Buy iPhone 17 online. Will it be eSim or not?

That is impossible to answer without any information about where in the world you plan to buy it.

Note that Apple will not sell a phone online in one country / region and ship it to another. Also that if you buy a phone that isn’t meant for your country / region, you could have problems obtaining warranty service.

mjolcresarc130 wrote:

No more SIM cards since 2024. Activated phone always has esim

Wrong. In some countries (Europe; UK) the latest iPhone 17 has a dual SIM capability: eSIM and/or nano physical SIM. Only the iPhone 17 air is eSIM only.

No more SIM cards since 2024

This is not correct.

eSIM+SIM in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong

Dual SIM in Mainland China

Jamal_Aev wrote:

Guys, I mean US store. And I already find, it's eSim.

Are you in the US with a valid payment method in the US? You cannot order an iPhone from outside the US. Apple won't deliver it outside the US. And if you don't have a valid US Payment method and a valid address in the US, you can't order a phone outside the US from the US Store. Plus, if you don't live in the US and your do purchase an iPhone in the US, it will NOT have warranty outside the US.

mjolcresarc130 wrote:

No more SIM cards since 2024. Activated phone always has esim

No, it depends upon the country of purchase.

Learn which type SIM your iPhone or iPad uses - Apple Support

No more SIM cards since 2024. Activated phone always has esim

lobsterghost1 wrote:

Plus, if you don't live in the US and your do purchase an iPhone in the US, it will NOT have warranty outside the US.

Apple only says "may" not, not that it will not. --> Legal - iOS Warranty Document Us - Apple

"Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Vision Pro to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device." The issue may be that many devices are region-specific so Apple will not be able to find parts for a US model iPhone in another country. In order to do a fast turn-around time on repairs Apple may simply replace a unit with a refurbished unit on the spot, and in another country a US phone may not be available. This would presumably apply even if a person were willing to pay for a repair service, not just warranty coverage.

Limnos wrote:

lobsterghost1 wrote:

Plus, if you don't live in the US and your do purchase an iPhone in the US, it will NOT have warranty outside the US.

Apple only says "may" not, not that it will not. --> Legal - iOS Warranty Document Us - Apple

"Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Vision Pro to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device." The issue may be that many devices are region-specific so Apple will not be able to find parts for a US model iPhone in another country. In order to do a fast turn-around time on repairs Apple may simply replace a unit with a refurbished unit on the spot, and in another country a US phone may not be available. This would presumably apply even if a person were willing to pay for a repair service, not just warranty coverage.

True. But you've been around these parts long enough to read the many many posts from people who are upset because they bought their phone in one country and were denied warranty coverage in the country they live. If someone buys an iPhone in the US and it requires a warranty exchange for example in Hong Kong, Apple stores or authorized service providers simply won't have an iPhone in Hong Kong which matches the model of the iPhone they bought in the US. So they'll flatly be denied a warranty exchange. This is why I advise people that buying an iPhone in a country they don't live won't have warranty support. If you want to split hairs, OK. But generally speaking while it may be up to the service provider, warranty support is more often than not denied.

There was a 2 page thread a year ago on another part of this community started by a regular contributor who claimed professional experience in this topic. The term "may" was indeed the correct usage based on personal experience of the individual.

I simply prefer quoting accurately what Apple actually says and then pointing out possible limitations rather than stating Apple says something it does not.

Limnos wrote:

There was a 2 page thread a year ago on another part of this community started by a regular contributor who claimed professional experience in this topic. The term "may" was indeed the correct usage based on personal experience of the individual.

I simply prefer quoting accurately what Apple actually says and then pointing out possible limitations rather than stating Apple says something it does not.

OK. You can quote what you want. And I can post what I want. I'm not sure why you think I need to be schooled by you on this?

I plan, by the way, to continue advising people against purchasing an iPhone in a different country because of warranty issues.

I was simply observing that what you stated is not what Apple says and what a contributor with firsthand experience in this topic has also said is not the case. I simply wanted the OP of this topic to be aware of what Apple actually says and to weigh what you state against that.

I am not disputing what you advise, because it can indeed be difficult to get warranty repairs in other countries and that is a good observation to note. What I am disputing is your use of the word "not". If I see it then I will continue to provide OPs with reference to what Apple actually says.