Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

[ian87w]

This is a really interesting opinion. I'm 100% on the other side. After using dual eSIM for 2 years I've gone back to 2 physical SIMS and it's (for me) so much better. The inconvenience of having my phone with eSIM stolen while out of the US (I have a US line and a Hong Kong line) was insane. I had to literally get a physical SIM from the US mailed to me to convert to an eSIM, and locally there was no way to provision without going to the carrier store and waiting for customer service. In both cases a physical SIM was available immediately without CS.

I'm sure I'm an edge case, but the need to contact the carriers is a huge downside for me. Like a lot of digital things, what should be super easy (log into website, scan qr on new phone, go) is actually worse and trickier than just pulling the SIM, slotting it into the new phone, and going. Got a new iPhone (here in HK, where they still have 2 physical sim slots) and was up and running with both lines on the new phone in ~2 minutes. That's fast.

Obviously, depending on where you are and your needs, you may prefer dual physical SIM. That's what Apple should've done ideally for the Asian market, but Apple only cares about the Chinese/HK market, and such only the version there has dual physical SIM, while the rest of Asian market has physical+eSIM. Since that's the case, might as well go all the way with eSIM only to force the local carriers to support eSIM.

As for losing the phone, either way has its own risks. With physical SIM, the thief can simply take it out, put it in another phone, and misuse the number (eg for OTPs, etc). With eSIM, that is prevented. The trade off is in getting a replacement, but then it's carrier-dependent. Some carriers simply allow eSIM re-activation via their own app and resending an email with the QR code.

 

[poocat]

Obviously, depending on where you are and your needs, you may prefer dual physical SIM. That's what Apple should've done ideally for the Asian market, but Apple only cares about the Chinese/HK market, and such only the version there has dual physical SIM, while the rest of Asian market has physical+eSIM. Since that's the case, might as well go all the way with eSIM only to force the local carriers to support eSIM.

As for losing the phone, either way has its own risks. With physical SIM, the thief can simply take it out, put it in another phone, and misuse the number (eg for OTPs, etc). With eSIM, that is prevented. The trade off is in getting a replacement, but then it's carrier-dependent. Some carriers simply allow eSIM re-activation via their own app and resending an email with the QR code.

Totally agree. I mostly just wish the carriers would work to make it easy to activate, rather than controlling. If it's an email with QR it's faster and better than SIM, as it should be! I just had a horrible time with needing a physical SIM to then turn it into an E, which is completely insane (and was T-Mobile, 2 years ago). Hopefully everyone's getting better and I agree, Apple should keep pushing.

 

[Farrellcollie]

carriers don't have any incentive to make it easier. I use several phones and popping the sim in and out is easier than going through a lot of e-sim fuss and I don't want to ever have to contact a carrier.

 

[ian87w]

carriers don't have any incentive to make it easier. I use several phones and popping the sim in and out is easier than going through a lot of e-sim fuss and I don't want to ever have to contact a carrier.

Depends on the carrier. I used a Malaysian MVNO eSIM for travel on my S21, and I had activation issue. I simply started a chat with the support, and it was fixed in minutes.

Although I do read constant horror stories for US carriers.

 

[Cromulent]

I've just ordered a new SIM with EE in the UK and will transfer to an eSIM when I have managed to port my number over to them. Then I won't have to worry about SIM cards at all.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I've just ordered a new SIM with EE in the UK and will transfer to an eSIM when I have managed to port my number over to them. Then I won't have to worry about SIM cards at all.

This is the part I don't get. They are making you take an extra step when it is really unneccesary. The eSIM is a SIM so you should be able to port your number over directly to the eSIM. At least that's what I've done. And I did it in the early days.

 

[Cromulent]

This is the part I don't get. They are making you take an extra step when it is really unneccesary. The eSIM is a SIM so you should be able to port your number over directly to the eSIM. At least that's what I've done. And I did it in the early days.

Eh. That probably is the right way to do it, but I just went down the easiest route. It shouldn't make any difference in the long run.

 

[BATman.Berlin]

I have a question about traveling with dual eSims, specifically with the iPhone 16.

