United Kingdom, Sept. 13 -- Apple has unveiled the company's first mobile phone model to launch globally without a physical Sim card slot.

Signalling a major shift for mobile users, the arrival of the iPhone Air was announced by the tech giant at its latest product event, as part of confirmation the thinnest addition yet to the iPhone family would be eSim-only.

While Apple has sold eSim-exclusive phones in the United States since 2022, this marks the first worldwide release.

Other new models, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, will also be eSim-only in several markets, though they will retain Sim trays in most countries.

Kester Mann, an analyst at CCS Insight, told BBC News Apple's decision "marks the beginn...