For years, the main way that your phone has obtained a service was the physical SIM card (subscriber identity module) which connected your handset to your phone operator. SIM cards facilitate the exchange of phones or carriers, whether you get a new device or that you travel. Nowadays, however, most modern phones also support Esims. Rather than a physical card, ESIMS are integrated directly into the phone and operator information is programmed remotely via software.
Whether you choose a physical SIM card or ESIM depends on several different factors, so we have described some questions commonly asked below.
An ESIM allows you to configure the wireless service using software, instead of a physical SIM card.
What do the physical sims do and the esim?
A physical sim card is essentially a small card with a chip that connects your phone to your wireless operator. It contains identification information such as your account information and the telephone number. Without this, your phone will not have a number or means of connecting to an operator and you will not be able to make or receive calls and SMS.
Some phones allow you to delete the physical SIM card, allowing you to easily exchange phones or carriers. This is useful if you want to use your existing number in another phone, or if you want to use your phone with another operator. Simply insert a different SIM card and you can connect to another cell of cells. For years, some phones have supported two SIM cards. You may have your house number on one and your work number on the other.
An ESIM, however, is integrated directly into the phone circuits and cannot be ejected or deleted. Instead, all operators’ information is programmed remotely via an application. The biggest advantage of ESIMS is that it allows a phone to have several lines even from different operators. This is particularly useful when you travel, as you can add an overall supplier ESIM without having to buy waiting for a physical SIM card when you arrive at your destination. To find out more about Esims, you can consult our explanator here. You can also move your service from one phone to another without having to dig up a SIM ejector tool, but you may need to call your wireless service provider to get help.
Many phones still use physical SIM cards as an option alongside ESIM.
Can I have both ESIM and physical SIM?
Yes, many phones allow you to have an ESIM and a physical simulation simultaneously, even of different carriers. You can use both simultaneously, or you can designate as active while the other is on standby. Some people designate a number for work while the other is for personal use.
How to change phone with a physical sim card or ESIM?
To change your phone with a physical sim card, all you have to do is eject it from your existing phone, then insert it into a new one. It usually works whatever the phone you switch, allowing you to move your service from an iPhone to an Android phone at will.
With an ESIM, your operator can either transfer the number for you or you can do it yourself via your phone settings. Your operator will often send detailed instructions on how to do so. As a general rule, it is easy to transfer your ESIM when going to a phone of the same operating system, for example by going from an iPhone 14 to an iPhone 16 where the two are on iOS or a Samsung Galaxy S21 to an S25 because both use Android. If you switch between iOS and Android, you will probably call your supplier to get help.
The conversion of an existing physical sim card into ESIM is also quite easy, although it sometimes requires more steps. You can consult our guide on how to do it here, or you can refer to your operator for more specific instructions.
In the United States, all iPhone models since the iPhone 14 requires ESIM. Internationally, Apple still includes a physical SIM location.
Do phones require ESIM?
Yes, some phones are only ESIM and therefore require ESIM. The iPhone 14 and more recent models are only ESIM in the United States, which means that they do not have a physical SIM card niche. Most Android phones include both a location for physical SIM and management for ESIM.
The simpler phones, such as the Barbie phone made by HMD, only use physical SIM cards.
Do all phones accept ESIM?
Most modern iOS and Android phones accept ESIM, such as new iPhones, Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S21 and more recent. The simpler phones, however, like the Barbie phone from HMD and the minimalist light telephone do not. For these phones, you will want a physical sim card.
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