Let's say I'm a U.S. citizen and Verizon customer who is going to be spending a couple months in Singapore. I can activate my second eSim with the relevant provider in Singapore, and that way can ensure coverage in Singapore. That part seems straightforward enough.

But what if I also want continued access to my Verizon number while in Singapore, in particular so that I'm able to check my text messages (both iMessage and SMS) and to receive security codes that are texted to me (which generally come via SMS), and perhaps also to make or receive the occasional phone call.

How can I maintain access to my Verizon number in this manner without constantly paying for Verizon Travel Pass days, which would quickly add up over the course of two months?

I found this post from another forum that walks through a way to do this using IMS, which I'm not that familiar with. The post is almost three years old, though, so perhaps there's a more simple way to accomplish this at this point.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

1. Download truphone app
2. select a 30d Plan that fits your needs
3. activate as e-sim in the app
4. deactivate data roaming on your primary number

Once in Singapore:

5. select mobile Date via your 2nd line you just installed

Easy, just did that last week when going to Singapore
All data traffic is routed through the 2nd line, calls come via primary (enable Wi-Fi calling)

 

[Fred Zed]

I have a question about traveling with dual eSims, specifically with the iPhone 16.

Let's say I'm a U.S. citizen and Verizon customer who is going to be spending a couple months in Singapore. I can activate my second eSim with the relevant provider in Singapore, and that way can ensure coverage in Singapore. That part seems straightforward enough.

But what if I also want continued access to my Verizon number while in Singapore, in particular so that I'm able to check my text messages (both iMessage and SMS) and to receive security codes that are texted to me (which generally come via SMS), and perhaps also to make or receive the occasional phone call.

How can I maintain access to my Verizon number in this manner without constantly paying for Verizon Travel Pass days, which would quickly add up over the course of two months?

I found this post from another forum that walks through a way to do this using IMS, which I'm not that familiar with. The post is almost three years old, though, so perhaps there's a more simple way to accomplish this at this point.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Your Verizon line will use IMS to ( iPhone wizardry) to give you Wi-Fi calling for the Verizon line via the data from the local eSim 2. So you’ll be good. Just make sure your Verizon line has Wi-Fi calling working here before you travel.

 

[MyPhone99]

is the dual esim in 14 PM a dual active sim or dual stand by ?
Meaning when i am in call on sim1 , if i get a call on sim2 does it alert me or does it go to the voice mail (assuming i didnt opt for call forwarding option)

 

[DeanL]

is the dual esim in 14 PM a dual active sim or dual stand by ?
Meaning when i am in call on sim1 , if i get a call on sim2 does it alert me or does it go to the voice mail (assuming i didnt opt for call forwarding option)

Depends.
From a hardware perspective, it's dual-standby because it doesn't have two radios active at the same time.
However, it can act "dual-active" if both lines have access to data and have Wi-Fi Calling enabled, as described in the "Using Dual SIM with an eSIM" support document under "Make and Receive calls".

 

[ianrip]

This is a really interesting opinion. I'm 100% on the other side. After using dual eSIM for 2 years I've gone back to 2 physical SIMS and it's (for me) so much better. The inconvenience of having my phone with eSIM stolen while out of the US (I have a US line and a Hong Kong line) was insane. I had to literally get a physical SIM from the US mailed to me to convert to an eSIM, and locally there was no way to provision without going to the carrier store and waiting for customer service. In both cases a physical SIM was available immediately without CS.

I'm sure I'm an edge case, but the need to contact the carriers is a huge downside for me. Like a lot of digital things, what should be super easy (log into website, scan qr on new phone, go) is actually worse and trickier than just pulling the SIM, slotting it into the new phone, and going. Got a new iPhone (here in HK, where they still have 2 physical sim slots) and was up and running with both lines on the new phone in ~2 minutes. That's fast.

may i ask you what current iphone you have??, and do you have an option to add any additional e-sim's as well as having 2 Physical Sim

i understand that only 2 lines are allowed to be active at any one time.

i'm considering buying the Iphone 14 Hongkong Version MQ0M3ZA/A Dual Physical Sim, but i'm wondering if that model can add e-sims in case required from time to time.

