Does iPhone have Dual SIM? | Which iPhones have Dual SIM Support in 2024

Does iPhone have Dual SIM? Check out our entire guide for all the details.

Dual SIM technology has been in use for a long time now. The first dual SIM phone, the Benefon Twin was introduced way back in 2000. But even though being a forerunner in smartphone technology, Apple only introduced dual SIM support to iPhones recently.

Apple is known for innovating new cutting-edge technology in its iPhone lineup, but they have always been lacking when it came to dual SIM support, up until the iPhone XR. Even Apple’s adoption of 5G connectivity has been later when compared to its competition. 

So this article revolves around iPhone’s dual SIM capabilities, read on to know if iPhone has Dual SIM support.  

After having reviewed all of Apple’s official documents and having referred to our credible sources. We found that:

iPhones have Dual SIM support. It can either have two Nano Sims or it can have one Nano Sim and one e-Sim that’s stored digitally on the device. However, the two Nano Sim option is only available in Hong Kong, China, and Macao.

Related: How To Remove SIM Card in iPhone

Does iPhone 15 have Dual SIM Support?

Yes, the iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, maintains support for physical SIM cards in international markets. These models are designed to work seamlessly with nano-SIM cards in countries like the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain, among others.

In addition to physical SIMs, most of these regions also offer compatibility with eSIM technology. This enables users to enjoy dual-SIM functionality, allowing for seamless connectivity with cellular networks.

Apple’s decision to retain the SIM card tray outside of the U.S. contrasts with the previous iPhone 14 series, where the SIM card tray was replaced with eSIM functionality in the U.S. Apple’s support for eSIMs stems from their enhanced security features, making them impervious to removal in cases of lost or stolen iPhones.

Moreover, Apple provides a comprehensive list of global carriers supporting eSIM technology, facilitating easy activation of cellular plans without the need for a physical nano-SIM card.

Users can manage up to eight eSIMs directly from the iPhone’s Settings app, streamlining the process of switching between carriers. Notably, iPhone 13 and newer models can accommodate two active eSIMs concurrently.

While eSIM adoption continues to grow, the presence of a physical SIM card tray in iPhones sold outside of the U.S. remains unchanged for now. It’s possible that future iterations may see a shift away from physical SIMs, but for the time being, they remain a key feature in these devices.

Does iPhone have Dual SIM Support?

Yes, the iPhone series supports dual SIM technology. This allows you to run two SIMs of two different or the same networks simultaneously. iPhones have had dual SIM support only since the iPhone XR when Android/Features phones have had since the 2000s. 

Since Apple is late to the party of dual SIM technology and 5G connectivity, there have been issues on the iPhone 12 when it comes to 5G support on dual SIM. I will talk about them later, but first, Apple uses two types of dual SIM technology and they are

Nano + eSIM – This technology allows you to only insert one SIM physically and the other is digitally stored on the iPhone. So even if you don’t have a physical nano-SIM, you can make calls and have internet access using the eSIM. This technology is available in iPhone 12 sold in all regions except for China, Hong Kong, and Macao. 

Nano + Nano SIM – In this case, users can insert two physical nano SIMs into their iPhones. So, the carrier choice will depend on the SIM you insert into your iPhone 12. This technology is present in China, Hong Kong, and Macao. 

Which iPhones Have Dual SIM support?

All iPhones introduced since 2018 and later have dual-SIM support. These include:

• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd Generation)
• iPhone SE (3rd Generation)
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Plus (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro Max (Outside the US)

iPhones that Support Two eSIMs or a Nano-SIM and eSIM

With recent iPhones, Apple has added support for dual eSIMs or a nanoSIM with an eSIM combination. Here are the models that feature this layout,

• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Plus (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro Max (Outside the US)

iPhone Models that Support a Nano-SIM and an eSIM

There are some iPhone models that only let you use dual SIM with nano-SIM and an eSIM combination, these are,

• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd generation) or iPhone SE (3rd generation)
• iPhone 15 (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Plus (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro (Outside the US)
• iPhone 15 Pro Max (Outside the US)

The eSIM option is unavailable for these models if they were manufactured in mainland China. However, the below iPhone models from Hong Kong and Macao feature eSIM cards support

• iPhone 13 Mini
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone XS
• iPhone SE (2nd generation) or iPhone SE (3rd generation)

iPhone Models Supporting Two Physical Nano-SIMs

Phones manufactured in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau support dual physical SIMs. This is because of government regulations in the countries. Here are the iPhone models manufactured in these countries that feature dual physical SIM card support,

• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR

How to set up and use dual SIM on iPhone

Now that you know about the different dual SIM technology for iPhones, let’s see how you can set up and use them.

Nano Sim + eSim Setup

Setting up a traditional nano-SIM is easy and self-explanatory, but setting up an eSIM is different. You can use both the nano-SIM and eSIM for different cellular plans.

The nano-SIM will be your primary SIM while the eSIM will be your secondary SIM. But in case you don’t have a nano-SIM then you can use only the eSIM, but your carrier has to support this feature. 

