Dual-SIM iPhone may be in the works

Apple might be getting ready to launch a dual-SIM iPhone.

This is according to clues in the code of freshly released iOS 12 beta 5, dug out by 9to5Mac, which at certain points references "second SIM status" and "dual sim device".

These references in the code do not necessarily mean that Apple is launching a dual SIM phone, but it's hard to imagine another purpose for them. Another reference mentions "second Sim Tray Status," which indicates that the phone will actually have two physical slots for SIM cards, instead of some software dual SIM solution.

The hints in the iOS code reinforces the April report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who was one of the first to predict Apple would be launching three phones in the fall. At the time Kuo said that there would be a dual-SIM version of the upcoming 6.1-inch iPhone, and that it would likely be priced a hundred bucks more than the single-SIM version (a notion that still doesn't make much sense to us).

Dual-SIM phones are popular in markets with lower consumer buying power, where users often juggle accounts from several providers to get the best savings. They're also useful for users who must have two separate mobile plans (for work and personal use, for example), as well as those who travel often. Apple has never launched a dual-SIM device.

If the dual-SIM iPhone turns out to be real, it'll further complicate Apple's already busy fall lineup. The company is rumored to launch two flagship phones with OLED screens -- a 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch one, as well as a cheaper, 6.1-inch phone with a single rear camera and an LCD screen.