iPhone 16e How easy is it to upgrade from an iPhone SE (SIM) to an iPhone 16e (eSIM) at the APPLE STORE?

[DigitalAR]

I wanna upgrade my mom's iPhone.

She has the 2nd Gen iPhone SE and it's time for an upgrade. Am debating between an iPhone 16e or an iPhone 15 and both now do eSIM instead of a physical SIM card.

Am wondering how easy or difficult this would be to have her phone activated. She'll meet me at the Apple Store.

This is all on Verizon if that makes a difference.

 

[Heinzja]

Verizon.....

Here in UK it would be like this:

Contact Your Carrier**: Reach out to your mobile carrier to see if they offer eSIM services. Not all carriers support eSIM, so it's essential to confirm this.
**Obtain an eSIM**:

**QR Code**: Your carrier may provide a QR code that you can scan to activate the eSIM.

**Activation Code**: Some carriers may provide an activation code that you can enter manually.

**Activate eSIM on Your iPhone**:

- Go to **Settings** > **Cellular** or **Mobile Data**.

- Tap **Add Cellular Plan**.

- Use your iPhone's camera to scan the QR code provided by your carrier, or enter the activation code manually.

- Follow the prompts to complete the activation process.

 

[DigitalAR]

Verizon.....

Here in UK it would be like this:

Contact Your Carrier**: Reach out to your mobile carrier to see if they offer eSIM services. Not all carriers support eSIM, so it's essential to confirm this.
**Obtain an eSIM**:

**QR Code**: Your carrier may provide a QR code that you can scan to activate the eSIM.

**Activation Code**: Some carriers may provide an activation code that you can enter manually.

**Activate eSIM on Your iPhone**:

- Go to **Settings** > **Cellular** or **Mobile Data**.

- Tap **Add Cellular Plan**.

- Use your iPhone's camera to scan the QR code provided by your carrier, or enter the activation code manually.

- Follow the prompts to complete the activation process.

This sounds oddly complicated.

Especially in comparison to when all I had to do before was just find a paper clip and the SIM card off one and pop it into the other.

 

[Heinzja]

If the Provider offer eSim:
Use your iPhone's camera to scan the QR code provided by your carrier, or enter the activation code manually.

That is not so complicated.... otherwise you have to use your paper clip anyway...

 

[rui no onna]

This sounds oddly complicated.

Especially in comparison to when all I had to do before was just find a paper clip and the SIM card off one and pop it into the other.

Verizon supports eSIM Carrier Activation and eSIM Quick Transfer. You'll just get a prompt during setup regarding eSIM activation. No need for QR codes.

 

[Heinzja]

eSIMs can store multiple carrier profiles, allowing you to switch between different plans or carriers without needing to change SIM cards. This is particularly useful for travelers who may want to use a local carrier while abroad....

 

[TgeekB]

It’s honestly not complicated at all.

 

[TKSX]

It's actually not complicated at all. I done it multiple times.

One thing to note is you will need a WIFI connection to activate e-sim. Make sure you are connected to a decent wifi netwrok before you try activating or else it will not work.

 

[DigitalAR]

Verizon supports eSIM Carrier Activation and eSIM Quick Transfer. You'll just get a prompt during setup regarding eSIM activation. No need for QR codes.

Do I need to contact the Verizon store before hand and give them a heads up?

Or is it as easy as buying an iPhone at the Apple Store with my mom and boom, somehow quick transfer?

 

[DigitalAR]

It's actually not complicated at all. I done it multiple times.

One thing to note is you will need a WIFI connection to activate e-sim. Make sure you are connected to a decent wifi netwrok before you try activating or else it will not work.

Yeah I’d like to get this done then and there at the Apple Store when I visit with my mom so by the time she leaves the Apple Store, her new iPhone is working, connected and ready to go.

(We can all her apps and stuff later at home)

 

[TgeekB]

Do I need to contact the Verizon store before hand and give them a heads up?

Or is it as easy as buying an iPhone at the Apple Store with my mom and boom, somehow quick transfer?

No, you do not need to contact Verizon ahead of time. This is not something brand new. Don’t worry.

 

[rui no onna]

Do I need to contact the Verizon store before hand and give them a heads up?

Or is it as easy as buying an iPhone at the Apple Store with my mom and boom, somehow quick transfer?

No need to contact Verizon.

Iirc, the eSIM transfer is part of the iCloud setup/iPhone transfer process so it might be better to just do everything at home.

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

This sounds oddly complicated.

Especially in comparison to when all I had to do before was just find a paper clip and the SIM card off one and pop it into the other.

No it is not. Just scan a QR code that you receive via email with the phone's camera. That is it.

 

[AdamHarbour]

Verizon.....

Here in UK it would be like this:

Contact Your Carrier**: Reach out to your mobile carrier to see if they offer eSIM services. Not all carriers support eSIM, so it's essential to confirm this.
**Obtain an eSIM**:

**QR Code**: Your carrier may provide a QR code that you can scan to activate the eSIM.

**Activation Code**: Some carriers may provide an activation code that you can enter manually.

**Activate eSIM on Your iPhone**:

- Go to **Settings** > **Cellular** or **Mobile Data**.

- Tap **Add Cellular Plan**.

- Use your iPhone's camera to scan the QR code provided by your carrier, or enter the activation code manually.

- Follow the prompts to complete the activation process.

No just download the app and download the sim …. Simple as that ! Even on GiFFGAFF

 

[rui no onna]

No it is not. Just scan a QR code that you receive via email with the phone's camera. That is it.

No just download the app and download the sim …. Simple as that ! Even on GiFFGAFF

This might be how it works in Europe/UK.

In the US, the major carriers have tighter integration with iOS and the eSIM transfer is more or less automatic.

 

[kitKAC]

This might be how it works in Europe/UK.

In the US, the major carriers have tighter integration with iOS and the eSIM transfer is more or less automatic.

In the UK, when I moved from my old Xs to my current 14 Pro, I converted the SIM into an eSIM during the transfer. That was on EE.

 

[SpanishAppleNerd]

This might be how it works in Europe/UK.

In the US, the major carriers have tighter integration with iOS and the eSIM transfer is more or less automatic.

Even easier then

 

[lenuxfrance]

In France, I've already made the change from SIM to ESIM, and my operator accepts fast transfers. I'm waiting for my June trip to the US to go to Delaware and do everything on the spot. I've allowed 1 hour between purchase and full start-up. If you have eSIM and your operator accepts fast transfer, no problem.