**eSIMs Are Taking Over: What It Means for Tech Reviewers and Everyday Users**
For years, swapping SIM cards between phones was a straightforward and essential task for both tech reviewers and everyday users. The physical SIM card—tiny, familiar, and easy to move—made the process of switching devices nearly effortless. However, the landscape of mobile connectivity began to change dramatically when Apple eliminated the SIM tray in its iPhones for the US market in 2022, ushering in the era of eSIM-only phones. Now, with Google following suit in its Pixel 10 series, the shift to eSIMs is becoming the new standard, bringing both conveniences and challenges.
**From Physical SIMs to eSIMs: The Changing Mobile Experience**
A physical SIM card is a small, removable chip that stores your carrier and account information, allowing your phone to connect to your mobile network. Swapping between devices is as easy as popping the SIM out of one phone and inserting it into another—a process that takes seconds with the help of a SIM ejector tool or even a paperclip.
By contrast, an eSIM (embedded SIM) is a programmable chip built directly into the phone’s hardware. Instead of physically moving a card, users must digitally transfer their carrier profile from one device to another. While this might sound complicated, the technology offers several advantages. For manufacturers, eSIMs free up valuable internal space that can be used for larger batteries or additional components. They also eliminate the SIM tray, reducing the number of openings in the phone’s body and thereby improving resistance to water and dust.
For carriers, eSIMs have the added benefit of making it less convenient for customers to quickly swap phones or carriers, potentially increasing customer retention. However, as the technology matures, carriers are working to streamline the process of switching devices, aiming to make it as painless as it was with physical SIMs.
**The Early Days of eSIM: Frustration and Growing Pains**
When Apple first introduced eSIM-only iPhones in the US, many users—especially those who frequently switch phones—found the transition frustrating. For example, a tech reviewer recounts how moving their T-Mobile SIM from one phone to another required calling the carrier, explaining the situation, and navigating a cumbersome activation process. The additional steps felt unnecessary compared to the simple act of transferring a physical SIM, and the reviewer lasted only a few months before reverting back to the traditional method whenever possible.
But with Google’s latest Pixel 10 series also going eSIM-only, it became clear that the industry was moving in this direction. Anticipating another challenging experience, the reviewer prepared for the worst. Surprisingly, the process of transferring an eSIM from the Pixel 10 Pro to an iPhone turned out to be much smoother than expected.
**How eSIM Transfers Work Today**
Today, transferring an eSIM has become significantly easier, at least with certain carriers and devices. For instance, T-Mobile has integrated a