 

[ianrip]

Can we add an E-Sim to this Iphone or is it Physical Sims ONLY??

Using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards - Apple Support (HK)

In China mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, certain iPhone models feature Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards. This gives you two phone numbers to make and receive calls and text messages.

support.apple.com

 

[jay968]

Here's a question. Sorry if this has been discussed.
I've got 2 lines on each eSIM in my iphone 14. Apple says you can have up to 8 lines in the phone but can only use 2 at a time. (I have no problem with having to do this).
Question is, how do I add the third? I see only two IMEI numbers in the settings that I can choose from and they are both in use. If I want to add a third line do I still designate one of the two IMEIs that I already used or is there another one hidden someplace that I must designate for this third line?

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Can we add an E-Sim to this Iphone or is it Physical Sims ONLY??

Using Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards - Apple Support (HK)

In China mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, certain iPhone models feature Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards. This gives you two phone numbers to make and receive calls and text messages.

support.apple.com

View attachment 2109288

No, you can not add eSIM to these China region specific iPhones. If they have 2 physical SIM slots, an eSIM is not possible.

Here's a question. Sorry if this has been discussed.
I've got 2 lines on each eSIM in my iphone 14. Apple says you can have up to 8 lines in the phone but can only use 2 at a time. (I have no problem with having to do this).
Question is, how do I add the third? I see only two IMEI numbers in the settings that I can choose from and they are both in use. If I want to add a third line do I still designate one of the two IMEIs that I already used or is there another one hidden someplace that I must designate for this third line?

You would use one of your eSIMs to add a 3rd line, likely the 2nd eSIM. So you would toggle between the 2 lines on eSIM2. So your eSIM 1 is your main line, always on and eSIM 2 could be one of those 2 lines but only 1 at a time.

It's like shoes. You only have 2 feet so you can only wear 2 shoes at a time but you can own a bunch of pairs and decide when you want to wear them.

 

[jay968]

No, you can not add eSIM to these China region specific iPhones. If they have 2 physical SIM slots, an eSIM is not possible.




You would use one of your eSIMs to add a 3rd line, likely the 2nd eSIM. So you would toggle between the 2 lines on eSIM2. So your eSIM 1 is your main line, always on and eSIM 2 could be one of those 2 lines but only 1 at a time.

It's like shoes. You only have 2 feet so you can only wear 2 shoes at a time but you can own a bunch of pairs and decide when you want to wear them.

Thanks. So adding another line to eSIM 2 does not erase the one that is already there?
Good to know.

 

[DeanL]

Here's a question. Sorry if this has been discussed.
I've got 2 lines on each eSIM in my iphone 14. Apple says you can have up to 8 lines in the phone but can only use 2 at a time. (I have no problem with having to do this).
Question is, how do I add the third? I see only two IMEI numbers in the settings that I can choose from and they are both in use. If I want to add a third line do I still designate one of the two IMEIs that I already used or is there another one hidden someplace that I must designate for this third line?

Pick any IMEI-you don't need to assign an IMEI to a specific line.

 

[jamezr]

Has anyone successfully imported a iphone 14 from another country say Canada for use in the US? This way we could still have a sim card instead having to use an esim.
This intrigues me if I could get all the kinks worked out so to speak.

 

[Mirage4455]

Has anyone successfully imported a iphone 14 from another country say Canada for use in the US? This way we could still have a sim card instead having to use an esim.
This intrigues me if I could get all the kinks worked out so to speak.

Hi there, yes I did the exact same thing. A couple of caveats, the Canadian version does not have mmWave. Not a big deal for me since I never am in an area that has it. Also I had to use a physical Verizon SIM card to have it work, ESIM would not work, supposedly because the IMEI is not registered as a US phone. Verizon was working to get the IMEI number registered so that maybe ESIM would work but it has not gone thru as of yet. Other than that it works fine. Hope this helps.

