Malcolm Owen
Owners of cellular iPads are no longer able to use a supplied Apple SIM to activate a data plan for their tablet, forcing users to either use a different physical SIM or move to eSIM.
Apple included an Apple SIM with its cellular iPads to allow users to quickly get set up with cellular data plans from carriers, without needing to wait for a carrier's physical SIM to be delivered for use. However, since October 1, Apple SIM can't be used for that task at all.
An update to an Apple support page spotted by MacRumors explains that from October 1, 2022, "Apple SIM technology will no longer be available for activating new cellular data plans on iPad." Users are told to contact their carrier for details on activating a new plan with their device.
Apple initially included the Apple SIM in 2014, originally as a physical nano-SIM that could be placed in the SIM tray. Later, an Apple SIM was embedded into the hardware itself, along with a SIM card tray.
The affected cellular iPad models include:
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3 and 4,
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (first and second generation)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
- iPad 5 and 6
The move away from Apple SIM is the latest in the area for the company, following after an iPhone alteration that shifts away from physical SIMs. Its iPhone 14 range in the United States will only provide users with eSIM support, but other territories will still sell iPhones with physical SIM trays for the moment.
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4 Comments
People who travel to other countries may still want the SIM tray option. eSIM from the home carrier and a country SIM in the tray. Very convenient, very efficient.
I never used the one that came with my 10.5 IPP.
I just picked up a used ipad mini 5 w/ cellular and I have to say the eSIM experience remains terrible. The ipad was alternately acting like it was unlocked (it was) and locked to AT&T (it wasn't), and there's no useful way to troubleshoot the problem either through Apple or the carrier. Went to the T-Mobile store, popped in a micro-SIM, and it worked flawlessly. It's a shame because I would really like to be done dealing with SIM cards forever.