Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

[NYCValkyrie]

Currently in the Philippines and I’m really glad my iPhone (SE3) still has a pSIM slot.

Only one carrier offers regular prepaid eSIM here (Smart/TNT). It works fine in most areas but there are a few locations where coverage is nonexistent. I bought a $1 Globe SIM pack from a convenience store and subscribed to a $2 18GB promo. Problem solved. On eSIM, options are very limited and quite a bit pricier particularly if one needs 5G support.

eSIM is nice and quite convenient when it works. Unfortunately, carrier support is still quite limited particularly in less developed nations.

Yes but it is definitely growing. The UK carriers are finally letting PAYG customers get eSIM. I was able to convert my pSIM on Three to eSIM quite easily via the website. Will come in handy when I travel back there next month.

 

[rui no onna]

Yes but it is definitely growing. The UK carriers are finally letting PAYG customers get eSIM. I was able to convert my pSIM on Three to eSIM quite easily via the website. Will come in handy when I travel back there next month.

True. I guess the US iPhones going eSIM only has kinda forced some carriers’ hands.

Postpaid eSIM has been available for years in the Philippine and local telcos have noted prepaid eSIMs were “coming soon” on their websites. However, it wasn’t until after the eSIM-only iPhone 14 was released that they actually took action.

Our next visit will likely be in 2 years (LAX-MNL-LAX airfare is so expensive, especially for 4 people). Hopefully by then, I can do dual eSIM for Smart and Globe instead of my current Smart eSIM + Globe pSIM.

Gotta say, it’s very nice that Smart’s eSIM QR codes are reusable so it’s easy to transfer it to a new phone.

 

[Link00seven]

Not quite airplane mode but I’d like to have a disable roaming option for voice+message+data that actually works properly.

In addition to ensuring that data roaming charges are completely avoided, this would also help with the battery destroying scenario of having a US-based eSIM that continuously searches for a signal forever (if you have a carrier that doesn't connect at all abroad) despite a functional data international eSIM providing Wi-Fi Calling over Cellular to the US eSIM line.

 

[rui no onna]

In addition to ensuring that data roaming charges are completely avoided, this would also help with the battery destroying scenario of having a US-based eSIM that continuously searches for a signal forever (if you have a carrier that doesn't connect at all abroad) despite a functional data international eSIM providing Wi-Fi Calling over Cellular to the US eSIM line.

True. An option to use “Calls over WiFi/cellular data only while roaming” would be nice.

 

[Fred Zed]

Yes, that's what it's called. The hard part is convincing the wireless line to ignore roaming carriers and restrict itself to using the other line's data service. iPhone settings don't have a separate per-line roaming configuration. :-(

Exactly. Apple needs to implement whatever android is using currently doing whereby your local line 2 sim data is is used by your USA line for WiFi calling without constantly searching for a carrier locally thus preventing serious battery drain issues.

 

[Fred Zed]

Not quite airplane mode but I’d like to have a disable roaming option for voice+message+data that actually works properly.

Do you think this will ever happen? It’s already happened recently on Android devices to circumvent battery drain with constant searching of signal.
My solution was to use a USA carrier that roams with the country I’m visiting. Not many MVNOs do this. But many allow WiFi calling. I then set data off for USA line and use data from local line.

 

[Dan08]

Hey Everyone,
I am soon to be an expat (leaving the USA for Europe) and I was curious if anyone knows of a cost-effective way for me to keep iMessage for my US number?

I was considering porting my US number to something like Google Voice so that I can keep it without paying a bunch of $ but still receive texts. Now I am thinking that if there is a way to keep my number on iMessage too that would be great.

Does anyone know of any eSIM providers where I could port my US number to them and just use VoIP only or something like that to keep my cost down but still receive calls/SMS/iMessage as well?

Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Fred Zed]

Hey Everyone,
I am soon to be an expat (leaving the USA for Europe) and I was curious if anyone knows of a cost-effective way for me to keep iMessage for my US number?

I was considering porting my US number to something like Google Voice so that I can keep it without paying a bunch of $ but still receive texts. Now I am thinking that if there is a way to keep my number on iMessage too that would be great.

Does anyone know of any eSIM providers where I could port my US number to them and just use VoIP only or something like that to keep my cost down but still receive calls/SMS/iMessage as well?

Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks!

I ported my US number to Ultra Mobile when I was in the USA and used it just fine with local eSIM in the UK for 6 months.

 

[MyPhone99]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

 

[ukms]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

Not sure I understand your question …. Are you referring to dual active data ?

 

[DeanL]

Any update if we are going to get Dual sim Dual Active tech in new iphones (i.e the 16 series) or the tech is going to continue with same tech as like in 15 series (i.e Dual sim Dual Stand by)

P.S: I know if we enable wifi calling and when connected to wifi both lines are going to work like Dual Sim Dual active, but i am checking if its going to be same even without that setting on on wifi

Not going to happen. That requires two different modems and drains the battery.

 

[makeitrainnaren]

Not going to happen. That requires two different modems and drains the battery.

i’m confused- I’ve used foreign sims (before esim) where my US carrier would work over the local carrier’s data network without using roaming. even on the old control center it would say WiFi calling via cellular data.

 

[ukms]

i’m confused- I’ve used foreign sims (before esim) where my US carrier would work over the local carrier’s data network without using roaming. even on the old control center it would say WiFi calling via cellular data.

I think the question being asked was whether true dual data would be available. the situation you describe is quite normal where you have selected the sim or eSIM from which you want to use data, you can’t have 2 active data carriers.

