eSIM-only iPhone in Kazakhstan

According to Apple as of 19 October 2026:

• eSIM-only in every country: iPhone Air and the foldable iPhone Duo;
• eSIM-only in versions for the US, US Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Guam, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman: iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17 and 17e;
• the same models for other markets, including Hong Kong and Europe: nano-SIM tray plus eSIM.

Settings → General → About, Model Number row. It first shows a part number such as MXXXX; tap it and the A model number appears. Apple tells regional versions apart by that number.

iPhone 18 Pro: A3713 is Japan, Canada, Mexico, the UAE and the Gulf states, eSIM-only; A3714 is other countries, nano-SIM + eSIM. iPhone 17e: A3575 is eSIM-only, A3634 is nano-SIM + eSIM. The full list is on Apple’s “Identify your iPhone model” page.

With the box sealed, the version shows on the label and the supplier’s invoice. We record the region of every line in the order.

Apple’s list for Kazakhstan names four operators: Altel, Beeline, Kcell and Tele2. All activate eSIM by QR code or through an app. Carrier Activation and eSIM Quick Transfer are not listed for them. The sub-brands activ and izi are not named separately.

• Beeline: pick eSIM in the Janymda app, pass identification, get a QR code. On the iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
• Kcell: SIM-to-eSIM swap in the app; the number must be registered to the holder, and the swap is unavailable in roaming.
• Tele2: the QR code comes from the app or the operator’s Telegram bot, with the phone on Wi-Fi.

On an unlocked iPhone the Carrier Lock row reads “No SIM restrictions”. Only the carrier that set a lock can remove it; Apple cannot. A phone brought in from abroad goes through IMEI verification in Kazakhstan, tray or no tray.

eSIM-only versions run two active eSIMs at once and store eight or more profiles. Versions with a tray put one line on a physical SIM and the other on eSIM.

In Kazakhstan eSIM moves to a new phone through the operator. At Beeline one QR code can be scanned up to 10 times: the profile is deleted on the old iPhone and the same code is scanned on the new one. A lost code is restored in the app, or without app access at a store with an ID card.

In the order specification the SIM type sits next to the model number: “eSIM only” or “nano-SIM + eSIM”. On an opened sample from the batch we check the Carrier Lock row and the Add eSIM option. We buy iPhones in Dubai and Hong Kong; the hub depends on the version needed.