eSIM vs Standard SIM: Which is better?

We’re all familiar with the term SIM card, which is used to connect your phone to a mobile network operator (MNO) so you can access wireless service and have a unique phone number.

But recently, eSIM has become a common term referring to a brand-new form of mobile connectivity for users and IoT devices.

The embedded SIM card, or the eSIM, is built into the device’s motherboard and can be linked with many of the top MNOs to improve the signal quality for people around the world.

But how does an eSIM compare to a regular SIM? Let’s find out.

Here we will explore the benefits of an eSIM, how it differs from a standard SIM, and which devices and networks support it.

An eSIM, which is essentially a tiny chip inside your phone, functions similarly to the NFC chip used in payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The information available on an eSIM is rewritable and backed by the GSMA, which means you can choose to switch operators with just a quick phone call.

It takes a few minutes to link devices with eSIMs to a mobile account and add them to any data plan.

Using eSIM technology allows you to change operators remotely, straight from your phone, without acquiring a new SIM card. And because it’s embedded inside the phone, eSIM can’t be physically damaged or lost.

It also allows you to store multiple profiles or numbers on a single device and easily switch between them. This is perfect for anyone who might need an extra number, for instance, travel or business.

Other notable advantages include:

Device bundling becomes much easier with eSIM, allowing customers to conveniently add new devices to their plans without visiting a store or waiting for a physical SIM card to be mailed.

eSIM also allows dual SIM cards in one phone, allowing you to link your personal and work numbers to the same device. You can also purchase a local SIM card when you’re traveling abroad and want to cut back on outrageously high data costs.

This opens up new revenue opportunities for mobile operators as their customers scale up their plans by adding new devices that require data.

Most SIM cards are locked to a single network, making it impossible for you to change them on your own without assistance from the carrier.

On the other hand, an eSIM can be used with any supported device and activated and deactivated over the phone without intervention from the carrier.

Over the years, a standard SIM has become smaller, starting with the Mini-SIM, then the Micro-SIM, and finally the Nano-SIM, which is now the industry standard for these physical chips.

With an eSIM, size reduction is one of the main advantages over a traditional SIM. While the Nano-SIM may appear tiny and difficult to insert into your smartphone, eSIMs are three times smaller.

eSIM is supported by some of the biggest MNOs around the world. It is often activated on your phone by scanning a QR code provided to you when you buy the plan directly from the operator. Some eSIM-compatible carriers also have apps that allow users to purchase plans and customize pricing.

Although most modern flagships now support eSIMs, not all phones are compatible with them. Some of the devices compatible with eSIM include:

eSIMs will also be great for tablets and laptops, where frictionless connectivity will be the standard. According to Vodafone, eSIMs will enable more connected devices simply because they don’t take up as much space within a device. As a result, this allows fitness trackers, smart watches, or even glasses to have stand-alone 4G or 5G connectivity in a way they weren’t able to before.

The adoption of eSIM by consumers and businesses will depend partly on technology providers’ capacity to support the new technology. By 2030, all new smartphones will support eSIM, and other linked technologies will probably do the same.

Telco operators are also responsible for ensuring their networks can handle the technology and offer a positive customer experience to businesses and consumers who want to adopt it.

Updating your customer support systems and investing in a chatbot building platform that will automate communication and provide enhanced eSIM management capabilities can achieve that.

This, in turn, will simplify the adoption of eSIM technology for customers and drive new use cases across the telco industry.