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I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max. It has a physical sim slot and 1 eSim slot. The 13 Pro max has 1 physical and 2 esim slots.

Basically, you run your US carrier the way you always do so in the case of new phone in eSim slot 1. Esim slot 2 you then activate an eSim from an app like Airalo or dozens of others. Esims can be downloaded via apps, scanned via QR codes, or provisioned via manually typing in some info. You can have literally dozens of inactive eSim profiles. However you can only have two sims active at a given time. One for voice, one for data.

Worked great for me on a recent overseas trip. I had my voice line on Visible at the time (testing it out) which didn't support any roaming. For data I downloaded an eSim for the country. The iPhone automagically used the data connection of the eSim line to enable a pseudo "wifi calling" for my Visible data line. I was able to keep using my iPhone as I do at home making and receiving voice calls, as well as sending texts and using data. Was brilliant.

While stateside, I'm using T-Mobile on the physical sim and Visible (verizon) on the eSim. This gives me coverage everywhere. If one carrier has no coverage and the other does, everything fails over. It is great.
Thank you! That was a much more insightful and clear and concise explanation than two other commercial articles I just read, which left me confused. I get it now. So I guess dumping the physical SIM isn't quite as dreadful as I thought, though it is still more hoops to jump through. eSIM nevertheless still isn't supported by many carriers, including in the US, so I still see it as an overall big negative.
 
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Thank you! That was a much more insightful and clear and concise explanation than two other commercial articles I just read, which left me confused. I get it now. So I guess dumping the physical SIM isn't quite as dreadful as I thought, though it is still more hoops to jump through. eSIM nevertheless still isn't supported by many carriers, including in the US, so I still see it as an overall big negative.
Short term negative for sure. In the US, things are getting better and better. I experimented with many US carriers over the Covid downturn as I stopped traveling.

The following all support eSim:
  • T-Mobile Prepaid
  • T-Mobile Postpaid
  • Verizon prepaid
  • Verizon Postpaid
  • AT&T prepaid
  • AT&T postpaid
  • Visible (verizon MVNO)
  • US Mobile (Verizon MVNO)
  • Mint (T-Mobile MVNO)
  • Google FI (basically T-mobile MVNO if you have iPhone
There are many others but these are the ones I tested. Overseas the picture isn't quite as rosy, but again... unless you need a local number you are better off using one of the eSim sellers like US Mobile, Airalo, esimdb etc

Only big advantage I see (stateside) for keeping a physical sim card is the ability to quickly and easily swap between phones. Like if my iPhone dies, and I need to put my sim into my ancient backup android device. Depending on your carrier the phone swapping process via eSim can be as easy as going to a website and pointing your phone at the screen... to a giant pain in the ass involving waiting on hold for a clueless rep to do it for you on their end.
 
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If you have Apple One, and so 2TB iCloud storage, would you just get the lowest iPhone storage? I can't decide?
 
Well the expectation is that euro is going to keep on falling the coming months, and Apple's prices factor that in.
Expectations for the future are normally already priced-in in currency rates. But Apple is probably hedging against the possibility.
 
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Watched it. Not impressed. The presentation was obviously not designed for older folks like me. That said, my next purchase will be the rugged Apple Watch, not because I need ruggedness, but because I think it's cool.
One of, if not the least impressive September events ever. I was not excited. Really no compelling reason to buy any of the products just announced. The only compelling reason to buy any of them is replacing an older model that’s on it’s last legs, likely 4 years or older, or because you’ve never purchased an earlier version.
 
Apple trade in values on pro phones is pretty good. On the stainless/titanium/sapphire watches, pathetic.. sell online those.
 
I joined the Apple upgrade program last year. I wonder if it's better to use that service to upgrade to the 14P or pay off the remaining $$ on the 13P (if any balance) and trade the 13P in on a 14P.
 
Tik Tok videos will be better than ever before though
Exactly! Now that's not to say that it it not a good phone, but apple knows how to sell its products through great advertising, like showing a person making a movie using the phone...and how realistic is that, it isn't??
 
Exactly! Now that's not to say that it it not a good phone, but apple knows how to sell its products through great advertising, like showing a person making a movie using the phone...and how realistic is that, it isn't??
True. They invest an equal amount of money on the presentations vids and special effects. It’s absolutely bonkers how professional everything looks. A bit misleading at times. But hey they’re sitting on billions of cash so ya can’t blame them, ey. :cool:
 
Since Nike faces can be used on any Apple Watch. Is there any benefit to getting a Nike Apple Watch? Maybe getting to choose a Nike watch band?
As a Nike watch owner because of the straps and extra watch faces I did think it was a bit odd.
 
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