Apple has early on removed traditional physical SIM card trays from the iPhone 14 in the U.S. to fully adopt eSIM technology. So, what exactly is eSIM and how is it used?
Over the years, Apple has consistently captured attention by declaring certain technologies obsolete and replacing them with new components. One of the most controversial decisions was eliminating the headphone jack from the iPhone 7.
While many disagreed with this move as they still wanted to use wired headphones with standard connectors, the tech industry began to adapt. This is evidenced by the fact that just a few years later, Samsung—Apple’s biggest competitor—also removed the headphone jack from its flagship phone line.
Apple is also rumored to be planning to eliminate the charging port at some point in the future. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo speculates that this move could be for waterproofing reasons or merely a way to avoid being forced to use USB-C.
SIM cards are small chips that allow phones or tablets to connect to networks. SIM cards have been in use for decades and have tended to get smaller over the years. Most modern phones use nano-SIMs, which are just slightly larger than the chip itself. However, even nano-SIMs can cause more trouble than necessary, indicating a clear need for an alternative solution.
So, what exactly is eSIM? How does eSIM work? What are the benefits of eSIM? Join us as we delve into these questions in the article below.
What is eSIM?
If you are not aware, eSIM is essentially a regular phone SIM card. However, instead of being made of plastic like traditional SIM cards (physical SIMs), this SIM is composed of multiple small electronic circuits and has many features and functionalities beyond the ordinary.
Therefore, eSIM is also known by a simpler and more memorable name, Electronic SIM.
When did eSIM first appear?
In fact, eSIM first appeared around 2016, coinciding with the launch of Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch. However, it wasn’t until Apple introduced its latest iPhone with integrated eSIM that the world truly became aware and interested in this technology.
Changes in SIM Size Over Time.
Benefits of eSIM
eSIM not only supports basic functions such as calling, texting, and general communication, but it also offers many extended and superior features, such as: switching networks without changing SIM cards, traveling abroad without the need to purchase a local SIM, and more. Additionally, on a macro level, standardizing and using eSIM globally helps businesses save significantly on costs and labor compared to before.
How does eSIM work?
With its unique design, eSIM can be considered an integrated component within the device; not only does it function like a regular SIM card, but eSIM can also serve various other purposes.
Differences Between eSIM and Traditional SIM (Plastic SIM).
When discussing the differences between the two types, traditional SIM (plastic SIM, physical SIM) and eSIM (Electronic SIM), we should consider:
Advantages of eSIM
Thus, it is clear that compared to regular physical SIMs, eSIM has many advantages:
- Extremely compact size (about 3-5mm), just a fraction of the size of a Nano SIM (the smallest physical SIM currently, measuring 12.30 mm x 8.80 mm).
- Non-removable – eliminating the design issue of exposure, dust resistance, and water resistance.
- In addition to phones, eSIM can also be used with smartwatches and potentially smaller devices in the future.
- Once fully operational globally, we can freely move between countries without the need to buy, install, and activate a local SIM.
- Thanks to M2M (Machine to Machine), eSIM can transmit and receive data and signals remotely very effectively.
- Bypassing SIM size differences (since currently, each device model uses different SIM sizes).
- On a macro level, eSIM helps manufacturers save costs on producing separate SIMs, streamline infrastructure, reduce labor usage, and provide greater value overall.
eSIM can be used for both smartphones and smartwatches.
Disadvantages of eSIM
It can be said that eSIM is a tremendous leap forward promising much potential in the future. Even if Apple does not exclusively use eSIM, more manufacturers are likely to soon incorporate this feature into their devices. However, eSIM does have a few drawbacks.
First, the eSIM chip must be pre-integrated into the phone, as it is not something you can add later; therefore, budget phones may not come equipped with eSIM.
Since eSIM is integrated into the phone, you cannot remove it and install it in another phone like you can with a regular SIM card, but this may not be a significant issue as only a few cases require you to move a SIM card between phones.
Another drawback relates to wireless service providers: not all networks currently support eSIM technology; thus, users need to check carefully before activating the service.
At present, setting up eSIM with all major carriers that support this technology is free; however, as eSIM becomes more popular in the coming years, this may easily change.
How to Set Up eSIM?
As explained by US Mobile, setting up eSIM is much simpler than activating a conventional plastic SIM card. Once you find a carrier that supports eSIM technology, choose a plan that suits you. Then, the service provider will display a voucher with a QR code that you can scan with your phone’s camera.
The QR code will provide your phone with the necessary information and activate the plan. After that, your SIM profile will be recorded on the eSIM, and you can use it just like usual.
Adding additional carriers follows a similar process. Users can select from service providers they have set up on their eSIM by navigating to the network section in their phone’s settings. The only potential issue may arise if the device is locked to a single carrier, which often occurs when purchased through a monthly installment plan. All of this is certainly simpler than waiting for a physical SIM card to be registered or searching for a plastic SIM tray to install every time you want to switch cards.
