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iPhone 16e Upgrading from iphone 13 to iphone 16e with Esim, need advice
- Thread starter JanetTheGreat
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That’s great! Did you choose the ESR’s clear case or the genuine Apple one? Are you still planning to trade in the iPhone 13 in-store or order it online?
I have placed the order for the 16e and have the case already. I ordered it online and it'll be here Friday.
Congratulations on ordering your new iPhone 16e! Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up your eSIM using the quick transfer method:
Unbox and Power: When your new iPhone 16e arrives in the mail ✉️ , take it out of the box carefully. Plug it in to charge for a short while, ensuring it has enough power to complete the setup process. There will be a usb c to c cable in the box that you can plug into a USB C PD adapter that you have. Then, turn on the iPhone by pressing and holding the power button on the side until you see the Apple logo.
Start Setup Process: you will see the hello script screen, swipe up to start the setup process. On setup assistant, Follow the on-screen instructions to begin setting up your new device. When prompted, connect to a Wi-Fi network to proceed with the setup.
Transfer eSIM: During the setup, when you reach the "Set Up Cellular" screen, select "Transfer from Nearby iPhone." Ensure your current iPhone with an active eSIM is nearby and unlocked. It must be logged in to the same Apple ID and has the eSIM or SIM card in it.
Confirmation on Old iPhone: A prompt will appear on your old iPhone asking if you want to transfer your eSIM. Confirm by selecting "Transfer" on your old device.
Complete Transfer: Wait for the transfer process to complete. Your new iPhone 16e will notify you once the eSIM has been successfully transferred.
Update: if these above steps don’t work out for you, please contact your carrier customer care for further assistance. Additionally, obtain a QR code to set it up manually.
Finish Setup: Continue with the setup on your new phone, following any additional prompts to complete the process.
Your new iPhone 16e is now set up and ready to use with your transferred eSIM! Enjoy your new device.
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That only works with select carriers. MVNOs usually don't support eSIM Quick Transfer.
Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone - Apple Support
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile data plan from your network provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out which wireless carriers in your country or region offer cellular plans on an eSIM, either activated by eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick...
If you're in the U.S. and are willing to pay a relatively little bit more for an iPhone 16e from an Apple Store in Canada, and have a way to have it shipped to you in the U.S., then you don't have to deal with the eSIM hassle because iPhone 16e models sold outside the U.S. have SIM card slots.
Tim Crook got rid of SIM card slots on all current iPhones sold in the U.S. so Apple can save money on manufactring, while also not passing those savings on to customers, in order to maximize profits.
Tim Crook got rid of SIM card slots on all current iPhones sold in the U.S. so Apple can save money on manufactring, while also not passing those savings on to customers, in order to maximize profits.
I already have it transferred to ESim, but that had been on my mind. I do think the whole concept of an ESim is stupid as it's more about maximizing control over the customers to maximize profits.
Hey, I realized I forgot to mention that even though the OP converted his physical SIM to an eSIM over the phone, he still needs to use other methods to set it up. He might need to call the carrier, get a QR code, or receive a push notification from the carrier app. I’ll update the response to reflect the specific setup for non-major carriers.That only works with select carriers. MVNOs usually don't support eSIM Quick Transfer.
Find wireless carriers and worldwide service providers that offer eSIM service on iPhone - Apple Support
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a mobile data plan from your network provider without having to use a physical nano-SIM. Find out which wireless carriers in your country or region offer cellular plans on an eSIM, either activated by eSIM Carrier Activation, eSIM Quick...support.apple.com
eSIM has its pros and cons. Carrier eSIM support is just all over the place so the situation kinda sucks at the moment.
I was able to easily get inexpensive local eSIMs from the Philippines and a roaming eSIM (Asia) for short side trips to Hong Kong and Singapore right from the comfort of my living room. The PH eSIM with 10GB data and unlimited talk/text only cost $6 for 30 days and the Asia eSIM cost $12 for 5GB for 30 days. AT&T charges $12 per day for roaming now ($120 max per billing cycle). Having eSIM as an option for travel made for a fairly significant savings.
Welcome to 2025. 😉
We have been through many changes over the years. Large sims to tiny sims. SD cards to internal storage. A couple choices for service to tons. It can be confusing. Glad you got it worked out and look forward to hearing how you got your 16e and it’s running perfect.
@TgeekB @goldmac2006
Everything has been transferred to the 16e and the 13 has been put in the trade in kit. I will ship it out as soon as possible. So there ends this saga.
It was a bit emotional putting that nice looking dark green 13 into its cradle for the trade in and seeing it for the last time. I am sure that it will have a continued life elsewhere, but it had to be done. The 16e has features that could very well prove to be lifesaving like Satellite SOS and crash detection which is why I got this phone to begin with.
Attached below is the first time seeing the new phone, and the last time seeing the old one.
Everything has been transferred to the 16e and the 13 has been put in the trade in kit. I will ship it out as soon as possible. So there ends this saga.
It was a bit emotional putting that nice looking dark green 13 into its cradle for the trade in and seeing it for the last time. I am sure that it will have a continued life elsewhere, but it had to be done. The 16e has features that could very well prove to be lifesaving like Satellite SOS and crash detection which is why I got this phone to begin with.
Attached below is the first time seeing the new phone, and the last time seeing the old one.
Attachments
Great! You are off on a newer and safer adventure. Enjoy your new phone.
Hey friend! Congrats on your new iPhone 16e! Before you reset it, make sure everything is transferred properly. Throw out the old SIM card from your old iPhone 13. You can also turn off Find My iPhone on it in the Reset iPhone Assistant. To make sure it arrives safely, add a layer of bubble wrap to it before mailing it back to Apple.
👊
I know you’ll miss the cameras, but the faster experience on the 16e will be worth it! What does the case look like?
The case is your standard case. I shipped the Iphone13 out yesterday and had it completely wiped, transferred over. Has been a complete success.
I’m thrilled to hear that you successfully transferred your 16e, set up an eSIM, and used your iPhone 16 in the way you planned! Since you upgraded to a sim-free iPhone through Apple Trade In, the trade-in credit for your iPhone 13 will take a few weeks to a month to process, including mailing and shipping times. Apple should send you an email updating you with the trade-in credit. If your iPhone is already reset properly and free of significant physical damage, the full trade-in credit listed on the Apple website should be refunded through your Apple Store balance, an Apple gift card (e-card if done digitally), or your credit card used to purchase the iPhone once it’s processed. You should receive another email from Apple finalizing the transaction once it’s complete.
Just a heads up, I heard from iPhone upgrade program people and those who trade in by mail that Apple uses third parties to process trade-ins done through the mail unlike Apple Store does, and there have been mixed signals about whether they sometimes misinterpret the condition. I highly recommend reading this piece here to stay informed. If Apple finds that your iPhone 13 condition wasn’t as good as you intended, you can appeal it with Apple support. Make sure to request a full refund for the trade-in credit, choosing the refund method you selected in the Apple website.