According to new code uncovered in the iOS 27 Release Candidate, there will be a new way to redeem Apple gift cards by tapping them on the back of a compatible iPhone.

Apple's gift cards will have a security chip that the iPhone will scan to verify that the card is authentic and unspent, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. He said the redeem flow will have "this card has been blocked" or "cancelled" screens, seemingly to reduce attempted scams.
This article, "iOS 27 Will Let You Redeem Apple Gift Cards on the Back of Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has been phasing out the SIM card tray on iPhones, with the latest models relying solely on eSIM technology in select countries.


According to Apple, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max support eSIMs only in these countries and regions:

• Bahrain


• Canada


• Guam


• Japan


• Kuwait


• Mexico


• Oman


• Qatar


• Saudi Arabia


• United Arab Emirates


• United States


• U.S. Virgin Islands

iPhone 17 Pro models are eSIM-only in the same countries, so there is no change this year.

iPhone 18 Pro models continue to have a tray for a physical SIM card in all other countries around the world, including in the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

If you are unaware, an eSIM is essentially a digital version of a SIM card.

Apple says eSIM-only iPhone models are equipped with a larger battery that fills the space formerly occupied by the physical SIM card tray. Earlier today, we reported on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacities listed on EU regulatory labels, but note that these figures are for models that still have a SIM card tray.

Apple started phasing out SIM cards starting with the iPhone 14 series, in the U.S. only at first.

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models sold in European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and elsewhere still have nano-SIM card trays alongside eSIM support. In China, the devices support one of the following combinations: two nano-SIM cards, one nano-SIM card and one eSIM, or two eSIMs.

iPhone Duo features an eSIM-only design worldwide.

When the iPhone 14 series launched in 2022, Apple promoted eSIMs as being more secure than physical SIM cards, as they cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. In addition, at least eight eSIMs can be managed on an iPhone at once, eliminating the need to obtain, carry, and swap SIM cards while traveling.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro is eSIM-Only in These Countries" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has confirmed the battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models that the company announced earlier today.


Apple is required to publish energy labels on its iPhone product pages in the EU, and they reveal the official mAh battery capacities for the devices.

Here are the battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models that still have a SIM card tray, according to Apple:

• iPhone 18 Pro: 4,056 mAh (+1.7% vs. iPhone 17 Pro's 3,988 mAh)


• iPhone 18 Pro Max: 5,391 mAh (+11.7% vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max's 4,823 mAh)

Notably, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has received a much larger battery life increase than the iPhone 18 Pro did compared to the previous generation.

eSIM-only models of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the U.S., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The devices have a SIM card tray in all other countries around the world, including in the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

eSIM-only iPhone models are equipped with a slightly larger battery that fills the space occupied by the physical SIM card tray.

eSIM-only battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro models have yet to be confirmed.
This article, "Apple Reveals iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max Battery Capacities" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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