Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Carrier Three UK - eSim Transfer

jas07

jas07

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 13, 2011
197
54
Has anyone got an on eSim with Three UK and then transferred it across to an iPhone 12?

Seems like Three have implemented eSim's in a very strange way and are saying that you need to go back to a retail store to "pick up a new eSim" if you change devices.... seems odd to me.

Anyone out there done it? Thoughts on eSims on Three UK?
 
  • Like
Reactions: polyphenol
Glad you started this thread. :)

Also on Three in the UK. Have a standard SIM in my 6s and had been thinking just to transfer it.

But wondering if there are any advantages at all in switching to an eSim? At present, I can't imagine a reason for me to need or want a second SIM, which seems to mean there is no particular reason to change to an eSim.

My 12 Pro will be unlocked and bought direct from Apple, just in case that is relevant.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Muppetcrazy
I'm still bloody waiting for 3 to allowed the apple watch cellular how does this esim work anyone care to share....

Possible me getting my number transferred into a esim from (3uk) for my new iPhone 12 Pro Max and using a secondary sim eg EE, O2 or Vodafone will this secondary sim work with the Apple watch series 6 cellular..... Thanks
 
Muppetcrazy said:
I'm still bloody waiting for 3 to allowed the apple watch cellular how does this esim work anyone care to share....

Possible me getting my number transferred into a esim from (3uk) for my new iPhone 12 Pro Max and using a secondary sim eg EE, O2 or Vodafone will this secondary sim work with the Apple watch series 6 cellular..... Thanks
Click to expand...
Not on a watch, yet, it seems.

But description here: https://www.three.co.uk/support/sim-support/esim
 
Yeh theres no point from what I can tell in getting an eSim with Three at the minute, if anything it actually seems like a disadvantage because if / when you change devices you have to request a physical sim in the post, then once this arrives you then have to go to a retail store and get it "swapped" to an eSim...

I dont think Three understand how eSim's are supposed to work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: polyphenol
jas07 said:
Yeh theres no point from what I can tell in getting an eSim with Three at the minute, if anything it actually seems like a disadvantage because if / when you change devices you have to request a physical sim in the post, then once this arrives you then have to go to a retail store and get it "swapped" to an eSim...

I dont think Three understand how eSim's are supposed to work.
Click to expand...
It didn't look too terrible until you get to this:

You can also swap your current physical SIM for an eSIM. Just request one here. Once you receive it, check out the video on this page to get started. Or, follow the instructions above. Take note that when we process your eSIM request, your physical SIM will be disconnected. You'll need to wait for your new eSIM to arrive. This will mean you'll have to go 1-2 days without service.
https://www.three.co.uk/support/sim-support/esim

Bad enough at any time but losing contact-ability when there is the possibility of needing to be tracked and traced for Covid reasons... ???
 
It really does feel like they've added eSim support as a check mark thing, so yes we do support it but TL;DR is you won't want to even bother with it.

Such a shame because in general I'm really pleased with Three, 5G speeds on iPhone 12 Pro have been really impressive, seeing 600 meg+

If they could just get their act together on eSims that'd be greaaaaaat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: polyphenol
Three used to be great up until a couple of years ago then barely ever any signal so I can’t wait to leave though to leave right now would cost me £150 early release fee......I’m seriously considering paying it! What’s the point in a great phone if you can’t use it as it has either no or limited network signal 😞
 
Implementation of eSIM in the UK is bonkers. I went to the Apple store to upgrade from my 11 Pro to 12 Pro and I read up on the process first so I expected to be able to soft transfer at setup. Firstly the Apple reps had no knowledge of that process. Secondly, the phone told me that EE didn’t support eSIM transfer.

So I went to the EE store which wasn’t fun. Amazingly, they had to give me a physical sim replacement because they had no eSIMs in stock. No virtual sims in stock. Mental.

I would expect the inventor of eSIMs would be pretty horrified to know that networks can’t supply eSIMs electronically. It’s a virtual sim. Give me a QR code by email or something and you don’t need stock and you don’t need to waste paper, plastic and fuel.

Crazy
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lyn2012
jas07 said:
Has anyone got an on eSim with Three UK and then transferred it across to an iPhone 12?

Seems like Three have implemented eSim's in a very strange way and are saying that you need to go back to a retail store to "pick up a new eSim" if you change devices.... seems odd to me.

Anyone out there done it? Thoughts on eSims on Three UK?
Click to expand...
That’s quite correct and not just applicable to 3.

Unlike a regular sim a eSim is tied to your phone so every time to change your phone (upgrade, repair replacement etc) you will need to get a new eSim.
 
Technically you don’t. You could just scan a bar code off an email but for some reason they don’t allow it. My first EE eSim was handed to me in store for home setup. Now they process it all in store.

I agree, it’s no progress.
 
Pagemakers said:
Technically you don’t. You could just scan a bar code off an email but for some reason they don’t allow it. My first EE eSim was handed to me in store for home setup. Now they process it all in store.

I agree, it’s no progress.
Click to expand...
They do allow it!

iPhone
Open your Camera app and scan the QR code we sent you. When the 'Cellular Plan Detected' notification appears, tap it. Then, tap 'Continue' and 'Add Cellular Plan'.

The problem, as I see it, is the one or two days between asking for an eSIM and getting one. During that time having no service - at all. No-one can phone or SMS you!

It might not be quite so bad (depending on your life/behaviour) if you were stuck on wifi-only for that time. If you knew that, you just might be able to choose an acceptable time. But no service is dreadful.
 
EE is the same. You need a new esim code when you change devices.

I ordered one in time to set up my new phone - the transfer didn’t work so I had to go to a store.

First store, their sim machine (?) was broken; second store they’d run out of esims. So I went back to a physical sim. I’m not travelling abroad so don’t need an esim at the moment anyway.

Feels like the whole process could be smarter, I agree.
 
I’ve had a eSim for a few years now but thanks to Covid I no longer travel abroad with work so a 2nd sim is not important to me anymore. I think when I upgrade next week I’m going back to a physical sim again. It’s easier!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back