▲ 397 ▼ Article: I switched to eSIM in 2025, and I am full of regret (arstechnica.com) submitted 9 months ago by OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world 147 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] PostaL@lemmy.world 50 points 9 months ago (15 children) permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 15 child comments replies: [–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 14 points 9 months ago (14 children) Yeah but how do make money? Is the few cents saved per unit worth it? Like I know that saving 1€ over a million units is 1M€ saved but still. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 14 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (12 children) That really is how these companies think. I've seen car companies selling $100,000+ cars sweating over whether we use a $0.10 more expensive part that would last 3x longer than the cheaper one permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 12 child comments replies: [–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 6 points 9 months ago (11 children) This isn't just cheaping out though, this is removing a feature. Surely no one will be glad to put in additional effort for no advantage? Or are there advantages to eSIMs that I don't know about? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 11 child comments replies: [–] uninvitedguest@piefed.ca 8 points 9 months ago (1 child) When traveling you can pre-purchase an E-SIM and already have it loaded to your phone in advance of landing - avoiding the whole airport SIM purchase shuffle, or the holding off on using your phone until you get to a convenience store, etc. I use an E-SIM for my personal plan, saving the physical SIM for a work line. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent [–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago Yes, eSIMs are much more convenient plus phones can have multiple. While I’ve never tried the multiple eSIM feature, I find it so much nicer to set up a new eSIM online than to have to deal with a physical SIM from a physical store. It’s also more convenient when getting a new phone, at least for iPhone. The setup can just transfer the eSIM from one phone to the next so your number gets moved with no effort on your part permalink fedilink source parent [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (4 children) From the phone manufacturer, it's fewer traces and less mechanical design work. From the carrier side, it requires you to have their spyware installed to register the Sim From a user perspective, someone can't just steal your Sim and put it in another phone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (2 children) Somebody can't steal your phone and pull the SIM card out so that it can't be tracked. As long as you don't have the ability to enable airplane mode or disable cellular data from your notifications shade, you can't stop it from being tracked if it's stolen unless it's physically powered off. And as soon as it's physically powered on again, it's immediately trackable. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent [–] PostaL@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago* I'm betting the mechanical component of a sim card tray is more expensive than the chip. And to answer your second question: https://youtu.be/_n5E7feJHw0 permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 14 points 9 months ago (14 children) Yeah but how do make money? Is the few cents saved per unit worth it? Like I know that saving 1€ over a million units is 1M€ saved but still. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 14 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (12 children) That really is how these companies think. I've seen car companies selling $100,000+ cars sweating over whether we use a $0.10 more expensive part that would last 3x longer than the cheaper one permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 12 child comments replies: [–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 6 points 9 months ago (11 children) This isn't just cheaping out though, this is removing a feature. Surely no one will be glad to put in additional effort for no advantage? Or are there advantages to eSIMs that I don't know about? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 11 child comments replies: [–] uninvitedguest@piefed.ca 8 points 9 months ago (1 child) When traveling you can pre-purchase an E-SIM and already have it loaded to your phone in advance of landing - avoiding the whole airport SIM purchase shuffle, or the holding off on using your phone until you get to a convenience store, etc. I use an E-SIM for my personal plan, saving the physical SIM for a work line. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent [–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago Yes, eSIMs are much more convenient plus phones can have multiple. While I’ve never tried the multiple eSIM feature, I find it so much nicer to set up a new eSIM online than to have to deal with a physical SIM from a physical store. It’s also more convenient when getting a new phone, at least for iPhone. The setup can just transfer the eSIM from one phone to the next so your number gets moved with no effort on your part permalink fedilink source parent [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (4 children) From the phone manufacturer, it's fewer traces and less mechanical design work. From the carrier side, it requires you to have their spyware installed to register the Sim From a user perspective, someone can't just steal your Sim and put it in another phone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (2 children) Somebody can't steal your phone and pull the SIM card out so that it can't be tracked. As long as you don't have the ability to enable airplane mode or disable cellular data from your notifications shade, you can't stop it from being tracked if it's stolen unless it's physically powered off. And as soon as it's physically powered on again, it's immediately trackable. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent [–] PostaL@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago* I'm betting the mechanical component of a sim card tray is more expensive than the chip. And to answer your second question: https://youtu.be/_n5E7feJHw0 permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (12 children) That really is how these companies think. I've seen car companies selling $100,000+ cars sweating over whether we use a $0.10 more expensive part that would last 3x longer than the cheaper one permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 12 child comments replies: [–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 6 points 9 months ago (11 children) This isn't just cheaping out though, this is removing a feature. Surely no one will be glad to put in additional effort for no advantage? Or are there advantages to eSIMs that I don't know about? