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Writer's pictureRyan McNamara

Going SIM-less: The Rise of eSIMs and What They Mean for Mobile Devices

Updated: Jul 11, 2023

In recent years, the term "eSIM" has become increasingly common in the mobile tech industry. But what exactly is an eSIM, and how does it differ from a traditional SIM card? Nearly all phone manufacturers are switching to eSIM-only, so it's time to learn about them.


cell phone
The new iPhone 14 pro is only compatible with eSIM - no more physical SIM cards!

An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is embedded in a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. Unlike a physical SIM card, which is a small removable card that is inserted into a device, an eSIM is built into the device's hardware.

eSIMs work in the same way as physical SIM cards, but with a few key differences. Instead of swapping out SIM cards when you switch carriers or travel to a different country, you can simply download a new eSIM profile onto your device. This makes it much more convenient to switch carriers or travel internationally without having to worry about physical SIM cards. No more stopping into a store when you arrive in another country! You simply connect to wifi and download your eSIM.


To see how you can start using eSIMs to fuel your digital nomad journey, check out this article about Airalo.

Another advantage of eSIMs is that they can support multiple profiles simultaneously. This means that you can have multiple phone numbers or data plans on the same device, and switch between them easily.

eSIMs are also more secure than physical SIM cards, as they are built into the device and cannot be easily removed or tampered with. This makes them ideal for IoT (Internet of Things) devices, such as smartwatches, that need to be securely connected to the Internet.


sim card
Physical sim cards are on the way out.

However, there are some limitations to eSIMs. For one, not all carriers and devices support eSIMs yet, although this is changing rapidly. Additionally, some users may prefer the flexibility of a physical SIM card, as they can easily swap it out between devices if needed.

Overall, eSIMs offer a more convenient and flexible alternative to traditional physical SIM cards. As the technology continues to evolve and become more widely adopted, it is likely that eSIMs will become the standard for mobile devices in the near future.


As digital nomads, we have found using eSIMS with Airalo to be very easy and convenient!


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