Other After three years, I won't buy an iPhone 14 due to the SIM tray...

[DMG35]

Does anyone know how easy or difficult it is to swap esims on T-Mobile? I always have an iPhone and an Android and like to swap frequently. It's so easy with a physical sim. Hoping I don't have to contact T-Mobile every time I want to switch now.

You have to contact them every time you want to switch.

This is 100% my concern also. Swapping a SIM card takes less than a minute, how long will swapping an Esim take? Back in the CDMA days with Verizon they finally allowed phone swapping using a call in procedure. As I recall it was limited to a certain number of times within a certain period of time. Was a pain in the arse. I like to switch between devices often. Currently using an iPhone 13 and a pixel device. I don’t need a new phone yet but down the road I can easily foresee this becoming an issue. Especially when google also decides to go all in with Esim only phones. This is the direction all phone providers will eventually be going.

It will be a pain. You aren't going to be able to switch between devices like you could with a physical sim. An eSim can only be attached to one unique identification number at a time, and you can't just switch it between two different phones. Unless it how they do it changes, I'd hang on to the iPhone 13 as you won't be able to just switch back and forth like before without it being a complete pain.

 

[Scoot65]

Got to agree with other posters. It's so easy to swap between sims, takes a matter of seconds to get up and running with the swapped sim. I can't imagine having to deal with Globe or Smart (Philippines) customer services over the 'phone to get connected to their network........
Here in the UK, people often swap between sims using unlocked phones..

 

[DMG35]

I think the process will eventually get easier. For now though if you are someone that swaps between phones I would avoid the iPhone 14 as it will absolutely not be an easy process.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Your insignts into the airalo app might have convinced me to purchase an iPhone 14 pro max... I am not against paying for the data, and if I can get that much data, I am sure I am fine and can refill it as needed.

Thank you.

You can also check here for plan updates with other providers. I was having this chat with another MR user and there are just too many US balikbayan for them to keep holding off on this.

Like you, I don't need a local number as my family all use WhatsApp & Telegram anyway so we can stay in touch when I'm home int he US. If a call needs to be made, they make it for me because I am never without someone else from my family. lol

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Pretty much all Swedish carriers have esim my iPhone 13 has never seen a physical sim, esim only. You should be able to swap your old sim for an esim with the same number without any major hassle.

Do any of them allow payg on eSIM? This is the problem that is the biggest hurdle for eSIM only phones and people who travel. I think it will change with in the next year or so but right now, it's limited if it's a true local eSIM vs providers like Airalo or Ubigi.

 

[PJM83]

Do any of them allow payg on eSIM? This is the problem that is the biggest hurdle for eSIM only phones and people who travel. I think it will change with in the next year or so but right now, it's limited if it's a true local eSIM vs providers like Airalo or Ubigi.

Don't use payg myself but a quick google search tells me that there are payg eSIM's.

 

[bushman4]

E-sim works great been using it for 2 years no problem

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Don't use payg myself but a quick google search tells me that there are payg eSIM's.

Yes lots of data only aggregators like Airalo or Ubigi but Swedish carriers such as Hallon, Fello or Telenor etc don't offer them for tourists. This is sort of the topic of discussion. You can not get a PAYG eSIM with the same ease as physical payg SIM. For the new US iPhones, they will no longer have a SIM tray and limits some options for travelers.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Is this an agreement apple signed with the carriers to drive folks away from MVNO's?

I don't think so. My MVNO is Mint Mobile and they support eSim. The first two phone swaps (12 month period) are free, then it's $3 per switch after that.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I don't think so. My MVNO is Mint Mobile and they support eSim. The first two phone swaps (12 month period) are free, then it's $3 per switch after that.

I also wonder...

Is this an agreement apple signed with the carriers to drive folks away from MVNO's? They do not have eSim, and likely wont, but this is a way to force iPhone customers to a network that supports eSim.

Personally, I am currently using a verizon physical SIM and a mobile eSim, so I am not against big carriers since I need fast unlimited data, but this creates a pretty big rift between the have's and have nots.

In a way, this seems quite anti-competetive.

US Mobile & Visible also have eSIM. Xfinity & Spectrum Mobile have also started using eSIM in the past month or so. All US Carriers who want to sell iPhones from this point forward will have to have eSIMs available.

 

[HDFan]

It will be a pain. You aren't going to be able to switch between devices like you could with a physical sim. An eSim can only be attached to one unique identification number at a time, and you can't just switch it between two different phones.

If both devices support multiple esims can't you just set up 2 esims with the 2 phone numbers on both devices?

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I think the process will eventually get easier. For now though if you are someone that swaps between phones I would avoid the iPhone 14 as it will absolutely not be an easy process.

You can store multiple sims in the phone and swap with a couple button presses. It's incredibly easy.

 

[DMG35]

If both devices support multiple esims can't you just set up 2 esims with the 2 phone numbers on both devices?

Yes, for sure. I was talking about people who want to switch between two different phones with the same sSim.

 

[serrenity20]

Apple understands it, but they also likely collect a cut from eSIM carriers, so it's an easy choice for Apple.

That’s true but esim only phones are for the US only so if you get an iPhone 14 in Canada you can bypass this

 

[Channan]

Perhaps someone can talk me off the cliff here

I am not just posting this to be that person that says "THAT'S IT, I RAGE QUIT" so somehow virtue signal against what is popular.

I have family in the Philippines and when I travel, I immediately remove my SIM and put in one of the carriers there.

