Apple Promotes Benefits of Using iPhone 14 With eSIM While Traveling Abroad

[MacRumors]

Amid criticism from some customers regarding the removal of the SIM card tray on all iPhone 14 models sold in the United States, Apple today published a new support document outlining various "options and benefits" for using eSIMs while traveling abroad.

Apple says an eSIM is more secure than a physical SIM since it cannot be removed from an iPhone that is lost or stolen. Apple also says that eSIMs eliminate the need to obtain, carry, and swap physical SIM cards, or wait for them to arrive by mail.

The support document notes that the iPhone XS and newer can store eight or more eSIMs, while the iPhone 13 and newer can have two eSIMs active at the same time.

"This could, for example, include one eSIM for your home and another eSIM for the place you're visiting," the support document explains. "You can swap which of your stored eSIMs are active simply by changing your selections in Settings."

The support document includes information for customers looking to roam internationally with their existing carrier, purchase an eSIM from a local carrier while traveling abroad, or purchase a prepaid data eSIM from a worldwide service provider.

Apple says customers can activate an unlocked iPhone 14 model purchased in the United States with over 400 carriers that support eSIM on the iPhone in 100 markets around the world. Apple adds that many worldwide service providers also offer prepaid eSIM data plans for long-term use in countries around the world.

Some people have expressed concerns about eSIM availability while traveling abroad with eSIM-only iPhone 14 models from the United States.

In his iPhone 14 Pro camera review, travel photographer Austin Mann said he was "a bit concerned about the practicality of an eSIM-only approach for travelers with US iPhones who frequently visit the developing world," adding that he usually purchases a local SIM card in countries where he travels to so that it is easier and cheaper to communicate with people within the country. Mann said he would be thrilled to toss out his collection of physical SIM cards, but said he has been unable to figure out how to sign up for an eSIM line in East Africa, where he plans to travel to next summer.

The support document is unlikely to assuage disappointed customers, but it does serve as a helpful resource for using eSIM technology.

Article Link: Apple Promotes Benefits of Using iPhone 14 With eSIM While Traveling Abroad

 

[fwmireault]

We all know the benefits to eSIM, the issue is not there. The issue is that many carriers outside (and even inside) the US still doesn't support it to this day.

 

[exoticSpice]

It takes time. In 10 years all new flagship phones will be esim only

 

[lazyrighteye]

Huh. I did not know we could have more than one active eSIM at the same time. Always assumed if you wanted both personal & work lines, you had to have an eSIM and a physical SIM. I learnded!

 

[azentropy]

We all know the benefits to eSIM, the issue is not there. The issue is that many carriers outside the US still doesn't support it today.

Many carriers inside the US don't support it either (or don't support it on certain plans).

 

[TheMountainLife]

Upgrading from the 11 to the 13 last year was a pain. I’m a dual sim user and had to wait 60 or so days after purchase to reactivate my 2nd line. Of course I wasn’t informed of that until after the trade in was complete.

I’m assuming the 14 is no different if you’re not buying it unlocked.

 

[typecase]

Even here in the US its a solid pain not to have a physical sim card not to mention the inconvenience when travelling abroad. Before I could just swap my sim when I got a new phbone and even my carrier would not be any the wiser. Now if I swap to an esim from my regular sim, it seems they will charge me a $35 upgrade fee. A fee for complete BS just for using my phone. Kind of like Comcast's HD technology fee of $9 every month. Thanks Apple.

 

[zapmymac]

As Long as I can walk up to a kiosk, pay cash and get a eSim activated, while playing tourist I’m fine with that. I shouldn’t have to give a credit card and a drivers license/other personal identification material, I just buy a eSim for a week.

 

[JosephAW]

I’m waiting for a clever company to come out with a dongle with a sim.

 

[calstanford]

And yet here in Hong Kong I can't buy an iPhone that supports eSim.

We only do dual physical (nano) SIMs in China.

Madness.

 

[Think|Different]

As Long as I can walk up to a kiosk, pay cash and get a eSim activated, while playing tourist I’m fine with that. I shouldn’t have to give a credit card and a drivers license/other personal identification material, I just buy a eSim for a week.

