Apple SIM No Longer Available for Activating New Cellular Data Plans on iPads - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple SIM No Longer Available for Activating New Cellular Data Plans on iPads

As of October 1, Apple SIM is no longer available for activating new cellular data plans on supported iPad models, according to an Apple support document.

Apple SIM Card
Introduced in 2014, the Apple SIM was designed to allow iPad users to activate cellular data plans from multiple carriers around the world. Initially, the Apple SIM was a physical nano-SIM card, but it was embedded inside later iPad Pro models. Apple SIM was similar to modern eSIM technology, but with more limited carrier support.

A physical Apple SIM card was included 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

An embedded Apple SIM was included with the following cellular iPad models:

  • 9.7-inch iPad Pro
  • 10.5-inch iPad Pro
  • Second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro

All of the iPad models listed above still have a physical SIM card tray. Apple's support document advises customers to contact their carrier for details on how to activate a cellular data plan on these iPad models going forward.

All models of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad released since October 2018 support standard eSIM technology without the need for an Apple SIM.

Image Credit: Le journal du lapin

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...

Top Rated Comments

AppleTO Avatar
45 months ago
Apple SIM? I've never even heard of this.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
45 months ago

Apple replaced lightning with USB-C in iPads.

The same thing will probably happen to iPhones in 2024.
I think USB-C will make its appearance in an iPhone lineup next year, (2023). This is the last year with the lightning port.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
45 months ago
I really don’t see this as an issue at all. If anything, it is a nonissue. I think that some here will SIMply complain regardless.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
45 months ago

Apple SIM? I've never even heard of this.
Was introduced in 2014 as a physical nano-SIM card that worked with multiple carriers. It was later embedded inside some 2016-2017 iPad Pro models.

It was basically eSIM before the actual eSIM standard emerged (which is supported by all cellular iPad models released since October 2018, which has made the Apple SIM redundant.)
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
45 months ago

I really don’t see this as an issue at all. If anything, it is a nonissue. I think that some here will SIMply complain regardless.
My only complaint is I never knew this existed, and now I want a SIM card with an Apple logo on it just for the hell of it.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrsebsin Avatar
45 months ago
So SIMs are a thing of the past, but lightning over USB C makes sense Apple?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Lifestyle | Sport | Health | Mac | Business