The iPhone Air is Apple’s first smartphone to launch as an eSIM-only device worldwide, removing the physical SIM card slot entirely. However, a new report from China has revealed a modified iPhone Air that surprisingly features a functional physical SIM slot. The mod was reportedly carried out by an electronics store based in Shenzhen’s famous Huaqiangbei market, a hub well known for advanced smartphone repairs and hardware experimentation.

According to the report, adding a SIM slot to the ultra-thin iPhone Air required significant internal re-engineering. To free up enough space, the modders replaced Apple’s original Taptic Engine with a much smaller vibration motor. While this new component delivers simpler haptic feedback compared to Apple’s precise implementation, it was sufficient to maintain basic vibration functionality. The reclaimed space was then used to integrate a SIM card reader connected to a physical SIM tray positioned next to the USB-C port.

Images shared alongside the report show the modified iPhone Air actively running on a China Telecom SIM card, with another image confirming that the device can make voice calls. Beyond basic connectivity, the phone reportedly supports 5G mobile data without any noticeable issues. Even more impressively, the modification is said to have preserved the device’s IP68 water and dust resistance rating, suggesting a very high level of craftsmanship.

While this hardware mod is unlikely to become a mainstream solution, it demonstrates that even Apple’s tightly engineered, eSIM-only iPhone Air can be physically altered to support traditional SIM cards with enough expertise and precision.