That's the thing – I've been doing eSIM with travel (and my domestic carrier is eSIM) since the jump and never have to do this. I simply set up the eSIM before I even leave home, toggle it on in destination country, and never go to one of those kiosks again.

 

[ONJ]

I'm just astonished at how much Apple has become so arrogant. Serioulsy, has anyone here in the past few months tried to activate an eSim with any carrier in the US? Well, I have tried many times with Verizon and T-Mobile and I have to say it's a nightmare!! Yes, surely they may have fixed and trained the carriers here in the US to activate eSims, but, can you imagine going to somewhere like Greece (Trust me, I was there and tried with Cosmote - impossible), Ghana, Guatemala etc where there is perhaps no such thing as an eSim or, you simply can't speak the language to activate an eSim at the local corner store?

 

[TimmKook]

GOOD MORNING!

When traveling abroad, it's so easy to just swap a physical SIM.

If you've never tried swapping eSIMs or activating new eSIMs, you don't understand how frustrating it can be. It sucks.

Hopefully by us removing the SIM slot in the US we can force all the carriers to fix eSIM issues.

 

[bkaus]

I think it’s going to open up a new market for competition in roaming. Sign up with an app is going to be much more familiar for many folks that hunting down a kiosk. And they will be able to package more options too.

I am worried about locked phones though.

 

[yg17]

The question isn't whether or not carriers abroad support eSIM, the question is, can I, a visitor to the country who doesn't have a local address, local bank account, local government ID, and who may not speak a word of the local language, get a plan with an eSIM before I walk out of the airport?

It's usually easy enough to buy a physical SIM card when you arrive, some countries have vending machines for them in the airport.

I'm going to Turkey next year. According to Apple, there are 3 carriers there that support eSIM. Fantastic. How do I get one? The carrier's sites are in Turkish. I stumbled through one of them with Google Translate. I think I need to already have a Turkish number to sign up. I'd most certainly need a Turkish address, possibly a Turkish bank account to pay for it.

Hell, I went to see what the options are for the UK, to at least remove the language barrier. Seems like none of them support eSIM for PAYG. I guess as a visitor, I'm not getting an eSIM.

And yes, I know about Airalo and the like. They're convenient, but expensive compared to local plans. They also don't support voice calling if that's something you need. Airalo is probably fine for most people for short term travel, but if you're spending a lot of time abroad, it's not going to cut it.

 

[ilikewhey]

The question isn't whether or not carriers abroad support eSIM, the question is, can I, a visitor to the country who doesn't have a local address, local bank account, local government ID, and who may not speak a word of the local language, get a plan with an eSIM before I walk out of the airport?

It's usually easy enough to buy a physical SIM card when you arrive, some countries have vending machines for them in the airport.

I'm going to Turkey next year. According to Apple, there are 3 carriers there that support eSIM. Fantastic. How do I get one? The carrier's sites are in Turkish. I stumbled through one of them with Google Translate. I think I need to already have a Turkish number to sign up. I'd most certainly need a Turkish address, possibly a Turkish bank account to pay for it.

Hell, I went to see what the options are for the UK, to at least remove the language barrier. Seems like none of them support eSIM for PAYG. I guess as a visitor, I'm not getting an eSIM.

i just came back from turkey last year, getting esim to work was tricky, your best bet is a physical sim, the lady at the turkcell kiosk was completely clueless with esim so i was like forget it just give me a physical.

 

[ONJ]

The question isn't whether or not carriers abroad support eSIM, the question is, can I, a visitor to the country who doesn't have a local address, local bank account, local government ID, and who may not speak a word of the local language, get a plan with an eSIM before I walk out of the airport?

It's usually easy enough to buy a physical SIM card when you arrive, some countries have vending machines for them in the airport.

I'm going to Turkey next year. According to Apple, there are 3 carriers there that support eSIM. Fantastic. How do I get one? The carrier's sites are in Turkish. I stumbled through one of them with Google Translate. I think I need to already have a Turkish number to sign up. I'd most certainly need a Turkish address, possibly a Turkish bank account to pay for it.

