I have done that successfully a bunch of times on ATT but it was not working on the devices in question, even after multiple restarts and a total reset of both.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 14 Pro I hate eSIM
- Thread starter nStyle
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have done that successfully a bunch of times on ATT but it was not working on the devices in question, even after multiple restarts and a total reset of both.
The issue is consumers pay Apple to resolve these problems. Yes, there are many places where eSIM works. But also many situations where it doesn't.
If it's a carrier problem, then retain the SIM slot. There was absolutely no reason to delete the SIM tray except for money and control.
Nope.
So I am in a foreign airport. Do you expect me to be futzing with finding a hardware SIM and installing it and negotiating a deal or just install an app over airport WiFi and get an eSIM in 5 minutes?
It only doesn’t work in the US because the phone service is crappier than a third world post soviet dystopia… (I’ve been to a couple and getting set up on 400mbit speed 5G is dead easy with an eSIM…).
Damn, I had Verizon up until last year and used to do it all the time, only had an issue once and was able to fix it using their website. Good luck! Vzw customer service can really blow
That hasn’t been my experience. I used eSIM in Europe recently through the Airalo app and was impressed. Piece of cake. It started at $5 for 1GB. I was using a 13PM, which has the SIM tray, but opted for eSIM for simplicity. There are probably less expensive eSIM options, but I wasn’t interested in researching — I was there to enjoy Europe, not use my phone.
Have you even used eSIM, or are you just amplifying a negative opinion? I travel, and eSIM prices seemed reasonable to me — what is the difference in cost that you are referencing?
For me, eSIM is more practical — a physical SIM requires travel to a store to pay for it, pulling out the tray, inserting the new one, and then activating it through some sort of process that may have issues. The eSIM process takes seconds. What is more important to you — time or saving a few pennies?
I use eSIM right now for my phone when not traveling.
The price for physical SIMs can be up to half off from my experience traveling to Hong Kong. I can pay with local currency, buy it from a vending machine or physical store. No need to give out my credit card info. I can also easily give my physical SIM to my partner so she can use the remaining data. No such convenience with eSIM.
I've never had problems activating a physical SIM. There are benefits to both types of SIM and there was no good reason to delete the tray.
I’ll eventually buy a refurbished 13 Pro for this reason.
Exactly, why are carriers allowed to sell phones?? Imagine if Netflix was selling TVs and they lock them so you can only watch Netflix. Total stupidity that they get away with because of power they were given.
Everyone can defend e-sims all they want
But nothing is as simple, quick and consumer friendly as just popping in any SIM anytime one feels like it.
But nothing is as simple, quick and consumer friendly as just popping in any SIM anytime one feels like it.
I thought it was super strange the US only got eSIM iPhones while every iPhone abroad still has pSIM. Then I realize it was probably done on purpose to further complicate phone switchers and further lock unsuspecting people into the Apple ecosystem. This decision by Apple creates two tiers of iPhone buyers especially on Ebay. I've noticed the cheaper iPhone 14/15's tend to be the US eSIM only models. Which makes it a harder sell on Ebay because Ebay serves most of the world, not the US only. Can you imagine someone in an country where eSIM isn't as attainable ordering an iPhone 14/15 only to realize they can't insert a SIM card in their new iPhone? They would be pissed and blame Apple and if they were an Android user then they'll likely return to their previous device.
Yes, having a list of 10 eSIMs and just clicking which one you want to use is not simple at all 😂
I always found this to be a hassle as well, in trying to get connected ASAP upon arrival, in the midst of dealing with luggage, navigating the airport to the transit option, and finding a quiet spot to mess with an eject tool, a tray, and a tiny little card. While in the resulting mental stupor that comes from sitting in a flying bus for hours on end, now in a completely different time zone.
On my last trip, eSIMs became available from the carrier at my destination, so I chose one instead of a physical SIM.
Instead of fiddling with a tiny card, and then hoping you won't lose it during the trip, scanning a QR code and entering a PIN was all it took to get in business with the eSIM. Toggled the appropriate Cellular options in Settings, and done.* Upon return, did the reverse, and done. Easy peasy.
And, on my next trip back, I may still have the option of reloading the eSIM, if it hasn't expired.
* Of course, I still had to futz anyway, since my traveling companion's phone didn't have eSIM capability.
That said, would I still want the option of having a physical SIM, if given the choice? Sure. But the talk of the world ending because of this type of thing is the kind of silly hyperbole that passes for normalcy here on MRF.
If you want a physical SIM card, consider a landline as well. Both are relics of the past. eSIM is the future.
As an eSIM guy, I get it, eSIM is imperfect, I feel all ye who’s had bad experiences. Mostly it’s the carrier’s doing, but keeping the physical card would fix whatever shortcoming carriers bring.
Apple is forward-facing and they are trying to apply force onto the world. The carriers were deploying eSIM glacially before the 14, then Apple signals the physical SIM isn’t going to be around forever, then bam! Some carriers start working on eSIM support or else they get left behind by Apple customers. And most Apple customers would load an eSIM on their new phone and that’s the end of it until the next iPhone they buy a few years later. Yes there are places where eSIM needs to improve and I hope we see improvements and I think they will come. I can theoretically download eSIMs through the AT&T app on Android or iPhone or I can transfer over Bluetooth to a new iPhone, no cost to transfer, but everyone needs this experience for it to really replace the physical SIM in totality.
