Why does Unlocked iPhone8 Need Sim?

It's simply the way Apple's activation system works. It was designed from the very beginning to require a SIM in the phone, and the system has not changed since 2007. Any and all iPhones require a SIM for initial activation.

Can you just borrow one for 2 minutes to complete the activation steps? If your phone was sold locked to a carrier, it will need to be a SIM from that carrier. Otherwise, any SIM will do, active or not.

redara007 wrote:

Thank you All.. I will try to use my existing SIM and activate the Phone. Hope it works. I remember activating iPhone 6 earlier without SIM using Wifi.

You are misremembering, then... It's not possible to activate ANY iPhone without a SIM. The only exception was the CDMA only version of the iPhone 4.

All iPhones require a SIM as part of the activation process.

Hi

The simcard is needed to communicate with your network provider for connecting calls

& to control text messages & your payment plan.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

As long as your old phone used a nano-SIM it should be fine. Once you activate it, just take that SIM out until you're ready to set up cellular service.