Last week, Apple had rolled out iOS 12.1.2, which was a patch to fix eSIM issues and resolve connectivity problems. Incidentally, Apple rolled out a second build of the iOS 12.1.2 designed to replace the previous update. The update changed the build number but did not update the version number of the operating system.
As luck would have it, the update's purpose was to fix connectivity issues related to the eSIM on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max. Ironically, after the update was rolled out, users across the world are reporting that they are no longer being able to use LTE on their new iPhones. iPhone owners from countries across Europe, Asia and South America have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration over the new update that has turned the most expensive smartphone into the most expensive dud as they are no longer able to make calls or send messages.
The rollout of eSIM compatibility has been problematic for Apple. The new iPhones launched in the US without eSIM support, and only received it with the iOS 12.1 update. Even then, there were issues with binding the eSIM to a number, with operators taking some time to figure things out at their end. In India, Airtel and Jio both support the eSIM feature of the new iPhones. The initial rollout wasn’t as seamless as one would expect from an Apple product.
Given the severity of the issue at the moment, it shouldn’t be long before Apple issues another update to fix the issue. Apple already has its hands full with trying to issue updates that circumvent points mentioned by Qualcomm in their lawsuit against Apple. Hopefully, Apple will prioritise solving the connectivity issue at the earliest.