The iPhone Duo doesn't use a physical SIM card

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 10 September 2026

The foldable iPhone Duo will be the second handset Apple has launched in Australia that won't take a physical SIM card. While iPhone models sold in the United States have been eSIM-only since the iPhone 14, this is the only the second phone without a physical SIM card that Apple will sell worldwide. The first was last year's iPhone Air.

eSIM (an electronic SIM or embedded SIM) is a rewritable SIM card that’s built directly into the phone. It never leaves your phone. Instead, you simply download a "software SIM" from your provider of choice.

Apple has been shipping phones with eSIM support since 2018, and telco support in Australia is close to universal. Out of the 32 mobile providers in WhistleOut's database, 28 currently offer eSIM plans. Here are some popular options:

#1	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick $23 Mobile Plan 25GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Optus 5G in selected areas with 5G devices ex. NT WhistleOut Special: Enjoy $11 off for the first 6 months for new customers - $12/mth for first 6 months, then $23/mth $12.00/mth Min. cost $12 Go to Site	$12.00/mth Min. cost $12	Go to Site
#2	Swoop	Swoop 30GB SIM Only 5G 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: Includes $11 off for first 6 months - $14/mth for first 6 months then $25/mth after that. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Go to Site	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Go to Site
#3	TPG Editor's Pick	TPG Editor's Pick 30GB Small Plan 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $15/mth for first 6 months, then $30/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied
#4	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick	Lyca Mobile Editor's Pick Unlimited Plan S 50GB data at download speeds up to 100Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: $15 for first 6 renewals when you activate this plan. Offer ends 31.12.26. T&Cs apply $15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal Link not supplied	$15.00 Per 28 Day Renewal	Link not supplied
#5	Moose Mobile	Moose Mobile Moose 23 SIM Only 30GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps On the Vodafone 4G Mobile Network Deal: Get 30GB for $14 – Includes $9 off for first 6 months, then reverts to $23. Offer ends 30.06.27 $14.00/mth Min. cost $14 Link not supplied	$14.00/mth Min. cost $14	Link not supplied
#6	iiNet	iiNet 50GB Medium Plan 50GB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps Vodafone 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices Deal: 50% off - $17.50/mth for first 6 months, then $35/mth ongoing. Available until withdrawn. T&Cs apply. $17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal Link not supplied	$17.50 Per 1 Month Renewal	Link not supplied

There are still smaller providers that don't support eSIM, however, such as Coles Mobile, OnePass Mobile, Pivotel, and iPrimus.

Telstra and Vodafone tend to have the easiest options for moving from a physical SIM to an eSIM. Telstra customers can do so in the My Telstra app, while Vodafone customers have a "convert to eSIM" option available within iPhone settings. Optus makes it a little trickier, and customers who want to move from a physical SIM to an eSIM need to either go to an Optus store or contact the telco via another channel.

And while many smaller providers support eSIM, the execution isn't necessarily as flexible as that found on larger providers. Boost and Everyday Mobile are two of the better options, and allow customers to swap to eSIM through their apps. Conversely, providers like Kogan require customers to order a new plan to swap to eSIM, and once again if they want to move the eSIM to a new device. Aussie Broadband allows existing mobile customers to swap to eSIM through the app, but customers then need to contact support to move the eSIM to a new phone.

Australian iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models still have a physical SIM card on top of eSIM support.

iPhone Duo pre-orders will start at 11pm AEDT on October 16 ahead of an October 23 release date.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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