Why Your Phone Won't Have a SIM Card in a Few Years

That tiny plastic SIM card sitting in your phone has been standard for over two decades — but it's quietly on its way out. We break down what a SIM card actually does, how eSIM replaced the physical card with digital activation, and why the next step, iSIM, builds connectivity directly into your phone's processor. We also cover why this matters for battery space, durability, and switching carriers, plus how satellite connectivity from services like Starlink and AST SpaceMobile fits into this shift. Source: Bernard Marr, "8 Smartphone Trends That Will Shape 2026" (bernardmarr.com).