iPhone 15 pro max with a model number of A2849, have two dual physical sim slot

Gandolf243 wrote:

No, it is a legitimate model number in the USA and Puerto Rico. It does indeed feature a duel esim.

Dual eSIM – the ability to use up to two electronic SIMs at a time – is not the same thing as a tray that accepts dual physical SIMs.

if you don’t believe me check this:

https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-15-pro-max-a2849-a3105-a3106-a3108-model-number-differences/

From that article (emphasis mine):

"iPhone 15 Pro Max A2849

The iPhone 15 Pro Max A2849 is available solely in the United States and Puerto Rico … Instead of a physical SIM card slot, this model features Dual eSIM functionality, allowing for two active eSIMs and storage for eight or more eSIMs."

"iPhone 15 Pro Max A3108

The iPhone 15 Pro Max A3108 is tailored for mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau … While this phone lacks eSIM capabilities, it uniquely supports dual nano-SIM cards."

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255110862?sortBy=oldest_first

Are you sure it’s a 15 pro max? Because you description does not match the iPhone. Just check settings → General → About on you iPhone, it will tell you. This a good reason why you select your device from the list when you are posting, if you are afraid to give private information away don’t worry, all it lists is the device type and OS e.g “iPhone Air, iOS 26.2”, MacBook Pro 14” macOS 26.2”, etc. It is supposed to clear up all this “what model do you have?” Talk.

it is vaguely possible this was stolen in USA and remanufactured in China for the Chinese market. An original LL/A model would be eSIM only ever since the 14

China have never allowed eSIM on iPhones until they relaxed the rules for iphone Air.

I am interested in where you bought this apparent mongrel iphone.

LD150 wrote:

so either we believe this poster is lying about is having two nano SIMs in it, or this is a remanufactured phone with dubious history, surely?

The "remanufactured with dubious history" hypothesis seems likely, given that the phone is reporting that it has the model number A2849, but that the OP says that it has a tray that accepts two physical SIMs.

If this is some sort of "Frankenphone" or "hacked phone", I wonder what other attributes of the Chinese models the phone might share. Like no Apple Intelligence (for now) – and maybe also no FaceTime audio, and no Wi-Fi calling. This might also raise questions about who remanufactured or repaired it – if the outfit that did so wasn't Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and that phone ever needed future repair, Apple might refuse to service the "tampered with" phone.

There is allegedly a tower block in a chinese city where thousands of iphones stolen from London streets but presumably from the rest of the world, where they can do what "only Apple can do" ie reprogram internal parts to remove activation lock, and rebuild at will. This also allows using Western used parts to remanufacture chinese bodied phones.

Buying used or third party refurbished phones is always a risk.

Jerry_masimba08 wrote:

Why does my iPhone 15 pro max with a model number of A2849, have two dual

physical sim slot, what could this mean, It also has a 5G soft space on the side.

If your iPhone 15 Pro Max has a model number of A2849, it does not support dual physical SIMs – or any physical SIMs at all. A2849 is the model number for the (United States, Puerto Rico) version of the iPhone 15 Pro Max – a version that only supports eSIMs.

Identify your iPhone model - Apple Support

About eSIM - Apple Support

I didn’t read down that far. I just did a quick web search and went from there. I am glad I grabbed that article, since it seems to have helped us see that that iPhone, well appears to have a questionable history. That is excellent @Servant of Cats I would have read more but I had gotten what I had gone for. That deserves a upvote. So, the iPhone is basically a counterfeit.

Wow, I am surprised that iOS didn’t detect that sim slots don’t belong in iPhone 15 pro max.

Thanks for stopping by and basically fixing all the issues in this chat.

I think all of us (if we hadn’t already, I know I will) from now on should be careful to make sure that the products we buy (specifically Apple’s) on third party sites feature what they are supposed to.

so either we believe this poster is lying about is having two nano SIMs in it, or this is a remanufactured phone with dubious history, surely?

That doesn’t line up with the fact that they specifically said:

Please re check as A2849 is the model number for iphones in the United States

so, that is not a China model.

however, good job with the esim part.

Either the Model Number mentioned by you is incorrect, or the Model Name has a typo.

If my sources where correct, it doesn’t have physical sim slots, just esims. What do you mean by a physical sim slot?

Identify your iPhone model – Apple Support

eSIM is a built in board and doesn’t have a physical slot for a SIM card.

If the iPhone has 2 physical SIM card slots, it won’t have eSIM and is a iPhone meant for China.