Why You Should Use eSIM on Your iPhone While Traveling

With the arrival of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and X, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 pro, iPhone 11 pro Max. We're now one step closer to ditching physical SIM cards altogether. If you're on the fence about this new technology, you may be surprised by the benefits it brings to the table.

Unlike traditional SIM cards that store your carrier-related data such as your mobile number in a small, physically transferable card, eSIMs are built into the phones themselves. If you're thinking about whether to store your primary phone line on your iPhone's eSIM once the function becomes available, there's some notable upsides, along with some downsides, to consider before taking the plunge.

eSIMs Are Ideal for Travel

If you're a frequent traveler, whether for business, pleasure, or both, you know that the rest of the world almost entirely depends on the traditional SIM card to activate and store phone lines. In the past, traveling abroad meant removing your SIM and replacing it with a phone line sourced from a local carrier like China Unicom, rendering your US-based number useless.

Programming your primary line into your iPhone's eSIM changes all that, however. It gives you the newfound ability to freely plug a foreign SIM into your iPhone for local use while retaining your original line to stay connected with loved ones and colleagues back in the States. Of course, this only applies if your iPhone is unlocked, so always check with your carrier beforehand.

You Can Activate Multiple eSIM Lines
Unlike traditional SIM cards that can register and store only one phone line and cannot be reused once the line is deactivated, eSIM gives you the ability to program as many active phone numbers or data plans into your iPhone, according to Apple. Just bear in mind that you can only use one eSIM-based line at a time, in addition to the active phone line that's stored in your iPhone's nano-SIM.

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