A recognizable number of people restrain from buying the iPhone because it’s usually more expensive than its Android counterparts. However, some people keep away from the Cupertino giant’s devices because they do no support Dual SIM. As the never ending leaks of the upcoming Apple Triple threat release of iPhones continues, some sources point to a Dual SIM iPhone. Actually, two dual SIM iPhones.
A smartphone or phone that can hold two different SIM cards at the same time is called a Dual SIM device. Having two SIM cards means that a Dual SIM smartphone can use either of the two SIMS to initiate or to receive phone calls.
The Benefon Twin, released in 2000 was the first phone to include dual SIM functionality. However, more dual SIM phones soon entered the marketplace and started to attract mainstream attention. Most of them were coming from small Chinese firms producing phones using Mediatek SOCs.
In the early 2010s Nokia, Samsung, Sony and several others followed suit. Nokia released the Nokia C2-00, Nokia C1-00 and Nokia C2-03 and most notably the Nokia X. Samsung had the Samsung Duos series and the Sony Xperia Z3 Dual, Sony Xperia C. Dual SIM phones are now a thing especially in Asia and Africa.
Is the Dual SIM iPhone on the way?
However, Apple hasn’t shown any signs that it’s willing to break with its high-margin business model in order to gain more users in cost-conscious regions.
According to The Verge, some reports suggest that the dual-SIM iPhone may be a China-only variant of the rumored new lower-end iPhone 9 with a 6.1-inch LCD. (Bloomberg seems to believe that it’ll also apply to a 6.5-inch OLED model.)
That would be easier to believe: China is a more immediately beneficial market for Apple, and it’s the only one in the world where dual-SIM support is a standard expectation for high-end devices.
Even ultra-advanced phones like the Vivo NEX have two SIM card slots, as do all flagship devices from Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and so on. Foreign companies like Samsung, meanwhile, develop China-specific dual-SIM variants of phones like the Galaxy S9.
Dual SIM iPhones may be a China only thing
The Verge believes that the likely outcome for a dual SIM iPhone convenience for China rather than tapping emerging markets. China has a many customers who have the means to buy an iPhone don’t because it lacks dual-SIM support. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Apple restrict dual-SIM sales to China altogether.
However, Apple maintains high level of secrecy. Hence, you never really know what’s going to happen until the announce onstage. The announcement will come out in the next two weeks or so. Maybe Apple will bring dual-SIM support to multiple regions, after all.