 

[roirulz]

Hi all,

I'll be visiting the US next month for two weeks and plan to reserve an iPhone 14 pro max for collection (i.e. if I get lucky) my question is will I be able to use it in the UK considering I reach out to O2 and get an eSim for it ?

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Hi all,

I'll be visiting the US next month for two weeks and plan to reserve an iPhone 14 pro max for collection (i.e. if I get lucky) my question is will I be able to use it in the UK considering I reach out to O2 and get an eSim for it ?

Are you sure you want an eSIM only iPhone? As long as you know and can live with eSIM only, and NO physical SIM card tray, an unlocked US iPhone 14 will work anywhere in the world where eSIM is supported. You should ask your carrier if they have any limitations though.

So as long as your carrier provides eSIM for your type of account (post paid), it should work. But caveat emptor.

 

[DeanL]

Hi all,

I'll be visiting the US next month for two weeks and plan to reserve an iPhone 14 pro max for collection (i.e. if I get lucky) my question is will I be able to use it in the UK considering I reach out to O2 and get an eSim for it ?

Unless you are ready for the possibility of having significant issues, I wouldn't. Here's why:

• Your mobile network might not recognise the IMEI and prevent its activation.
• Since the phone was purchased in the US, it is optimised for the US. For example there might be limitations imposed by US laws that would apply to your phone even if used outside the US-kinda like EU iPhones having volume limits imposed by EU regulations. These limitations persist no matter where you are in the world.
• You will not be able to have it replaced in the UK. Apple will replace it with a UK version if anything happens because it is not being imported in the UK.
• If I were you I'd also look at the frequencies supported in the US model vs the UK model, as differences might affect network quality.

 

[ManuCH]

Unless you are ready for the possibility of having significant issues, I wouldn't. Here's why:

• Your mobile network might not recognise the IMEI and prevent its activation.
• Since the phone was purchased in the US, it is optimised for the US. For example there might be limitations imposed by US laws that would apply to your phone even if used outside the US-kinda like EU iPhones having volume limits imposed by EU regulations. These limitations persist no matter where you are in the world.
• You will not be able to have it replaced in the UK. Apple will replace it with a UK version if anything happens because it is not being imported in the UK.
• If I were you I'd also look at the frequencies supported in the US model vs the UK model, as differences might affect network quality.

I would like to chime in on that:

• There won't be a problem with activation, networks in Europe don't really care about what IMEI it is. As long as you can scan the eSIM QR code, you're good
• US optimizations are usually not a problem either. On the contrary, they're usually less restrictive than any weirdness the EU can come up with
• Replacement at a store might be a problem. I once had a Hong Kong-sourced iPhone 5S and had to get it replaced at the Apple Store. They said they are not allowed to replace it with a European one as they are only supposed to replace a device with the exact same one. They had to order it and it took 2 weeks. So warranty problems could indeed be tricky.
• Frequencies are actually different so it might affect network quality. The whole list can be found here: https://www.apple.com/iphone/cellular/#iphone-14-pro-max

 

[jay968]

So sorry if this has already been addressed (it's a long thread) but has anyone actually successfully been able to get more than 2 phone numbers onto an iphone 14? I've heard over and over that you can put up to (I believe) 8 numbers onto the 2 eSIMS but any carrier I have tried to even get 3 onto tells me that each eSIM can only hold one number. I even tried putting a second number onto eSIM 2 but got a message that this would delete the first profile. Another carrier right out told me I couldn't even put a line onto an eSIM until I deleted the first profile. I don't want them all active at the same time, I just want the number to be stored so I can have access to it when I need it.

It used to be that I could have 3 or 4 SIM cards and swap them out in my phone, but now since this "No physical SIM" idea, that's not even an option anymore.

So what's the deal? Can this be done or not?

 

[jay968]

Pick any IMEI-you don't need to assign an IMEI to a specific line.

Tried this twice already. Both carriers told me this is not possible. One said that if I put a second number onto an eSIM it will delete the profile for the first number on that eSIM. The second carrier said it cannot even be done. Trying to do so just gave me an error message. I have heard many tines that Apple says it can be done, but I have seen no evidence that it actually can.