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With most smartphone makers going all-digital, switching to an eSIM felt like the right move—no more handling physical SIM cards and seamless connectivity. But the reality was far from smooth. Below, I’ll explain why I regret switching to an eSIM.
1Inconvenience When Switching Devices
Switching phones with a physical SIM card is straightforward—just remove the SIM from your old device, pop it into a new one, and all your information like your phone number and contacts (if stored on the SIM) is transferred instantly. However, you must follow several steps when switching devices with eSIMs.
For someone like me, who frequently switches devices to test and review them, eSIM has been a hassle because I can’t easily transfer it from my daily driver without first converting it back to a physical SIM, especially since most carriers in my country don’t support eSIM transfers.
2eSIM Is Not Ideal for Traveling
Using an eSIM while traveling might seem convenient since you can easily purchase an eSIM and activate it upon arrival, but the reality is far from it.
Many countries and carriers still don’t natively support eSIM. So,if your device is eSIM-only, like my iPhone 14 Pro Maxthat I purchased from the US, you might be unable to connect to a network at all. You’ll either need to use another device or rely on Wi-Fi, which isn’t ideal for traveling.
3eSIM Requires an Internet Connection for Activation
One major drawback of eSIMs is that they require an internet connection for activation. Unlike physical SIM cards, which start working instantly after being inserted into a device, eSIMs need to be downloaded and activated on the device afterscanning the QR code.
This becomes a problem if you’re in a situation where you need immediate access to mobile services, but you’re in an area with limited internet access, such as while traveling.
4Compatibility Issues With Older Devices
Another issue I faced with eSIMs is that they’re not universally supported. While it seems that many new smartphones and tablets are increasingly eSIM-compatible, some newer devices still don’t support eSIM.
For example, I use the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE as my secondary smartphone alongside my iPhone 14 Pro Max. Despite its release in 2022, the Galaxy S21 FE doesn’t support eSIM.
Moreover, while traveling, I lean toward eSIMs if they’re available because they’re often cheaper than buying physical SIM cards at the airport. However, since my secondary phone doesn’t support eSIM, I had to buy a physical SIM, which ended up costing me more.
5Network Providers Can Easily Track Me
While eSIMs make it easier to activate plans on the go (given you have everything you need), they also come with a drawback: eSIMs make it easier for network providers to track your location and activity. Unlike physical SIM cards, which you can easily remove from a device, an eSIM is embedded directly into the device.
This means that my phone is always connected to the network, making it easier for providers to monitor my movements. For those like me who value privacy, this lack of control over when and how you’re tracked is a significant drawback of using eSIMs.
While it’s true thateSIMs offer many benefits, such as using several SIM profiles on one device and no risk of SIM card damage, these are some of the notable drawbacks I’ve faced while using them. These are important considerations I’ll keep in mind when buying my next smartphone or switching carriers, and they could be helpful for you too.
