the early days of the mobile phone era, people often stored their contacts on the SIM card instead of on the phone.

SIM card sizes have shrunk over time, from the original credit card-sized version to the nanoSIM, the current popular version, which is about the size of a fingertip (12.3 x 8.8 mm). However, phone manufacturers are still trying to get even smaller.

SIM cards are gradually being replaced by eSIM. This is a software-based SIM stored on a circuit board. The important advantage of eSIM is that it eliminates the hassle of having to change SIM cards, the worry of losing SIM cards, damaging contact pins, and also does not lose a SIM tray mounting position on the body of the device.

Apple started bringing eSIM to the iPhone XS and XR in 2018. However, it wasn't until the iPhone 14 series that the company stopped supporting removable SIM cards on US models.

With the iPhone 14, 15, and 16, the US models (which only use eSIM) have no real advantage over the other market models. Apple simply added a piece of plastic where the SIM tray would be.

This year, Apple is taking full advantage of this detail. They redesigned the inside to free up that precious space for the battery. As a result, the eSIM-only iPhone 17 has a slightly larger battery than the models with a physical SIM tray.

Based on analysis from a YouTube channel that disassembled the iPhone 17, combined with other sources of information, MacRumors said that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max that only use eSIM have larger battery capacities than the versions with physical SIM slots by 3.7%, 18.7%, and 8.6%, respectively.

While the difference may be modest, 9to5mac predicts this will be a good reason to switch to eSIM globally starting with the iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 series launching next year.

Source: https://znews.vn/khac-biet-cua-iphone-17-ban-my-post1587478.html