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

[aajeevlin]

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?

It’s under upgrade or update sim. Then it will ask you for EID. I know it worked because I have since removed my physical sim. So yea it was physical sim to esim. But I believe I can also go esim to esim. I have a replacement phone coming tomorrow I’ll run a test.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

It’s under upgrade or update sim. Then it will ask you for EID. I know it worked because I have since removed my physical sim.

Interesting. I don't have that option. But I have easily moved my eSIM between iPhones without having to log into my account. If it's still there for you, can you attach a screen shot?

 

[aajeevlin]

Interesting. I don't have that option. But I have easily moved my eSIM between iPhones without having to log into my account. If it's still there for you, can you attach a screen shot?

Will have to be tomorrow. As I’m not the primary account holder and I need 2FA to access it again. Don’t want to bother the acccount holder again until tomorrow when I’m ready to try again. But I’ll grab what I can.

 

[NotApplicable]

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.

Yep, it’s definitely a tradeoff. Some want the functionality so much that they’ll pay the premium, others will discover they don’t actually need it. I suspect very few will hop brands because of this, but we we can wait and see how sales are in a quarter or two!

 

[chanerz]

I’m pretty sure from now on Apple will make iPhones sim tray free.

 

[DMG35]

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.

No again you aren’t getting it. Replacing your sim with an eSIM will work easily enough. But transferring the same eSIM back and forth between phones won’t be.

 

[aajeevlin]

No again you aren’t getting it. Replacing your sim with an eSIM will work easily enough. But transferring the same eSIM back and forth between phones won’t be.

Got it. I'll be trying it tomorrow. I found the place on the T-mobile website I think to either convert or transfer. Also Apple specifically mention for iOS16 that it was possible as long as carrier supports.

About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support

Learn what an eSIM is, how to set up an eSIM on your iPhone, and how to transfer a physical SIM to an eSIM.

support.apple.com

Stand by with the esim to esim test until tomorrow.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

No again you aren’t getting it. Replacing your sim with an eSIM will work easily enough. But transferring the same eSIM back and forth between phones won’t be.

It is very easy to switch eSIM between iPhones on the main carriers at least. Other MVNO or iPhone to Android will require a CS chat or logging into your acc to switch IMEI.

 

[aajeevlin]

It is very easy to switch eSIM between iPhones on the main carriers at least. Other MVNO or iPhone to Android will require a CS chat or logging into your acc to switch IMEI.

Oh this looks very promising. I’ll probably try this first tomorrow. I’m doing my iPhone 12 (water damaged) with express replacement. So first time transfer esim. Thanks for the video link.

 

[miamialley]

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.

I think carriers are going to catch up to this quickly. Think about it, they will save money from not having to have physical sims shipped all over the place for people to purchase physically. It's a little bit like how it's better to download apps than to have to buy a physical app to insert into your gaming device. They're incentivized to catch up and provide esim access. I wouldn't worry.

 

[cbreze]

I like to swap back to older phones that don’t have Esim capability. Will this be easily doable? I’m seeing lots of mention of going from sim to Esim but not the other way. Also, would being on a prepaid Verizon plan be any disadvantage as opposed to post paid? Was considering this phone but now I’m kind of leery about the whole thing.

 

[DMG35]

It is very easy to switch eSIM between iPhones on the main carriers at least. Other MVNO or iPhone to Android will require a CS chat or logging into your acc to switch IMEI.

The people I was responding to were specifically talking about switching between iPhone and Android. I know it’s easy doing it on an iPhone, that’s not what we were talking about.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

The people I was responding to were specifically talking about switching between iPhone and Android. I know it’s easy doing it on an iPhone, that’s not what we were talking about.

That's not what you're talking about but that's what @aajeevlin is doing. And I did say in my post that iPhone to Android is different. Specificity matters.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Oh this looks very promising. I’ll probably try this first tomorrow. I’m doing my iPhone 12 (water damaged) with express replacement. So first time transfer esim. Thanks for the video link.

I have TMO also so it's very easy. I've done it a couple times. But if you run into trouble, the T-Force is very helpful on chat or Twitter.

 

[aajeevlin]

I have TMO also so it's very easy. I've done it a couple times. But if you run into trouble, the T-Force is very helpful on chat or Twitter.

