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Other eSIM + Dual SIM Q&A

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I already have an eSIM on my iPhone XS, I'm French and I'm going to take advantage of my trip to Delaware to buy an iPhone 16 pro Max 512 gb from Apple.
Can I switch my iPhone XS eSIM to the new one directly in the store?
Do I need to restore the backup first and then do the eSIM transfer?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Travel from France to Delaware is a long trip to avoid sales tax! 🤣
 
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
Here is my operator's reply:
To change SIM to eSIM:
To change SIM to eSIM from abroad, you'll need to be connected to a French VPN at the time of the change.
No problem, I'm already on eSIM.
----------------------------
For the iPhone XS transfer to the new one: fast transfer activated with my operator: Yes of course, the transfer is a local stream. No worries about localization for that

Did I forget anything? In fact I have no problem doing everything on the spot and even a trade in to get $100 back from my old one.
Click to expand...

Interesting reply. I'm not sure the iPhone actually channels eSIM activation packets through VPN (just like it doesn't send iMessage or Facetime through VPN). I've never tried to trace those packets so I can't say for sure, but it's worth a try I'd say. Just make sure you have a backup plan if it ends up not working.

Also, these things apply no matter if you're switching from physical SIM to eSIM, or swapping an eSIM to a new device: it's still a new eSIM activation as far as the operator is concerned (but customer care agents don't know that).

Source: I work for a mobile operator myself.
 
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ManuCH said:
Interesting reply. I'm not sure the iPhone actually channels eSIM activation packets through VPN (just like it doesn't send iMessage or Facetime through VPN). I've never tried to trace those packets so I can't say for sure, but it's worth a try I'd say. Just make sure you have a backup plan if it ends up not working.

Also, these things apply no matter if you're switching from physical SIM to eSIM, or swapping an eSIM to a new device: it's still a new eSIM activation as far as the operator is concerned (but customer care agents don't know that).

Source: I work for a mobile operator myself.
Click to expand...
I'll be 10 days away from returning to France when I make the purchase. In the worst case, my girlfriend has a package with 35 GB for the USA which could be used for the GPS in the car.
Thanks anyway for your reply
 
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lenuxfrance said:
I'll be 10 days away from returning to France when I make the purchase. In the worst case, my girlfriend has a package with 35 GB for the USA which could be used for the GPS in the car.
Thanks anyway for your reply
Click to expand...

Sure! Also you could just buy a generic travel eSIM by Airalo, Saily, BNESIM or other provider of your choice. They're very cheap nowadays and at least you'd have some data.
 
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ManuCH said:
Sure! Also you could just buy a generic travel eSIM by Airalo, Saily, BNESIM or other provider of your choice. They're very cheap nowadays and at least you'd have some data.
Click to expand...
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
 
lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...

Sure, these 3 I mentioned in my previous post all work well. You can compare prices a bit and see what's best for the amount of data you need.

For example:

  • Airalo, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $16
  • BNESIM, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $8.80 (or $23.60 to not have the data expire after 30 days, ie. indefinite duration)
  • Saily, USA, 5 GB, 30 days: $13.99
If you also go to Canada there are other packages that include both countries. Check their websites for detailed pricing.
 
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lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...

I’ve heard good things about Roamless Flex (pay-as-you-go).

roamless.com

eSIM United States of America - Travel Internet & Calls | Roamless

United States of America eSIM data for travel internet and calls. Best eSIM for your travel to United States of America. Pay-as-you-go, secure, affordable eSIM for United States of America with Roamless.
roamless.com roamless.com

You can add no expiry credits and then your balance gets deducted based on usage. The credit can be used in various countries.

Roamless also has an exit node in the US unlike some of the other eSIM providers which route traffic through Asia or Europe.
 
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lenuxfrance said:
Hello
I'm keeping the name for security in case the transfer and activation don't work out.
Do you have one to recommend just for the data? Not too expensive for 10 days
Click to expand...
Cricket and metro, tmobile, totalwireless i guess have 14 day trials - just install their esim and use full fledge on 14 day trial and that is it. Free.
 
ManuCH said:
Can you do that as a non-resident, or do you need an SSN? (Asking for myself for the next time I visit)
Click to expand...
The only hiccup i could foresee is you just need an app sometimes to install request esim. So apps are on US app store - having apple id for travels based in US couldn’t hurt.

As @rui no onna said, prepaids never have asked ssn - or at least even if they try then it is not mandatory and can be skipped.
 
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