What is an eSIM? Benefits and Drawbacks of eSIM Cards

Most of the popular premium smartphone brands are now introducing eSIM cards in their devices in addition to physical SIM cards. If you’re interested in eSIM technology or have a new mobile device that supports it, you need to know how it works and whether you should get eSIM technology. They tell you everything you need to know about eSIM, how it works, the advantages and disadvantages.

What is eSIM?

Embedded SIM (Subscriber Identity Module), also known as eSIM, is a non-removable virtual SIM card that is built into some smartphones. It performs the same functions as a traditional SIM card, but can be customized for a specific carrier or network provider, and is soldered onto the smartphone’s motherboard.

Benefits of eSIM

No risk of damage or loss – A physical SIM card is a delicate piece of hardware that can get scratched or damaged when changing phones. Also, if you accidentally lose your physical SIM card or it gets stolen, you have to contact your carrier to get a new physical SIM card, which can be a huge hassle. But with eSIM, there is no such risk.

Save multiple profiles – You can save up to three or five network profiles on one eSIM. This feature allows you to switch between multiple supported devices for calling and messaging from the same phone number without having to frequently remove and insert the SIM card.

Traveling abroad is more convenient – ​​If you travel abroad a lot, eSIM technology makes it easy to switch to a local provider. With an eSIM, you can easily switch to a local provider once you are in the area. Moreover, most global network providers offer global eSIMs, so you can choose any country and switch accordingly.

Disadvantages of eSIM

Difficult to swap phones – With a physical SIM card, you can easily swap phones because you can access the device’s network just by removing the SIM card from one device and inserting it into another. However, with eSIM, every time you change devices you need to activate the eSIM on your new phone and deactivate it on your old phone.

Available on limited premium phones – Currently, eSIM is supported on a few premium or flagship phones that are hard to get hold of or expensive. This means that older smartphones likely don’t support the technology.

Complicated activation process – Most network operators allow you to activate eSIM using a stable internet connection or by properly downloading the respective network profile. From a security perspective, eSIM is not very secure as it cannot be physically removed and is vulnerable to hacking and unwanted background tracking.