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iPad Pro Possible eSim on new iPad pros?

chfilm

chfilm

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 15, 2012
3,451
2,133
Berlin
Hi,
I’m currently considering to get a data plan for an esim for my Apple Watch 4 with my phone contract.
My current iPad is on a data plan that wk run out in January.

Annoyingly enough, Vodafone Germany lets you chose between a multisim contract (which I could use with my iPad), or an eSim for the Apple Watch.

Are there any rumors about a possible eSim on the new iPad Pro? Is it realistic?
It would be perfect cause I’d just have to get one new contract instead of one for e sim and one physical one...
 
chfilm said:
Hi,
I’m currently considering to get a data plan for an esim for my Apple Watch 4 with my phone contract.
My current iPad is on a data plan that wk run out in January.

Annoyingly enough, Vodafone Germany lets you chose between a multisim contract (which I could use with my iPad), or an eSim for the Apple Watch.

Are there any rumors about a possible eSim on the new iPad Pro? Is it realistic?
It would be perfect cause I’d just have to get one new contract instead of one for e sim and one physical one...
Click to expand...
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the current iPad pros have Apple SIMs, which I think is the same as an eSIM?
 
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CB98 said:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the current iPad pros have Apple SIMs, which I think is the same as an eSIM?
Click to expand...
Not quite. The Apple SIM is in Nano SIM form factor while eSIM is embedded. Mind, the iPads were actually the first Apple product to support eSIM (iPad Pro 9.7 back in March 2016).

For iPads:

Apple SIM:
iPad Air 2
iPad Pro 12.9 (2015, 1st gen)
iPad (2017, 5th gen)
iPad (2018, 6th gen)

eSIM:
iPad Pro 9.7 (2016)
iPad Pro 10.5
iPad Pro 12.9 (2017, 2nd gen)
 
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Uhhhm ok, can anyone please explain to me how I can use an eSim contract with my current iPad Pro 10.5?
I currently have a vodaphone simcard Inside, but if there’s another way to use eSim already it would be great!!
 
chfilm said:
Uhhhm ok, can anyone please explain to me how I can use an eSim contract with my current iPad Pro 10.5?
I currently have a vodaphone simcard Inside, but if there’s another way to use eSim already it would be great!!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, that's dependent on carrier support. For example, in the US, one can sign up directly with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint from Settings - Cellular but Verizon doesn't work. Need to get a physical SIM for Verizon.
 
chfilm said:
Uhhhm ok, can anyone please explain to me how I can use an eSim contract with my current iPad Pro 10.5?
I currently have a vodaphone simcard Inside, but if there’s another way to use eSim already it would be great!!
Click to expand...
Just take out the Vodafone SIM and go into the settings where you would normally set up a SIM - the carriers you can sign up to will be listed there, but as the poster above says these are limited.
 
Thanks for the information, yea sadly vodafone is not supported in Germany. Maybe it will change with the new ipad if it will have a real eSim and not this apple sim, as Apple Watch which has one is already supported.
 
Again, current iPad Pros already have eSIM. The Apple SIM card is used on non-Pros. However, particularly since eSIM is embedded and provisioning is done through firmware, one is at the mercy of carrier whims for support.
 
rui no onna said:
Again, current iPad Pros already have eSIM. The Apple SIM card is used on non-Pros. However, particularly since eSIM is embedded and provisioning is done through firmware, one is at the mercy of carrier whims for support.
Click to expand...
That is so obscure, why would Vodafone support it on Apple Watch, but not on an iPad?
 
bradbomb said:
Yes the newer iPads have embedded SIMs, but they aren't the same as the ones in the new iPhones and the Apple Watch. The embedded sims in the iPads are embedded Apple SIMs. They are different to the eSIMs in the watch and phones since they are still specifically Apple SIMs, just embedded.

https://www.apple.com/ipad/apple-sim/
Click to expand...
Ok so this is how I got it. No real eSim in the current iPads. That’s why I’m asking. Maybe they’ll change it with this year’s generation. Let’s hope.
 
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bradbomb said:
Yes the newer iPads have embedded SIMs, but they aren't the same as the ones in the new iPhones and the Apple Watch. The embedded sims in the iPads are embedded Apple SIMs. They are different to the eSIMs in the watch and phones since they are still specifically Apple SIMs, just embedded.

https://www.apple.com/ipad/apple-sim/
Click to expand...
What, specifically, is the difference between an embedded Apple SIM and an embedded “real” SIM?

I’m being sincere, as I understood there to be no difference.
 
Peter K. said:
What, specifically, is the difference between an embedded Apple SIM and an embedded “real” SIM?

I’m being sincere, as I understood there to be no difference.
Click to expand...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_SIM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_module#eSIM

The new eSIMs in phones are a new standard adopted that allow remote provisioning by the providers that support them. The Apple SIM and the embedded Apple SIM also allow for remote provisioning, but are proprietary of Apple and Apple controls them and makes deals with carriers to support data plans on them.
 
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Looks like they have esims in the new pros.
 

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bradbomb said:
Now if only we could still get the free T-Mobile 200 MBs a month plan transferred to the new ones
Click to expand...

Just use one of the T-mobile or Apple nano-sims that has been activated on the 200mb free-for-life “plans” and pop it into the new iPad Pro. Works like a charm.
 
gottafly said:
Just use one of the T-mobile or Apple nano-sims that has been activated on the 200mb free-for-life “plans” and pop it into the new iPad Pro. Works like a charm.
Click to expand...

There are many threads elsewhere that when T-Mobile discontinued their plans, the plans are tied to SIM and IMEI of device. If they go into a new device, the plan doesn't work. I obviously have not tried it as I didnt order a new iPad yet. I have the plan still on my iPad 4th Generation (T-Mobile SIM) and on my iPad Pro 12.9" (2015) (Apple SIM).
 
bradbomb said:
There are many threads elsewhere that when T-Mobile discontinued their plans, the plans are tied to SIM and IMEI of device. If they go into a new device, the plan doesn't work. I obviously have not tried it as I didnt order a new iPad yet. I have the plan still on my iPad 4th Generation (T-Mobile SIM) and on my iPad Pro 12.9" (2015) (Apple SIM).
Click to expand...

“Tied to the sim”, yes. “Tied to the IMEI”, not based on my experience. I’ve used the same 5GB/5mo. Promo sims on T-mobile sims and Apple nano-sims in multiple devices (ipads) and even in a T-mobile Hotspot. YMMV
 
gottafly said:
“Tied to the sim”, yes. “Tied to the IMEI”, not based on my experience. I’ve used the same 5GB/5mo. Promo sims on T-mobile sims and Apple nano-sims in multiple devices (ipads) and even in a T-mobile Hotspot. YMMV
Click to expand...

Yes, but your plan is a paid plan. I'm talking about a free plan. Look at this old thread and you'll see plenty back and forth where people commented that moving the SIM killed their free 200MB plan

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...0mb-of-free-data-for-new-ipad-owners.2044833/
 
This is my first cellular iPad. I found this article about cell plans:

https://www.imore.com/which-ipad-carrier-and-plan-should-you-get

With the eSIM, can I get both an AT&T $29.99 unlimited plan and a $10/5 G/5 month T-Mobile plan on the eSIM or do I need to put one plan on the eSIM and use a regular nano SIM for the other? (Why, you ask? Because I probably won’t need unlimited for two or three months during the summer so I might want to use T-Mo and I’d like to try it to see if it works in the two places I really need cell service).

AT&T will be my primary carrier. I do have a SIM that should work so I could do T-Mo in the eSIM and AT&T with a nano SIM, but if I can do both on the eSIM and switch, I would like to do that.
 
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