I think the “slim” iPhone 17 is where the no SIM card will start to pay off. Space is at a premium in the iPhone and it will get even more premium the thinner they go.
Apple is forward-facing and they are trying to apply force onto the world. The carriers were deploying eSIM glacially before the 14, then Apple signals the physical SIM isn’t going to be around forever, then bam! Some carriers start working on eSIM support or else they get left behind by Apple customers. And most Apple customers would load an eSIM on their new phone and that’s the end of it until the next iPhone they buy a few years later. Yes there are places where eSIM needs to improve and I hope we see improvements and I think they will come. I can theoretically download eSIMs through the AT&T app on Android or iPhone or I can transfer over Bluetooth to a new iPhone, no cost to transfer, but everyone needs this experience for it to really replace the physical SIM in totality.
I think the “slim” iPhone 17 is where the no SIM card will start to pay off. Space is at a premium in the iPhone and it will get even more premium the thinner they go.
World traveler here. Been to 100 countries. ESIM is the biggest PITA of all of my travels and people don’t understand thinking okay to pay the ridiculous fees to USA roaming or other. I mean a country like Vietnam costs $10 USD for a three month SIM card at the airport. Cambodia or anywhere in Africa is usually that or less.
USA roaming $10+ per day!!!
USA roaming $10+ per day!!!
AAPL does this to ensure the carriers make bank. This is only for the carriers and possibly for waterproofing the devices. I didn’t buy cellular on the new iPad Pro due to this. It sucks! I would have gladly paid AAPL an extra $200 for a SIM card tray in my iPhone also.
I don't travel much right now, so the biggest plus for me with a physical SIM has been that if my phone dies or I just decide for fun to buy a new unlocked one, I don't have to get anyone's permission to activate it. Cricket will note that I've switched phones on my account next time I look, but they won't try to charge me a fee, unlike if I went into a store and told them I was changing. On the other hand, I think my current SIM is at least 3 swaps old as a result, and may be developing issues of its own due to obsolescence.
The biggest negative to physical SIMs for me is that none of my (cheap, non-Apple) phones have ingress protection ratings at all. I'm not saying they couldn't, because iPhones with physical SIMs do have IP ratings. But it's more expensive to do that. But that's not a feature I really need.
On the other hand, if there was a way to lock an account to an eSIM in such a way that swap fraud is no longer possible, I'd probably use that as an excuse to buy a new device as soon as I could.
The biggest negative to physical SIMs for me is that none of my (cheap, non-Apple) phones have ingress protection ratings at all. I'm not saying they couldn't, because iPhones with physical SIMs do have IP ratings. But it's more expensive to do that. But that's not a feature I really need.
On the other hand, if there was a way to lock an account to an eSIM in such a way that swap fraud is no longer possible, I'd probably use that as an excuse to buy a new device as soon as I could.
Yeah my iPhone 15plus has SIM card slot as well. I use one of the two eSIMs for my home number and a SIM card to use when I am in Australia. This is a way cheaper than the roaming charges.
Also annoyed by ESIM as it's removed flexibility to be able to switch networks. Here in the UK, it's mainly the big networks who have ESIM but even those seem to hide the QR code or intentionally make it difficult to obtain to get setup. Majority of the time, the smaller providers are cheaper but don't offer ESIM so you're basically stuck overpaying if it wasn't for the fact our models still have a regular SIM tray.
For Travelling, I do agree that ESIM has taken some of the pain away of trying to locate a local sim or understanding a foreign language in order to get hold of one.
At Home: SIM
Travelling: ESIM
Sadly I bought the US model when I was in Hawaii in Sept last year. & regretted my decision soon as I got home. I'm just counting the days down to returning back to the UK model this year.
For Travelling, I do agree that ESIM has taken some of the pain away of trying to locate a local sim or understanding a foreign language in order to get hold of one.
At Home: SIM
Travelling: ESIM
Sadly I bought the US model when I was in Hawaii in Sept last year. & regretted my decision soon as I got home. I'm just counting the days down to returning back to the UK model this year.
eSIM will be universal soon. The old west days of changing your sim from phone to phone will end. People above us want more control.
Outside of the US iPhones are still fully functional with a physical sim tray. you can also add 3 or mroe esims, but only have 2 active at a time
Just got back from an international trip to New Zealand with my iPhone 14 work phone. Could not get eSim from any local carrier. Their website would say they had eSim, but when I contacted them, they would say “ya that isn’t working right now”.
Got stuck using my home carrier and paid an arm and a leg for their “international travel package”.
eSIM just feels like another way for big business to control you. And since I can’t think of any advantages for me - it just feels incredibly anti-customer.
Got stuck using my home carrier and paid an arm and a leg for their “international travel package”.
eSIM just feels like another way for big business to control you. And since I can’t think of any advantages for me - it just feels incredibly anti-customer.
Last edited: