Setting up iphone 11

While you can use a phone without a SIM, you need a SIM to activate the phone. It does not have to be an active SIM, but there has to be a SIM in the device to complete the activation process. I have an iPhone 5s that I use like an iPod for playing music at home. It still needs a SIM in it when you do software updates.

You need a SIM in the iPhone to be able to activate. You cannot activate the phone without one.

You can activate your iPhone without a SIM.

You can activate your iPhone but you just can't make calls. That's been a thing since iOS 5 for me.