What is an eSIM Card?

Today’s mobile phones are more powerful than ever – the iphone in your pocket has more than 100,000 times the processing power of the computer that landed man on the moon more than 50 years ago! Your mobile phone that is very rarely far from your hand also may be harbouring a small but mighty eSIM card, way more versatile than a nano-SIM, it’s the latest in mobile tech and they are growing in popularity for more than a few reasons.

So, here is all you need to know about eSIM cards…

What is an eSIM?

Instead of being removable and stored within your phone, an eSIM is a small chip embedded in the actual handset.It cannot be removed to be put it in another phone. The information on an eSIM is rewritable. This means you can change your network without removing your SIM and inserting a new one. 

What are the advantages of an eSIM?

Predominantly the main benefit is how easy it is to switch networks, instead of needing to order a new SIM, waiting for it to arrive, then inserting it into your phone, you can switch to a different network with a phone call or online. You also won’t need to go hunting for that fiddly little SIM ‘ejector tool’ to remove the old SIM from your phone.

It also makes it easier to switch to a local network while travelling, without needing to physically insert a local SIM. Using a local mobile network while abroad can be much cheaper than paying roaming costs to your UK network. Not removing your UK SIM from your phone will also reduce the risk of losing it.

Allows you to have more than one SIM. eSIMs also offer the same advantages as dual-SIM phones with two slots for traditional plastic SIMs, the most obvious being that you can have two phone numbers on one device.

There’s also the potential to make handsets smaller in some cases. But the real space advantage is for wearables such as smartwatches, as people don’t want to wear an enormous device on their wrist. The Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 4 already have eSIMs, as do Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 smartwatches.

Do all smartphones have an eSIM?

At the moment only a handful of the most recent smartphones and wearables have an eSIM>>

• All of Apple’s latest iPhones
• Samsung’s Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL
• Motorola’s Razr (only an eSIM, it doesn’t have a physical SIM card)
• Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 smartwatches
• Apple Watch Series 3, 4 and 5

Do all networks support eSIM?

Not all networks support eSIMs at the moment, but they will do in time as this technology becomes the standard., currently EE, O2 and Vodafone support eSIMS in some capacity.

At Matrix Connect we believe that businesses need low-cost hassle-free mobile communications to stay competitive and to exploit business opportunities. By combining this with outstanding service and dedicated account managers we can offer you a service that gives you everything you need.