eSIM only - the new iPad Pro and iPad Air are without a physical SIM card slot

The new iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Air tablets are now available for order, and Apple's website reveals some additional information about these devices that was not mentioned during the announcement.

It turns out that there have been changes in the way the mobile connectivity module works in these new devices. Engineers have removed the physical SIM card slot in the iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Air 6. Now, models with mobile connectivity support only eSIM. This is an important detail for users who are used to changing physical SIM cards on their devices.

eSIM is a virtual SIM card embedded directly into the mobile device. All the necessary identification information is stored in a miniature chip. This approach allows for simplifying the device's design slightly. The need for a physical SIM card slot is eliminated, allowing for optimizing the placement of other internal components. This is most relevant for compact gadgets, where every millimeter counts.

At the same time, this approach may be inconvenient for users who need to transfer their mobile number (and SIM card) between different devices.

Source: 9to5mac