An eSIM is an electronic SIM that is permanently embedded into the main circuit board of a mobile device, offering space-saving advantages over physical SIM cards while making usage more convenient for users.
It's now available on a variety of devices, such as smartphones, smartwatches and portable computing devices like tablets and laptops. While adoption has been slow at first, it appears to be picking up steam.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM (pronounced "embedded SIM") is a chip built into your phone that allows it to work across multiple networks. Instead of inserting another SIM card when joining another network, download an eSIM profile to activate your device with that provider.
eSIMs (electronic SIMs) are becoming more and more commonplace in smartphones and other devices as manufacturers strive to minimize the amount of internal components that make up their phones. Plus, these newer models are much smaller than their predecessors so they take up less room, too.
Apple's latest iPhones and Google's Android-powered Pixel phones both support eSIM technology. This means they can be used with any network that supports it - or you could even get an eSIM from another network if your current phone supports it.
The eSIM is becoming increasingly popular in the automotive industry as car makers strive to build fleets of connected vehicles. Instead of swapping out SIM cards and wireless modules for each model, an eSIM profile can be downloaded onto all cars in production, guaranteeing they connect to the correct Telcos upon bootup.
Another major driver of eSIM adoption is IoT, as companies seek to connect their products and devices remotely. This helps account managers and IT personnel update wireless plans on thousands of devices from a central point, saving money by avoiding costs associated with swapping out physical SIMs. Furthermore, it keeps connected machines running longer while increasing connectivity reliability.
How do I transfer my eSIM to my new phone?
Android users have the advantage of transferring their eSIM from phone to phone easily; however, iOS users face a slightly more challenging process.
Transferring an eSIM from one iPhone to another depends on the carrier and device. For new iPhones with carriers that support either eSIM Carrier Activation or eSIM Quick Transfer, activating your eSIM during setup is the most efficient option.
Some carriers provide a QR code you can scan on your old phone to complete the transfer of your eSIM to a new phone. Before doing so, be sure the cellular plan on the old device has been deactivated.
Once the transfer has been confirmed, simply follow the instructions on your new phone to complete it. You may need to enter a verification code if required by your carrier.
Additionally, wait between 5 minutes and 24 hours after taking your old iPhone's eSIM before scanning it on a new phone. This is to guarantee that the carrier servers can process the QR code correctly.
The only disadvantage to this method is that you must be able to charge your new iPhone and keep it close to your old one while the transfer occurs. Be aware though, this process may not always be quick; sometimes it could take several hours.
Can I transfer my eSIM to my new phone?
When purchasing a new phone, many users often ponder if they can transfer their eSIM to the device. In some cases, yes - though not always.
Transferring an eSIM to a new phone is more complicated than swapping out a physical SIM card, since eSIM technology is relatively new and hasn't yet reached the level of standardization that makes it compatible with older devices.
Thankfully, iOS offers a Quick Transfer feature that makes swapping out your eSIM for another one effortless. Google is working on providing similar support for Android users as well.
Essentially, if you already have an eSIM on your current device and a new phone that supports it, scanning a QR code will allow for automatic transfer of your eSIM to the new device and access to the same carrier.