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 11 child comments replies: [–] uninvitedguest@piefed.ca 8 points 9 months ago (1 child) When traveling you can pre-purchase an E-SIM and already have it loaded to your phone in advance of landing - avoiding the whole airport SIM purchase shuffle, or the holding off on using your phone until you get to a convenience store, etc. I use an E-SIM for my personal plan, saving the physical SIM for a work line. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent [–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago Yes, eSIMs are much more convenient plus phones can have multiple. While I’ve never tried the multiple eSIM feature, I find it so much nicer to set up a new eSIM online than to have to deal with a physical SIM from a physical store. It’s also more convenient when getting a new phone, at least for iPhone. The setup can just transfer the eSIM from one phone to the next so your number gets moved with no effort on your part permalink fedilink source parent [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (4 children) From the phone manufacturer, it's fewer traces and less mechanical design work. From the carrier side, it requires you to have their spyware installed to register the Sim From a user perspective, someone can't just steal your Sim and put it in another phone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (2 children) Somebody can't steal your phone and pull the SIM card out so that it can't be tracked. As long as you don't have the ability to enable airplane mode or disable cellular data from your notifications shade, you can't stop it from being tracked if it's stolen unless it's physically powered off. And as soon as it's physically powered on again, it's immediately trackable. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ArfArfWoof@europe.pub 6 points 9 months ago (11 children) This isn't just cheaping out though, this is removing a feature. Surely no one will be glad to put in additional effort for no advantage? Or are there advantages to eSIMs that I don't know about? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 11 child comments replies: [–] uninvitedguest@piefed.ca 8 points 9 months ago (1 child) When traveling you can pre-purchase an E-SIM and already have it loaded to your phone in advance of landing - avoiding the whole airport SIM purchase shuffle, or the holding off on using your phone until you get to a convenience store, etc. I use an E-SIM for my personal plan, saving the physical SIM for a work line. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent [–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago Yes, eSIMs are much more convenient plus phones can have multiple. While I’ve never tried the multiple eSIM feature, I find it so much nicer to set up a new eSIM online than to have to deal with a physical SIM from a physical store. It’s also more convenient when getting a new phone, at least for iPhone. The setup can just transfer the eSIM from one phone to the next so your number gets moved with no effort on your part permalink fedilink source parent [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (4 children) From the phone manufacturer, it's fewer traces and less mechanical design work. From the carrier side, it requires you to have their spyware installed to register the Sim From a user perspective, someone can't just steal your Sim and put it in another phone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (2 children) Somebody can't steal your phone and pull the SIM card out so that it can't be tracked. As long as you don't have the ability to enable airplane mode or disable cellular data from your notifications shade, you can't stop it from being tracked if it's stolen unless it's physically powered off. And as soon as it's physically powered on again, it's immediately trackable. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] uninvitedguest@piefed.ca 8 points 9 months ago (1 child) When traveling you can pre-purchase an E-SIM and already have it loaded to your phone in advance of landing - avoiding the whole airport SIM purchase shuffle, or the holding off on using your phone until you get to a convenience store, etc. I use an E-SIM for my personal plan, saving the physical SIM for a work line. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent
[–] iopq@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago When I travel I pre-purchase an eSIM and it's just ready to turn on when I land permalink fedilink source parent
[–] AA5B@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago Yes, eSIMs are much more convenient plus phones can have multiple. While I’ve never tried the multiple eSIM feature, I find it so much nicer to set up a new eSIM online than to have to deal with a physical SIM from a physical store. It’s also more convenient when getting a new phone, at least for iPhone. The setup can just transfer the eSIM from one phone to the next so your number gets moved with no effort on your part permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (4 children) From the phone manufacturer, it's fewer traces and less mechanical design work. From the carrier side, it requires you to have their spyware installed to register the Sim From a user perspective, someone can't just steal your Sim and put it in another phone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (3 children) Except that’s not true, I neither need to install any apps nor give my data to my service provider. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago (2 children) Then you are using a feature phone, or a standard Android/iOS device with their tools preinstalled If you try to use it with a free operating system, it's not possible. Here are the instructions for installing the bridge code on Graphene: https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Eat_Your_Paisley@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 child) I use eSIMs on grapheneOS permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world -1 points 9 months ago Based permalink fedilink source parent
[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago (2 children) Somebody can't steal your phone and pull the SIM card out so that it can't be tracked. As long as you don't have the ability to enable airplane mode or disable cellular data from your notifications shade, you can't stop it from being tracked if it's stolen unless it's physically powered off. And as soon as it's physically powered on again, it's immediately trackable. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child) There's a thing called the power button. You can't track a phone that's turned off If the phone is in China, what are you going to do about it permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago In another comment, I specifically acknowledged that you could not track a device that is powered off, but as soon as it is powered back on, it would be trackable again. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PostaL@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago* I'm betting the mechanical component of a sim card tray is more expensive than the chip. And to answer your second question: https://youtu.be/_n5E7feJHw0 permalink fedilink source parent