what are the differences with a sim card?

Apple sees no future in physical SIM cards. Instead, you will only call and internet with esim in the future. These are the differences between esim and a physical sim card.

iPhone esim vs physical sim card

The esim is not new. Some newer Apple phones can already handle this. Since the iPhone XS (Max), which came out in 2018, dualsim is standard.

As the name suggests, this means you can use two SIM cards on an iPhone. There is room for one physical SIM card and one Esim. By the way, you can already use two electronic SIM cards at the same time on the iPhone 13.

Apple is rumored to ban the physical SIM card slot from September 2022. Multiple iPhone 14 models could only be used with an esim. In this article we therefore look ahead. What are the differences with a regular SIM card? We’ll start with the benefits of esim.

1. Switch SIM cards easily

With esim you never have to physically switch SIM cards again. This puts an end to fiddling with paper clips to fish the SIM card slot out of your iPhone.

If you want to change SIM card, you do this digitally. You take out a new telephone contract and let the provider do the rest. An additional advantage is that you no longer have to wait for the SIM card to be delivered to your home, because an Esim is delivered digitally (usually with a QR code).

Also interesting: Bought a new iPhone? This is how you transfer your esim

2. Dualsim gets a new charge

Esim is also useful for people who now walk around with a private and business device. The electronic SIM card ensures that dual SIM smartphones, which have room for two physical SIM cards and which are sometimes more expensive than models with one SIM card slot, are given a new definition.

Since esims do not require storage space in the case of a phone, all smartphones become dual sim. In theory, you can even use more than two SIM cards on a device.

3. Less likely to break

Physical SIM cards sometimes break. This happens, for example, when the bottom of the card comes into contact with water. The copper chip is very sensitive and you should never touch it.

Because an esim is digitally stored on the iPhone (or other phone), you will not be bothered by this. In addition, the electric card is safer than a physical variant. After all, an esim cannot be stolen. And if your device is stolen, you can block the electric card remotely.

4. Esim makes iPhone better

In addition, manufacturers can use the space that is still needed for the physical SIM card for something else. For example, consider a larger battery. This may also benefit the dust and water resistance of iPhones. After all, one less opening has to be taken into account.

5. Further Future

Another advantage of esim has to do with the future. We are getting more and more devices that are connected to the internet (the Internet of Things). Smart fire detectors, refrigerators and lamps will soon be able to be operated via the mobile network. In theory, with esim you can assign a SIM card to a smart device relatively easily, and use it to make calls, for example.

The disadvantages of esim

Esim therefore has all kinds of advantages, but also certainly disadvantages. Because you have to activate the card yourself, this means that malicious parties can do that too. For example, when a hacker finds out your password, he or she can get away with your esim (and therefore phone number).

You can of course reduce this risk by handling your online data as carefully as possible. For example, make sure you have strong passwords (by using a password manager) and set up two-step verification if you can.

Another, more practical drawback of esim is that switching between phones can take a while. You simply put a physical SIM card in a new device, after which you can get started. With esim, the transfer may take a while, depending on the speed of the connection.

Finally, you may be sacrificing privacy. After all, you can buy a physical SIM card on every street corner, so you don’t have to provide any personal information (if you want to). When buying an esim you cannot avoid sharing some private information. For example, think of your name and an e-mail address.

Which iPhones have esim?

Have you bought a new iPhone in recent years? Then there is a good chance that you can already handle esim. At the time of writing, the following iPhones support esim:

check? Also check whether your provider supports the electronic SIM card. You need a QR code, activation code or app (from the provider) to activate the esim. In the article below you can read everything about activating an electronic SIM card.

Also interesting: Dualsim on your iPhone: that’s how it works and this is what it’s good for

On to the iPhone 14

We expect the iPhone 14 series in September 2022. It seems that Apple will release four more models, but that there will be no successor to the iPhone 13 mini. A larger version of the entry-level model would appear instead: the iPhone 14 Max. In addition, we expect an iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Keep up to date with all the iPhone 14 rumors by subscribing to our newsletter. Also download the iPhoned app so you don’t miss any news.