DealNTech Mobiles, PCs, and All Things Tech
Apple initially introduced the Apple SIM in 2014. It was designed to allow iPad users to activate cellular data plans from multiple carriers worldwide. Later, the SIM comes already structured inside the iPad. Still, the slot of an additional SIM card tray was available. Apple SIM is similar to modern eSIM technology but is limited by carrier support.
Apple provided the physical Apple SIM with the following cellular iPad models:
- iPad Air 2.
- iPad mini 3.
- iPad mini 4.
- First-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
- iPad 5.
- iPad 6.
Later, Apple provided the embedded (already installed) Apple SIM with the following cellular iPad models:
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
- Second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Apple’s SIM helps users get cellular data plans from carriers quickly, but since October 1st, it cannot be used to perform the respective work.
Is Apple SIM functionality disabled?
Apple quietly announced its cellular data support page, which says that the support for new activations using both the standard Apple SIM and embedded (integrated) Apple SIM would stop from October 1st, 2022. Apple also suggested that the affected users contact their carrier for details on activating a cellular data plan on their iPads. Owners of cellular iPads can no longer use a supplied Apple SIM to start a data plan for their tablet, forcing them to either use a different physical SIM or move to an eSIM.
The Apple SIM is the physical Nano-SIM card supporting the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 and slowly converted the physical SIM into the embedded or integrated SIM with the iPad Pro models.
Apple SIM now seems more useless after this, as the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad have come with the eSIM technology since October 2018. Also, it has to be noted that the iPhone 14 series launched in the US doesn’t have a physical SIM card tray.
Do you want to check whether your iPad uses Apple SIM or not? You can find your iPad model here.
