In retrospect native apps were a terrible idea. I try to use web apps as much as possible.

On iOS, the CTCarrier calls for SIM info were deprecated back in iOS 16 and now just return blank data.

What they can check is which region of App Store they were installed from.

Yeah, that's an ideal situation. The devs say they're going to eventually fix that, but their priority is the device security, not privacy.

I checked mine and it's a little bit weird - even with the physical Sim disabled and esim (from another country) enabled, it was returning physical sim data.

There's hope tho.

Come iToddlers and the Samstung, Pixel [soon Motorola] with GrapheneOS is the way!

I'm writing it from GoS device, CC can be accessed by the apps.

There's plenty on the roadmap from what I see, although this phone is infinitely better than with the standard OS.

Hmm, would it be possible to avoid it by using no SIM in the device and WiFi/VoIP only (whether mobile hotspot or some fixed internet)? It would mean an extra device to carry around but if country detection by native apps is in your threat model...

Well, sure.