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

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.
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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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.
Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.
Comments
I’m not an FCC expert nor product release expert, but not many people seem to mention the lack of FCC approval.
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).
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?
It is not unreasonable either (completely logical in fact) to assume that something announced as coming in iOS12 will be there on launch, not months later with a point release.
Why not do that with everything announced feature for iOS 12 and use the time to squash bugs? After all, 'coming in iOS 12' doesn't have to mean 12.0, right? We would have no complaints.
No. That is nonsense.. It is perfectly reasonable to want things at release, especially things that were highlights of the release as revealed at the presentation.
As for the X being an insane seller, I would say that selling less from one quarter to the next and having Gartner claim that demand slackened off far more quickly than for any other major Apple flagship, doesn't make it an insane seller. Especially as by all accounts so far, unit sales remain basically flat. Nothing insane to be seen.
Many other “special” features and thus hardware to comply with the laws of China, so that the Communist Party can real time monitor every piece of data in communication? Worrying.
Did you watch yesterday's Apple event? Wasn't that Apple Watch Series 4 announcement spectacular? Just left every other wearable in the dust.
Oh, by the way, Apple's X was the best selling model smartphone in the world, that is undisputed, so I'm not sure I would put much weight in Gartner, especially since Apple is really, really, throwing it's future behind the X models.
Apple's unit sales, on a yearly basis, continue to place them as number two in the smartphone industry, but, maybe 2019 will be Huawei's year to pass them. My educated guess is that Apple is going to sell a whole lot of iPhone X models this next quarter, and looks to have doubled down on a high ASP, which I know you abhor.
I wonder how well Huawei will do in a zero sum smartphone market taking share from Samsung, since they aren't taking any from Apple.
That said, while Apple set an expectation, and are probably a bit embarrassed at having to backpedal, it's not a promise, they aren't obliged to deliver Group Facetime at all, no matter how many irate netizens start jumping up and down.