eSIM isn’t broken, it’s clunky. When they work, they’re amazing.They have to be transferred a very specific way, it’s not as simple as downloading a file and sending/uploading it to your new phone. And they’re still crippled by the carrier’s backend. A failed transfer means one or more phone calls to fix the problem.
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iOS 26 Adds Support for Transferring an eSIM to and From Android
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Converting to eSim in Vodafone was easy, is it easy to transfer it to new iPhone though?
Or do I have to contact Vodafone if I buy new phone?
Or do I have to contact Vodafone if I buy new phone?
Good to see this. However I still prefer to have a physical SIM card. Transfer process is not always so direct with certain carriers outside US.
With physical SIMs the only person whom you need permission from to switch devices is ... you.
With eSIM you need Apple, Google, your provider and the phone manufacturer in case of Android to agree *and* to cooperate competently.
Yet there are people who praise the eSIM for some reason...
This is cool that Apple finally catches up Android (rather Google) on this fantastic feature. In my country some providers are stupid by offering eSIM as some sort of premium option only for the Postpaid customers! But the major carrier is offering it in all sort of mobiles. The problem is that Android OEMs have to quickly setup eSIM in all their mid range mobiles.
The US isn’t the only country that exists. Free Mobile (in France) doesn’t have iPad specific plans. Why would they when their plans start at €2/month ?
eSIM is one of those modern solutions that fixes one problem but introduces many other problems that will either require a bunch of software to fix or will never be fixed
Exactly because carrying a second phone with you is a lot of hassle to deal with plus you’d have to “pre-configure” it in a way that suites you best while you are abroad. Put an overseas sim inside, and you are done while traveling overseas. You are happy to carry a second phone. I am not, so does lots of other people.
If only the transfer “works”. I once had to hotspot each other to get my eSIM activated while I was abroad, almost forcing me to call Telstra to resolve the issue.
Yes and iirc Hong Kong version of the iPhone also has the same dual SIM card tray. The fascinating part is that dual SIM card tray is ONLY the size of a NORMAL single SIM card tray. If you put two SIMs, Both SIMs stack on top of each other to work. It was an incredibly ingenious design. If only rest of the world could have it plus eSIM.
Aim to fix what? You need an internet connection to activate eSIM you know? Whereas physical sim “just works” by plugging it in the SIM card tray. No hassle.
Just like every other thing in the world, they come with tradeoffs. ESIM isn’t just plainly superior over physical sim either.
I bought an eSIM in Estonia and it worked well. Everything worked. By the time I arrived to Latvia it said: "No Signal" and it stopped working completely. I just removed it. Never happened with physical SIM card.
It’s worked flawlessly for me. Never opened the sim tray on my last two phones including my current.
Let's start with "carrier app". That's a HUGE issue compared to physical SIM where you just move it from one phone to another.
Probably. It should. I'm using Mint for one of my iPhones, it gave me the option of doing eSIM. I didn't, of course, because I REALLY hate eSIM and I won't own a phone that doesn't accept a physical SIM. I'm fully expecting my next iPhone upgrade to have to be smuggled in from Canada.
Except it’s not an issue whatsoever in my case. The app of my carrier works really well and installing an eSIM is a breeze. And to clarify: my question wasn’t about the difference between installing an eSIM versus a physical one. My question was about the transfer functionality that’s now being offered between iOS and Android for eSIMs versus installing it through a carrier app when migrating to another phone.
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What about having a "spare" eSIM? I ran into an issue with Verizon, the eSIM has corrupt (I forget) -- the Verizon store had to call somewhat at Verizon to release it. Having a spare might have helped -- QR CODE. I'm just complaining, but I feel like Apple didn't think some of this through.
Ok. And why swap a SIM when the plan costs 2 euro? The same is true in the US, where plans start at $5.
Looking forward to try this out on my Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 16 towards the end of the year when both 16 QPR1 and iOS 26 are here.
Will be quite useful when I don’t want to carry two phones haha. Seamless sim swap would be cool
Will be quite useful when I don’t want to carry two phones haha. Seamless sim swap would be cool
You'll lose mmWave bands (isn't a big deal unless you have Verizon), but you gain a physical SIM tray (obviously) and some Japan-exclusive bands (in case you plan to travel there)
Interesting. I probably should buy an iPhone the next time I visit Hong Kong. Will all other iPhone features work? (i.e. no disabled iMessage, or whatnot)
Yeah, mmWave isn't a big deal for me. I don't even notice a speed difference when it's active now. I doubt I'll make it to Japan all that soon, but wish I could.
Apple loads region specific iOS to regional devices. That means a China iPhone can’t use FaceTime audio but can control which app can access data on a per app level, including wifi. Hong Kong iPhone restrictions will also apply, though I can’t remember what they are off the top of my head.
because I have one nano-sim slot in my phone, and yet have multiple lines
It is also great if I am abroad and my data is limited, just quickly add nother e-sim, from a local provider and boom cheap data. e-Sim is great.