Relying on the place you reside, or what cellphone you have got, you will have by no means used an eSIM earlier than or maybe you might be utilizing one proper now (you’ll be able to examine right here whether or not your mannequin is an eSIM-supported cellphone with Ubigi, for instance). However eSIMs aren’t nearly getting connectivity to your cellphone in your day-to-day utilization, they’re additionally essential instrument for journey.
What’s an eSIM?
The acronym stands for “embedded Subscriber Id Module”. SIM playing cards are what tells the community {that a} machine is related (and who to invoice for a name or knowledge used). The embedded variant is what it seems like, it’s primarily a SIM card soldered in your cellphone’s circuit board, however the important thing half right here is that common SIMs are modified by bodily swapping them out, whereas eSIM profiles are modified through software program, in your machine’s settings.
Including an eSIM profile to your cellphone could be so simple as scanning a QR code (that is after all offered you have got an eSIM-compatible cellphone). Even higher, some eSIM suppliers geared in direction of vacationers have apps that show you how to handle knowledge plans for a number of international locations in a single single eSIM; one such really useful supplier is Ubigi.
Why use a journey eSIM
Within the olden days, getting an area SIM whereas on a visit required both wanting across the airport to purchase one while you arrive or having one shipped to you earlier than you allow. Both manner, it was at all times a little bit of a problem.
With an eSIM, there’s nothing to ship – you will get one over the Web from anyplace and at any time, which suggests you’ll be able to simply get an eSIM in your upcoming journeys, and offering you set it up correctly and get the proper knowledge plan, you’ll be able to have cell Web the second you land from the aircraft in any nation. Journey eSIMs are sometimes legitimate for a brief interval – from a number of days to a month – so you will get one which lasts the period of your keep with out overpaying for a card that you just received’t want subsequent week. And if plans change and also you lengthen your keep otherwise you underestimated how a lot knowledge you will have, you’ll be able to re-top up in a minute and hold going.
In the event you’re happening a grand tour, you will get eSIMs for each nation that you just plan to go to and change between them as you arrive in every one. Or, within the case of Ubigi for instance, you retain the identical eSIM ceaselessly for all locations, and simply add new knowledge plans from a single app.
Ubigi is among the main eSIM suppliers for private journey and enterprise prospects, and fortunately GSMArena readers can profit from the discounted provide under.
eSIM-compatible telephones – Prime manufacturers
As you will note within the subsequent part, the highest manufacturers have been the early adopters of the expertise. It’s not a premium characteristic anymore although, as even mid-rangers just like the iPhone 16e, Pixel 4a and Galaxy A-series for the reason that A54 have built-in eSIMs now. All Apple, Google and Samsung flagship telephones have eSIMs too after all, and under are the general prime manufacturers with the best eSIM adoption charge
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely • Samsung Galaxy S25 • Samsung Galaxy A56 • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
It’s fairly frequent for smartwatches with community connectivity to make use of eSIM – the truth is, the primary machine to characteristic an eSIM was the Samsung Gear S2 in 2015. These days, the highest fashions that includes an eSIM for Samsung are the flagship Galaxy S fashions and Z foldables, but additionally the A-series mid-rangers. Some specialty units just like the XCover telephones even have eSIM assist, which simplifies utilizing company-owned subscriptions.
Apple
Apple iPhone 16 Professional Max • Apple iPhone 16 • Apple iPhone 16e • Apple iPad (2025)
In 2022, Apple launched the iPhone 14 sequence and the fashions bought within the US lacked a bodily SIM slot – they relied on eSIM solely. This has been the case for subsequent fashions too. Nevertheless, iPhones bought in different areas have a SIM slot plus an eSIM. And in China they solely have a dual-SIM slot. What telephones use is closely influenced by native carriers. Prime fashions with eSIMs embrace…, and new iPhone fashions are all anticipated to be eSIM-compatible on a transfer ahead foundation (throughout most areas).
Google Pixel 9 Professional XL • Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold • Google Pixel 9 • Google Pixel 9a
The primary cellphone with an eSIM was the Pixel 2 in 2017. This launched on the search big’s personal service, Google Fi. Since then, each Pixel cellphone from the cheaper “a” fashions to the Professional flagships has supported eSIM.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi 15 Extremely • Redmi Notice 14 Professional+ 5G (International) • Redmi Notice 14 Professional 5G (International) • Poco X7
Whereas the expertise shouldn’t be significantly well-liked in China, Chinese language manufacturers do add eSIM to their fashions bought internationally – e.g. Xiaomi has it on units starting from the Xiaomi 15 Extremely to extra inexpensive fashions just like the T-series and the Redmi Notes.
Motorola
Motorola razr+ 2024 • Motorola ThinkPhone 25 • Motorola Edge 60 Fusion • Motorola Moto G (2025)
Motorola is an attention-grabbing case – the 2019 revival of the Razr was an eSIM-only cellphone and since then the corporate has used the expertise on something from its foldables to a budget Moto G, these are fashions costing $200 or much less. In different phrases, if you need a cellphone with an eSIM, you will get one at virtually any value level.
eSIM adoption statistics
The variety of units with eSIM assist has been rising steadily since 2015 – smartwatches with cell connectivity virtually solely use eSIM, increasingly smartphones assist it too and even bigger units like tablets typically have eSIM as an possibility so as to add 4G/5G connectivity.
Taking a look at simply the most well-liked units within the GSMArena database, solely 16 of the Prime 100 units for 2021 had eSIM. This jumped as much as 24 the next yr and for the final couple of years, a 3rd of the Prime 100 units have eSIM.
We additionally regarded on the uncooked rely of eSIM-enabled units launched by prime manufacturers since 2021, here’s what that appears like:
We are going to see how 2025 shakes out, however the pattern is fairly clear. By the best way, listed here are all of the telephones with eSIM which have come out this yr to this point.
Curiously, the adoption among the many Prime 100 hottest units is stronger than it’s among the many entire area. Okay, perhaps this isn’t too shocking, given how rapidly the main manufacturers obtained into eSIM.
The advantages of utilizing an eSIM
Even when your subscription has beneficiant limits for roaming, it’s possible you’ll wish to get an eSIM when touring – they’re low cost and there are plans for a number of days, per week and even a month, so you’ll be able to decide one to match the period of your keep.
And you may even get limitless knowledge with some suppliers like Ubigi, so you’ll be able to proceed binging your favourite Netflix exhibits, stream music and add tons of pictures and movies out of your journey. In an unfamiliar area, you’ll in all probability be counting on navigation, restaurant critiques, and so forth., issues that rely on an Web connection – because of this working out of information is usually a main headache.
The flexibleness of eSIM makes it an ideal instrument to take away one of many ache factors of touring. As talked about above, nearly all the things requires an Web connection nowadays.
eSIMs are the best way to go when you have an eSIM-compatible cellphone, and much more so if it’s essential to journey. If it’s essential to go overseas, we suggest trying out Ubigi which presents quick and inexpensive knowledge plans in over 200 locations. It even enables you to top-up by the app for those who run out of cell knowledge and might’t connect with WiFi which is a really useful characteristic.
GSMArena’s journey eSIM deal
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