does iphone se 2020 come with sim card

When I purchased the new iPhone SE last week, there were two options in terms of activation. 1) Have apple activate it for you (need some info from your phone carrier), or 2) activate it yourself upon arrival.

I chose the latter option, and now am worried because I'm not sure the exact steps I need to do in order to get my new phone up and running. I'm assuming I need to remove the SIM card from my old iPhone 6S and insert it into my new iPhone SE before I can get up and running? Are there any detailed instruction on how to do this??

Hello 9797re,

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you want to know if the iPhone will come with a SIM card. I'll explain.

The SIM card would be provided by the carrier you plan to use. The iPhone SE will have an eSIM that may be used with supported carriers. You can learn more here: iPhone SE - Technical Specifications - Apple

Thanks.

I received my new SE today and installed the SIM card that was in my old (2018) SE. I'm having trouble activating as both my carrier (Boost Mobile) and another Sprint-compatible carrier (Tello) say my phone/SIM card account can't be activated. I wish Apple would provide some guidance on this issue.

Boost says "This device is not eligible to be swapped" and Tello says "Oops! Your SIM is not compatible with your phone." Boost provided that message after typing in the MEID number. Tello asked for both the MEID and SIM card numbers. I have an existing Boost account on an older iPhone SE and am simply trying to activate the new phone on the same account.

You need to contact Boost and arrange for a compatible SIM. They apparently tied the SIM to the IMEI of the old SE. This is unusual, but Boost doesn’t always follow conventions. Likewise for Tello. Both are network resellers, they don’t have their own networks but instead “piggyback” on other carrier’s networks.

Thanks. Trying that now. They are experiencing "extraordinary" call delays. I had been a Virgin customer and got switched to Boost automatically when Virgin shut down. Virgin was supposed to have unlocked my phone but maybe they didn't actually do it.

Just to update with my current status: I called Boost, and they said I needed to contact Apple to be sure the new phone is unlocked because the new phone's IMEI number isn't showing up in their system. I'm on the phone with Apple now, but they seem mystified because the phone should be unlocked. She's thinking the SIM on the old SE might be incompatible with the new SE, but is trying to determine for sure.

Yeah, so this is a complete nightmare. I went from an iPhone 7 on Virgin with a Sprint branded SIM to a new SE (2020) unlocked from Apple.

Here's what I've learned: CS at Boost is awful and you must get someone to add your IMEI into their system (your IMEI from an Apple direct purchase will show "locked to Apple"). They darn well know this but it is a lottery to get someone to add your number into their system. Once they add that number I can verify that you do indeed need an updated SIM from Boost (10 bucks at their store or buy from ebay if you have time to wait). This will get you what you need to be up and running. Do not let Boost CS transfer you to Apple and call back over and over if you have to--I got the "high call volume" message too but was never on an initial hold more than 30 seconds.

Good luck--might take a few tries but they can do it--and they know they can do it.

Which one was the right SIM Card? Boost sent me the updated SIM card SIMGLW436C and they still couldn’t activate my IPhone SE, because the card wasn’t compatible with the phone but they want me to buy another SIM card with the same part # and I’m really don’t know what to do. Please help. Thank you so much.

I finally got straightened out with Boost as the second rep I talked to knew that I needed a new card (apparently the SIM in the old SE card isn't compatible with the new SE). They sent me 4 cards with different part numbers but they all start with SIMOLW, followed by 3 digits and then one or two more letters.

If you have the SE 2020 edition, this is what I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SWDX7BF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You need a Sprint SIM 516TQ (it's SIM ID "D"). I cannot vouch for that link above as I just ordered it, but it says it includes this model number of SIM card which is what was identified by the Boost associate at the store I stopped at today (they were sold out).

As far as I'm aware you will have to get a physical SIM card from a carrier

iPhone SE 2020 does have E-Sim built in so there's no need for a physical sim if your carrier supports is you will need a QR Code from a carrier to activate it

I went through the same thing and had a EXCELLENT CS rep from Apple™️ work a miracle! Another boost person said I couldn’t do it ! Now I have to go to the store and buy a new sim after the miss info from Bust, I meant Boost!

I don’t know if this helps anyone. I gave up with Boost customer service. I called the Boost store I got my son a phone at last Christmas, the guy told me throw away the card they sent you, bring it here, $10 for the card $35 for activation fee, I dropped the phone off and 20 minutes later he called my son’s phone and my IPhone SE 2020 purchased on apple.com was activated. Call your store and good luck!

I was able to drop off a bag with the phone outside the store with phone and payment and he got it after I called. He left bag outside the store after it was ready and he called me to let me know it was there...