Google Pixel 8 series might ditch the physical SIM slot like iPhone 14

Published On: August 22, 2023

Highlights

The Google Pixel 8 series might not come with a physical SIM slot like the iPhone 14 series (US models).
Leaked Pixel 8 series renders apparently show no SIM card slot either on the left or right edge.
It isn’t clear whether there will be no SIM slot or the renders are inaccurate.

Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are expected to debut later this year, probably around October like last year. Among the rumoured new features is an infrared thermometer, and, in addition to this, a report now suggests that the device could ditch the physical SIM card slot, which has been standard on Android phones until now.

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Take this with a grain of salt, but…the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro might be eSIM only, at least in some regions.

Nobody seems to have noticed that the renders that @OnLeaks published are missing SIM card slots on the left side. The renders he previously published of the Pixel 6,… pic.twitter.com/jlsyqTD8tC
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) August 20, 2023

Pixel 8 could ditch the physical SIM slot

Going back in time, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro renders, which were leaked earlier this year by tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer (OnLeaks) in association with SmartPrix, don’t clearly show a physical SIM slot either on the left or right edge.
This makes us question whether the Pixel 8 series will have the SIM tray slot or just the renders don’t clearly show it.
However, the SmartPrix report claimed the SIM slot is present on the left spine.
Mishaal Rahman of XDA-Developers, who first spotted the omission of the SIM tray, says he has spoken to OnLeaks about the placement of the SIM tray.
The tipster mentioned the “renders are mostly accurate but may not have all details.“

However, Rahman pointed out that the leaked Pixel 8 Pro 360-degree render video showed a glimpse of the SIM tray on the left side. So there’s a chance that the renders may be incorrect and that the upcoming Pixel phones will ship with physical SIM slots.

Either way, if the Pixel 8 series ships with no physical SIM slot, this won’t be the first as Apple got rid of the SIM tray on the iPhone 14 lineup for the US market.