An eSIM is the digital version of a SIM card. Instead of a small plastic card, a soldered chip inside the phone holds your line's information as a "profile".
An example#
Suppose you travel to another country. Instead of buying a physical SIM, you buy an eSIM profile online, scan the QR code and have internet minutes later. There is no opening the phone's tray and no SIM to lose.
Advantages#
- Activation without a physical card and, in some countries, without visiting a store.
- You can hold several profiles and switch between them.
- Two numbers at once, even on a phone that has only one tray.
- No physical tray makes a body more resistant to water and dust possible.
Limitations#
- Only compatible phones support it.
- Operator support and activation conditions differ by country and may be limited, so check before buying a phone.
- Moving from an old phone to a new one may require extra steps with the operator.
A security note#
Because the line is transferred digitally, fraudsters try to trick the operator or the user into moving the line to their own device. Do not hand your QR code and profile to anyone, and get it only from your official operator.