Is the SIM card no longer needed with the iPhone 18?

Slowly but surely, Apple seems to want to get rid of SIM cards on its iPhones. Starting with the iPhone 14, the US switched to eSIM (digital SIM card), and many other territories have followed suit since, including Japan and Mexico. According to the Greek media outlet Techmaniacs, Europe could also be affected as early as this year with the iPhone 18 Pro/Max. The SIM card slot takes up space inside the device, and Apple always needs space to prioritize other features, such as a larger battery. For reference, the iPhone Air released last year was the first Apple model without a SIM card slot in Europe; the device's defining characteristic is its extreme thinness, thus requiring minimal internal space. If this rumor proves true, operators will have to adapt, given that some of them still charge more for providing an eSIM and that prepaid offers (for travel, for example) are still only available with traditional SIM cards.