I’m actually going to try the T-Mobile website online route if I can just to see if one can swap esim by going online and use the EID. If so, then at least for T-Mobile you won’t have to waste time calling the CS when you want to swap between iphone and Androids. I assume if all you need is WiFi and EID then you should be good between iphone and android transfer.

 

[DMG35]

That's not what you're talking about but that's what @aajeevlin is doing. And I did say in my post that iPhone to Android is different. Specificity matters.

Lol ok.

 

[NYCValkyrie]

Lol ok.

It's right here and here. But don't worry, you're right too. But that's why specificity matters.

 

[DMG35]

It's right here and here. But don't worry, you're right too. But that's why specificity matters.

The people I was responding to were specifically asking about switching between iPhone and Android eSims. Thanks!!!

 

[kerrikins]

I think carriers are going to catch up to this quickly. Think about it, they will save money from not having to have physical sims shipped all over the place for people to purchase physically. It's a little bit like how it's better to download apps than to have to buy a physical app to insert into your gaming device. They're incentivized to catch up and provide esim access. I wouldn't worry.

In Canada they still ship out physical cards to go with esims so you'd be surprised.

 

[Azathoth123]

I won’t buy a cellular Apple Watch until they put a SIM tray in it ….. /H

I’ve had an Apple Watch (several) for years and it’s been seamless. Why should I expect the phone to be different?

The only instance that seems to favor the physical SIM is if your phone dies and you have a replacement on hand. Swapping a physical SIM is something most of us can do. If your eSIM phone is dead, you will need your carrier’s assistance.

 

[aajeevlin]

I won’t buy a cellular Apple Watch until they put a SIM tray in it ….. /H

I’ve had an Apple Watch (several) for years and it’s been seamless. Why should I expect the phone to be different?

The only instance that seems to favor the physical SIM is if your phone dies and you have a replacement on hand. Swapping a physical SIM is something most of us can do. If your eSIM phone is dead, you will need your carrier’s assistance.

So far this seems like the worst edge case. But I suspect what Apple could do is to let other iOS devices do the transfer validation.

 

[Azathoth123]

So far this seems like the worst edge case. But I suspect what Apple could do is to let other iOS devices do the transfer validation.

I agree, but Apple would need carrier buy in to do that. Carriers are rightly (from a business standpoint) very strict about allowing device access to their networks.

Also, most phone users don’t have the knowledge or skills to swap a SIM, I’d guess that 99.99% of iPhone users don’t know what a SIM is.

 

[HDFan]

If this were a Microsoft product the sim tray would probably still be around even when physical sims were obsolete.

But this is Apple and they don't keep legacy technologies around, leading the industry while forcing it to change. Headphone Jack elimination was ridiculed by Samsung until they too adopted it. Wired charging may be next.

It is painful at first for some who need that feature, but when you are shipping millions of phones that puts the pressure on carriers who are dragging their feet to add support.

Doesn't affect me personally, but if it affects you the solution is simple enough. Don't upgrade this year. esim support will likely be significantly (?) improved by this time next year.

 

[Nozuka]

Might seem like a problem now, but eventually the problem will fix itself and it will actually be much better than randomly purchasing a SIM in a store, since you will be able to do it/prepare it from anywhere.

More and more "Travel eSIM" providers are popping up and eventually the competition will drive down the prices.

They are pretty conventient too. Just download their App, install the eSIM and when you are done traveling, delete the eSIM.

The iPhone also lets you choose which eSIM will be used for Data etc, so you don't need to deactivate the one from home.

Here's an example (have no experience with this one):

Philippines eSIM, from $4.50 USD | World’s first eSIM store · Airalo

Data packs with real local rates. Manage your eSIMs and top up on the go with Airalo.

www.airalo.com

I only tried https://www.truphone.com/consumer/ so far, but their Philippines options are too limited to recommend in this case. (You'd have to take the "Global" option, which makes it expensive)

 

[Nozuka]

The only instance that seems to favor the physical SIM is if your phone dies and you have a replacement on hand. Swapping a physical SIM is something most of us can do. If your eSIM phone is dead, you will need your carrier’s assistance.

Can only speak about my carrier. But here i can just login to their website and do it myself. (Will give me a QR-Code)
Others will just do it with an App.

I'm sure most carriers will adopt this, because it is cheaper for them if they don't have to help you.