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

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.