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iPhone 13 Fisher Price My First eSIM Experience

Yebubbleman

Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
Original poster
May 20, 2010
6,056
2,648
Los Angeles, CA
I'm currently a Verizon subscriber. I'm getting ready to buy a 256GB iPhone 13. When I bought my current iPhone (a 128GB iPhone XR), it was a SIM-free model and I assumed that the best way to activate my phone on their network was to acquire a Verizon nano-SIM, pop it in there, call Verizon, and get the phone activated. As I recall, I did this with minimal fuss and it went fine. I know that the iPhone 13 is no different in terms of having both eSIM and a physical SIM slot. Should I do anything differently here? I have no problem selecting "Verizon" as my carrier when purchasing - in which case, I'm assuming that I probably don't have to care about whether the eSIM is set for Verizon or whether I'm using a physical SIM card because it'll be ready to activate as soon as I get it. But, if I use the eSIM slot, does that make it harder to take my phone abroad and connect to a local cell carrier? Or does using a physical Verizon SIM instead of the eSIM make this harder?

I've largely ignored eSIM as a thing I deal with in setting up my own cellular Apple devices until now. I know that the iPhone 13/3rd Gen SE is the final generation of iPhone wherein there is a physical SIM slot in the American models at all. So, I'd imagine I probably ought to know how this works and how best to get my soon-to-be iPhone 13 to replace my iPhone XR seamlessly.
 
Currently in the UK , noticed a few mom and pop shops selling USA 14 series devices for well under the usual market value. I guess I won't be selling my USA 14PM here!
Example, saw an eSim only 14plus 256GB for 550 quid, around 200-250 below UK model price wise.
 
In general eSim should be fine if you’re travelling in first world countries across the globe. I’ve found there’s always eSim capable services in the USA, U.K., Western Europe, Australia etc but if you travel in Asian countries then eSim might create problems as many countries do not have any providers that support eSim. Having said that there are online alternative eSim providers that might work for you if keeping a connection abroad with your normal carrier becomes to expensive.

Since the iPhone 13 series does have a physical SIM card slot, I recommend you use the eSim option at home and use the SIM card slot when you travel abroad if there’s no eSim option wherever you’re travelling to.
 
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iPhone 13 has a physical SIM slot and eSIM; it is dual SIM compatible. If you eSIM w/ Verizon then you can use the physical SIM slot for any other carrier when traveling; vice versa.
 
I recently bought a sim free iPhone 13 for use on Verizon. I had a similar question about e-sim vs physical. I ended up swapping the physical sim to the new phone and have the option to convert to an e-sim at a later date if I decide to free up the physical sim slot for international travel.
 
I just placed the order for the iPhone 13 from Apple. Seems like if you select your carrier, then the phone comes sent to you with your number and carrier already set on the eSIM with the physical SIM free for use with a second (and/or foreign) carrier for travel. Whereas without that selected, I guess you can call your carrier and have them activate the eSIM and/or physical SIM card later?

I'm glad I still have a physical SIM slot for that kind of travel.
 
Fred Zed said:
Currently in the UK , noticed a few mom and pop shops selling USA 14 series devices for well under the usual market value. I guess I won't be selling my USA 14PM here!
Example, saw an eSim only 14plus 256GB for 550 quid, around 200-250 below UK model price wise.
Click to expand...

What on earth is a mom and pop shop..?!
 
Can anyone confirm that if you have a physical sim from your home network (Vodafone UK for me), that you can place/activate should I say, an e-sim from an international country whilst travelling?
 
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