Apple to enable new iPhone eSIMs via software update, iPhone XS boasts faster wireless charging

With the big announcements out of the way, we take a closer look at a couple of less-prominent features coming to the iPhone XS — dual SIM support and faster wireless charging.

Dual SIM

Apple touted the iPhone XS' ability to support dual SIM cards during its announcement event, sharing a few details in passing.

First, the solution will require one SIM card slot, with users inserting a physical SIM that is to be accompanied by Apple's eSIM technology. The company currently uses eSIM tech in both the iPad and the Apple Watch, and is bringing it to iPhone for the first time.

As predicted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone XS supports Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS), wherein the phone automatically activates a particular SIM card as a call comes in. The active line will even be denoted below in the incoming number. DSDS technology provides a number of benefits to end users, the most obvious being the ability to travel across borders or coverage zones without swapping SIM cards.

Users in China will have to use two physical SIM cards — one inserted on each side of iPhone's SIM card slot — as Apple does not have approval to launch its eSIM in the country.

Unfortunately for those looking forward to the dual SIM capabilities, a small footnote on Apple's site reveals eSIM functionality will be disabled at launch. The company says it will activate the feature through a future iOS 12 software update, but fails to provide a specific timeline for release.

Wireless charging

On an unrelated note, the new iPhone XS and XS Max will be capable of charging at faster rates than iPhone X when paired with compatible wireless chargers. The exact increase in power is still unknown, but could likely be 9W or 10W, both of which are common output levels for Qi chargers.

Apple didn't mention the speed increase — or wireless charging at all — on stage during the event, likely due to what is presumes to be problems getting its AirPower mat to market. The device, which was announced at last year's iPhone event, but has yet to see release, was completely scrubbed from Apple's website post-event.

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18 Comments

xmhillx

said about 5 years ago

Could it not be the fault of the FCC? Apple’s website, before AirPower was scrubbed, noted that AirPower was still awaiting FCC approval.

I’m not an FCC expert nor product release expert, but not many people seem to mention the lack of FCC approval.

retrogusto

said about 5 years ago

Dual SIM support seems like a pretty big improvement, since it means I won’t have to carry around 2 iPhones when I travel. I dare say it’s more useful than Animoji, studio lighting or even wireless charging, at least for me.

Soli

said about 5 years ago

retrogusto said:

Dual SIM support seems like a pretty big improvement, since it means I won’t have to carry around 2 iPhones when I travel. I dare say it’s more useful than Animoji, studio lighting or even wireless charging, at least for me.

1) I know people that have two iPhones or an iPhone and Android phone because one is used for work and one is personal. It's not ideal to carry two devices so if a company will able to save money by allowing an employee to carry just one device where two numbers are active that will probably be popular.

2) Now that eSIMs are a go and DSDS will be a go with a future iOS 12 update I hope that it won't be too long before we have the ability to store multiple eSIMs in the Secure Element that we can switch at will or have it auto-switch (should be choose) when we cross country borders and we connect to different cell towers. I'd even like the ability to use a QR Code and/or NFC to transfer eSIM data to another device (after you authenticate with your device passcode, of course).

mattinoz

said about 5 years ago

So one of the key features doesn't work at launch! Wait 2 if you include group facetime.

2018 really is a poor year for Apple. They need to get out of the gate early in 2019.

StrangeDays

said about 5 years ago

mattinoz said:

So one of the key features doesn't work at launch! Wait 2 if you include group facetime.

2018 really is a poor year for Apple. They need to get out of the gate early in 2019.

Nonsense. Group facetime isn’t a key feature nor was it hyped for launch. It was announced at WWDC as part of iOS 12, which includes point releases, and I have no reason to believe it won’t arrive.

The X was an insane seller in 2018, AW3 did great, and now there are even better versions released in 2018, and they reached a record market cap — so no idea what you’re talking about with it being a poor year. It wasn’t for customers, and it wasn’t for Apple nor its investors.

Bad year for analysts, pundits, haters and trolls, tho. Is that what you meant?

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