Hell, I went to see what the options are for the UK, to at least remove the language barrier. Seems like none of them support eSIM for PAYG. I guess as a visitor, I'm not getting an eSIM.
And yes, I know about Airalo and the like. They're convenient, but expensive compared to local plans. They also don't support voice calling if that's something you need. Airalo is probably fine for most people for short term travel, but if you're spending a lot of time abroad, it's not going to cut it.

You laid it out perfectly! That's exactly the issues I had in Greece. It was a waste of time and it was a nightmare!

 

[gdjsnyder]

eSIMs are definitely more convenient for sure…for use with your main carrier. The fact remains that when traveling to some countries it is easier to pick up a local prepaid SIM card and, from what I’ve heard, also cheaper. This will change in time as Apple forces quicker adoption, but it’s just not there yet in most countries.

 

[M.Rizk]

Huh. I did not know we could have more than one active eSIM at the same time. Always assumed if you wanted both personal & work lines, you had to have an eSIM and a physical SIM. I learnded!

You can store up to 8 and since iPhone 13 you can do dual eSIM too. Before that you had to use the physical SIM slot for dual SIM.

 

[M.Rizk]

Many carries inside the US don't support it either (or don't support it on certain plans).

That will change. Any carrier that is an Apple partner will be forced to offer it on **all** plans.

 

[FelixDerKater]

When does Apple try to step into a carrier role?

 

[yg17]

You laid it out perfectly! That's exactly the issues I had in Greece. It was a waste of time and it was a nightmare!

Yep.

The people at Apple who made the decision to remove the SIM slot are making 7 figures. When they travel, they just pay their carrier for an outrageously priced data roaming plan. They don’t think about it. They’ve never had to travel on a budget.

 

[M.Rizk]

I'm just astonished at how much Apple has become so arrogant. Serioulsy, has anyone here in the past few months tried to activate an eSim with any carrier in the US? Well, I have tried many times with Verizon and T-Mobile and I have to say it's a nightmare!! Yes, surely they may have fixed and trained the carriers here in the US to activate eSims, but, can you imagine going to somewhere like Greece (Trust me, I was there and tried with Cosmote - impossible), Ghana, Guatemala etc where there is perhaps no such thing as an eSim or, you simply can't speak the language to activate an eSim at the local corner store?

This changes with iOS 16. Apple has been in talks with carriers over the past year to make the process easier which is why iOS 16 brought new features like being able to transfer eSIM from an iPhone to another via an AirDrop like feature.

Apple also teamed with many carriers to make it possible to go from physical to eSIM on your iPhone without needing to call anyone or visit a branch. Literally a single click.

Apple is doing its best to make it as convenient as possible and I believe in them. My home country was so against eSIM till last week. Carriers there didn’t even support the Apple Watch but then Apple launches an eSIM only phone just in the US and carriers panic and start testing eSIM with the regulatory body working hand in hand with them to get it done asap.

 

[yg17]

i just came back from turkey last year, getting esim to work was tricky, your best bet is a physical sim, the lady at the turkcell kiosk was completely clueless with esim so i was like forget it just give me a physical.

Yeah, that’s exactly what I figured.

I’ll use Airalo, as I do for every trip abroad. I don’t mind paying for the convenience, and it’s a good service. I’ll be honest that the switch to eSIM doesn’t affect me, I haven’t bought a physical SIM when traveling in years. But I still understand that there are many scenarios where a traveler might not want to use Airalo and would prefer a local SIM. Anyone spending a significant amount of time in the country or who will need a local phone number will want one.

 

[M.Rizk]

i just came back from turkey last year, getting esim to work was tricky, your best bet is a physical sim, the lady at the turkcell kiosk was completely clueless with esim so i was like forget it just give me a physical.

Things will change. I was just in Germany this summer and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get an unlimited everything prepaid plan on eSIM from Telekom Deutschland. It was an amazing experience and the data speeds were so so good I never needed to connect to any WiFi.