To set up eSIM, follow these methods and their steps:

By Scanning the QR code

1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone and scan the QR code provided to you by your carrier.
2. A Cellular Plan Detected notification should appear, tap on it.
3. Tap on Continue, at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap on Add Cellular Plan.

If a confirmation code is asked to activate the eSIM, then enter the number that your carrier provided.

Use a carrier app

1. For this, open the App Store and download your carrier’s app.
2. You can use the app to purchase a cellular plan.

Install an assigned cellular plan

With iOS 13 and later, supported carriers can assign a cellular plan for you to install. Contact your carrier for more information on this.

If a plan was assigned to you:

1. You will get a notification that says Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed, tap on this notification.
2. Or In the Settings app, tap Carrier Cellular Plan Ready to Be Installed.
3. Tap on Continue, at the end of the page.

Enter the information manually

You can also manually enter your plan information. To manually enter your plan information:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap on either the Cellular or Mobile Data option.
3. Tap on Add Cellular Plan.
4. Tap Enter Details Manually, at the bottom of your iPhone screen.

Switch Between Multiple eSIMs

One benefit of eSIMs is that you can store multiple eSIMs on your iPhone, but you can only use one SIM at a time. To switch between eSIMs:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on either the Cellular or Mobile Data option.
3. Now, tap the plan you want to use. 
4. Then tap Turn On This Line.

Label your SIMs

I mentioned before that the nano-SIM will be labeled as the primary SIM by default and the eSIM as the secondary SIM. You can change this in the settings and label your nano-SIM and eSIM. For this,

1. Open the Settings app. 
2. Tap on either Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Then tap the number whose label you want to change.
4. Now, tap Cellular Plan Label.
5. Here, select a new label or enter a custom label.

Setup a Default Number

Setting up a default SIM will let you call or message people that are not saved in your Contacts app. The default number also allows you to iMessage and Facetime with the number by default.

You can find the Default Line setting under the Cellular or Mobile Data option. Choose your default SIM here. 

Choose Preferred SIM for each contact 

If you use a dual SIM, one for family/friends and one for work, you can choose a preferred SIM. For example, you can set your Primary SIM for your family and friends and you can use your secondary SIM for your work contacts. To do this, 

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on the contact.
3. Now, tap Preferred Cellular Plan.
4. Tap the number you want to use for the selected contact.

Switch Phone Numbers before a Call

You can also switch the number you want to make a call from. You can do this by following these steps, 

1. Tap on the Info button.
2. Tap the current phone number label. 
3. Now, tap your other number’s label. 

If you’re using the keypad, follow these steps:

1. Enter the phone number.
2. Then, tap the phone number, near the top of the screen. 
3. Tap the number you want to use to make the call.

Dual SIM Status Icons

When only one Carrier is in use, the other line will show No Service. 

If you are connected to Wi-Fi, the status bar shows that the device is connected to Wi-Fi and Carrier 2 uses Wi-Fi Calling.

When you are connected over cellular data, the status bar will show that Carrier 1 uses 5G, and Carrier 2 uses the cellular data of Carrier 1 and has Wi-Fi calling enabled. Does iPhone have Dual SIM? Check out our entire guide for all the details.

Change Cellular Data Number

To change the cellular data number, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on either Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Then, tap Cellular Data. 
4. Choose the number you want to use for cellular data.

If you want to automatically switch between cellular data depending on coverage and availability, you can turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching, to do this,

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap either Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Tap Cellular Data.
4. Here, turn on Allow Cellular Data Switching.

Erase your eSIM

If you have to erase the details of your eSIM from your iPhone, then 

1. Open Settings.
2. Choose either Cellular or Mobile Data.
3. Tap on the plan you want to erase.
4. Choose Remove Cellular Plan.

Dual Nano Sim Setup and Use

Setting up a dual nano-SIM is easy, open the SIM card tray and then place the two nano-SIM cards that you are going to use. Now insert the tray back into your iPhone. 

Once this is done, you can use them by following the same steps that were used for the nano-SIM + eSIM combination. Labeling your SIM cards, setting a default number, choosing numbers, making calls, stitching between numbers, sending messages, and changing cellular data all work the same way. 

Dual SIM 5G support on iPhones

When Apple launched the iPhone 12, it came out of the box with iOS 14.0. This version of iOS 14.0 didn’t support 5G connectivity in dual SIM mode. So out of the box, the iPhone 12 when using dual SIM cards, would default to only 4G connectivity. 

This affected all iPhone units at launch. The issue was later fixed with a software update to iOS 14.5. So if you are facing trouble with 5G connectivity not working on your iPhone when using dual SIM, then you will have to update your iPhone to at least iOS 14.5 for it to work. 

Does iPhone have Dual SIM support – Takeaway

iPhones do have dual SIM support, but depending on the market there might be a different implementation of technology. The setup process differs depending on the technology. But regardless of the technology, using dual SIM on iPhones is similar in almost all regions.

This article is a comprehensive guide on the dual SIM technology of the iPhone, hope it helps. Does iPhone have Dual SIM? Check out our entire guide for all the details.

Does iPhone Have Dual SIM Support – FAQs

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