HECK, pre-covid they used to give you a sim ON THE PLANE for this purpose. Smart marketing for Globe (the carrier) for sure.

I pay about $50 US and get 40 gigs of data, then remove the card when I get back to the usa.

This is incredibly convenient because I can walk up to any vendor in the airport, shopping mall or street corner shop, immediately get service and then pop my own network sim back in when I am taxiing back on the runway in the USA.

Middle of nowhere and travel? Good freaking luck in getting a fancy eSIM in a developing nation.

I want the "dynamic island" and I want to have that new camera, but I also want to have the phone connecting without having to go through unnecessary steps.

Am I wrong in this?

edit - APPLE HAS A PAGE... Dedicated to carriers that use esim.
In my country case, both esim providers are POSTPAID.

Contract based. That sucks, and again will disqualify someone like me.

There are 6 pages of comments so I don’t know if this has been said, but you still have prepaid eSIM options. I only checked Airalo so there may be cheaper options, but Airalo has a 20GB data plan in the Philippines for $32 and a 10GB plan for $21.

If either of these is enough for you, you could actually save money over what you had before. If you actually needed the full 40GB, you could buy the 20GB plan twice for $64. It’s $14 more than you’ve been paying but I’m sure that’s pretty insignificant compared to the amount of money you’d spend on a trip to another country, and at least you can still have service with the new iPhone.

 

[NotApplicable]

Then buy an international SKU of the phone. Easy, done. Yes, you’ll pay more. But you’re looking for “more” functionality than the US SKU offers…

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Then buy an international SKU of the phone. Easy, done. Yes, you’ll pay more. But you’re looking for “more” functionality than the US SKU offers…

Possibly different bands so you might not get things like 5g millimeter wave. Additionally, it’s not that easy to just go buy one and prices will be insane compared to US.

 

[aajeevlin]

You have to contact them every time you want to switch.


It will be a pain. You aren't going to be able to switch between devices like you could with a physical sim. An eSim can only be attached to one unique identification number at a time, and you can't just switch it between two different phones. Unless it how they do it changes, I'd hang on to the iPhone 13 as you won't be able to just switch back and forth like before without it being a complete pain.

That’s just not correct. I JUST did a physical sim to esim a couple of days ago. You simply need to go to their website log into your account for a “update sim”. There was no need to call in as all they needed was to have you connected to WiFi and make sure you enter the correct EID.

 

[Septembersrain]

Yep. Plus if you go back to physical SIM you may lose features. I lost 5G on my line going back to an Android. I'm furious at Apple. I feel sad that many are not even aware of the huge implications.

 

[DMG35]

That’s just not correct. I JUST did a physical sim to esim a couple of days ago. You simply need to go to their website log into your account for a “update sim”. There was no need to call in as all they needed was to have you connected to WiFi and make sure you enter the correct EID.

That’s completely different than swapping the same eSIM between two different phones.

 

[aajeevlin]

That’s completely different than swapping the same eSIM between two different phones.

I have a replacement iPhone coming tomorrow. Based on what I saw from the online procedure it is completely doable. I'll be back and let you know if it can be done. But based on what I saw, it shouldn't be a problem.

It'd be pretty stupid for them to let you do physical sim to esim yourself. But not letting you do esim to esim.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

I have a replacement iPhone coming tomorrow. Based on what I saw from the online procedure it is completely doable. I'll be back and let you know if it can be done. But based on what I saw, it shouldn't be a problem.

It'd be pretty stupid for them to let you do physical sim to esim yourself. But not letting you do esim to esim.

Depending on your carrier, it's super easy. If it's one of the big 3, iPhone to iPhone works like this or this if you're setting up as new. If it's an MVNO, you may need to do a quick CS chat to give them the new IMEI. But I believe the reply to what you're replying to was a question about transferring the eSIM from iPhone to Android and vice versa. This case, you would need to contact the carrier.

 

[aajeevlin]

Depending on your carrier, it's super easy. If it's one of the big 3, iPhone to iPhone works like this or this if you're setting up as new. If it's an MVNO, you may need to do a quick CS chat to give them the new IMEI. But I believe the reply to what you're replying to was a question about transferring the eSIM from iPhone to Android and vice versa. This case, you would need to contact the carrier.

So it depends on how it's done. When I transfer the physical sim to esim the T-mobile website just asked for the phone's EID (I know I know it's not 100% the same). So if being on wifi and having an EID is all that is needed then I don't see an issue transfer between iPhone and Android, it just runs through T-mobile's system. Also I'm answering ONLY to T-mobile since that's what the other guy was saying that you have to call in (also I'm on T-mobile post pay). I do not know how other carrier work at all.

 

[Fred Zed]

Old Chinese proverb. “ never trust a person that compares the abolishment of the eSim tray to headphone jacks”.
🤣👌

 

[NYCValkyrie]

So it depends on how it's done. When I transfer the physical sim to esim the T-mobile website just asked for the phone's EID (I know I know it's not 100% the same). So if being on wifi and having an EID is all that is needed then I don't see an issue transfer between iPhone and Android, it just runs through T-mobile's system. Also I'm answering ONLY to T-mobile since that's what the other guy was saying that you have to call in (also I'm on T-mobile post pay). I do not know how other carrier work at all.

I'm also on TMO Post paid and don't even see the option to enter an EID or IMEI for a device swap. what section is it in? I'm already on eSIM so perhaps what you did was an option to convert from physical to eSIM?