 

[LarTeROn]

Revolut is a UK bank that offers eSIM. On Android (GrapheneOS), it was pretty easy to buy one on WiFi while abroad and get data for that country.

However, on iPhone 12, the app says the phone is incompatible.
I wonder if this might be something to do with stuff being left over from lockdown mode? Or maybe there's a bug in the Revolut app.

In any case, let this be a warning to you: Don't enable lockdown mode until you've tested the eSIM.

 

[rui no onna]

i’m confused- I’ve used foreign sims (before esim) where my US carrier would work over the local carrier’s data network without using roaming. even on the old control center it would say WiFi calling via cellular data.

Exactly, that’s WiFi calling.

The other poster is asking about Dual SIM, Dual Active. That means you can make calls using normal cellular on each line at the same time (so active connections to 2 different networks).

 

[Azzin]

Revolut is a UK bank that offers eSIM. On Android (GrapheneOS), it was pretty easy to buy one on WiFi while abroad and get data for that country.

However, on iPhone 12, the app says the phone is incompatible.
I wonder if this might be something to do with stuff being left over from lockdown mode? Or maybe there's a bug in the Revolut app.

In any case, let this be a warning to you: Don't enable lockdown mode until you've tested the eSIM.

For clarity, Revolution is not a UK bank, as they don’t (yet) have a UK banking licence.

The monies are protected, as they’re ringfenced (I think by Barclays Bank), but not like actual UK banks, where customers are protected by (and banks governed by) the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).

 

[ManuCH]

Revolut is a UK bank that offers eSIM. On Android (GrapheneOS), it was pretty easy to buy one on WiFi while abroad and get data for that country.

However, on iPhone 12, the app says the phone is incompatible.
I wonder if this might be something to do with stuff being left over from lockdown mode? Or maybe there's a bug in the Revolut app.

In any case, let this be a warning to you: Don't enable lockdown mode until you've tested the eSIM.

Try to use directly the app that Revolut is reselling, called Saily.

 

[John Tarb]

Does Using Dual SIM Drain More Battery?

 

[mjc775]

If it drains the battery more quickly, I haven’t noticed.

 

[ukms]

For clarity, Revolution is not a UK bank, as they don’t (yet) have a UK banking licence.

The monies are protected, as they’re ringfenced (I think by Barclays Bank), but not like actual UK banks, where customers are protected by (and banks governed by) the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).

Does that have a relevance to their esims offered ?

 

[lenuxfrance]

Hello
I already have an eSIM on my iPhone XS, I'm French and I'm going to take advantage of my trip to Delaware to buy an iPhone 16 pro Max 512 gb from Apple.
Can I switch my iPhone XS eSIM to the new one directly in the store?
Do I need to restore the backup first and then do the eSIM transfer?
Thanks

 

[ctjack]

Hello
I already have an eSIM on my iPhone XS, I'm French and I'm going to take advantage of my trip to Delaware to buy an iPhone 16 pro Max 512 gb from Apple.
Can I switch my iPhone XS eSIM to the new one directly in the store?
Do I need to restore the backup first and then do the eSIM transfer?
Thanks

Ideally you can move your esim both ways but then it has hiccups with implementation.

Sometimes esim transfer works flawlessly and sometimes it loses esim altogether, like it leaves old phone but never comes to a new one. Obviously we fix it by chatting with customer support so you may not reach to French carrier while being here.

I would suggest to move esims once at home.

 

[ManuCH]

Hello
I already have an eSIM on my iPhone XS, I'm French and I'm going to take advantage of my trip to Delaware to buy an iPhone 16 pro Max 512 gb from Apple.
Can I switch my iPhone XS eSIM to the new one directly in the store?
Do I need to restore the backup first and then do the eSIM transfer?
Thanks

Careful with that: while eSIM transfers from phone to phone are supported, the carrier also has to support it. Most "main brand" carriers in Europe support it, but you need to verify if yours does.

However, there's an even more important caveat: the eSIM may not activate if you try to put it in service while out of the country. Most carriers still need you to be in their "home network" for an eSIM (or also a physical SIM) to do its initial activation. So you may be without service if you try to do that. Or you may get lucky. It all depends on the carrier's implementation.

 

[lenuxfrance]

Careful with that: while eSIM transfers from phone to phone are supported, the carrier also has to support it. Most "main brand" carriers in Europe support it, but you need to verify if yours does.

However, there's an even more important caveat: the eSIM may not activate if you try to put it in service while out of the country. Most carriers still need you to be in their "home network" for an eSIM (or also a physical SIM) to do its initial activation. So you may be without service if you try to do that. Or you may get lucky. It all depends on the carrier's implementation.

Hello
Here is my operator's reply:
To change SIM to eSIM:
To change SIM to eSIM from abroad, you'll need to be connected to a French VPN at the time of the change.
No problem, I'm already on eSIM.
----------------------------
For the iPhone XS transfer to the new one: fast transfer activated with my operator: Yes of course, the transfer is a local stream. No worries about localization for that

Did I forget anything? In fact I have no problem doing everything on the spot and even a trade in to get $100 back from my old one.

 

[DaveTheRave]

Hello
I already have an eSIM on my iPhone XS, I'm French and I'm going to take advantage of my trip to Delaware to buy an iPhone 16 pro Max 512 gb from Apple.
Can I switch my iPhone XS eSIM to the new one directly in the store?
Do I need to restore the backup first and then do the eSIM transfer?
Thanks

Travel from France to Delaware is a long trip to avoid sales tax! 🤣