Is using an eSIM better than a standard SIM card?

As mobile technology evolves, many people are asking: is using an eSIM better than a standard SIM card? Both options let you connect to mobile networks, but eSIMs bring more flexibility, convenience, and modern features that traditional SIM cards can’t match. In this guide, we’ll compare eSIM vs standard SIM cards, explore their pros and cons, and help you decide which one suits your needs best.

using an eSIM

What Exactly Is an eSIM and How Does It Work?

2018 marked a major turning point in consumer technology with the arrival of eSIMs as a mainstream SIM format in new smartphones. Since then, this breakthrough has steadily become the standard across modern devices – smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and more – all requiring cellular connectivity.

But how did this shift happen? What exactly is an eSIM, and how does it work? More importantly, is an eSIM actually better than a traditional physical SIM card?

In this guide, we’ll explore the evolution of eSIM technology, why it’s growing so quickly, and whether it’s the smarter choice for today’s connected world.

Physical SIM vs eSIM: Which One Should You Use?

For everyday users, an eSIM works just like a physical SIM card – it stores your carrier information and allows your phone to connect to a mobile network so you can make calls, send texts, use apps, and access mobile data.
The difference lies in how this information is stored:

Physical SIMs keep the data on a removable gold-and-silicon card inserted into your device.
eSIMs (embedded SIMs) are purchased online and digitally downloaded to a small chip built directly into your phone’s hardware.

Originally designed for enterprise and commercial use, eSIMs are rapidly becoming mainstream in consumer technology. Whether they will completely replace physical SIM cards is still uncertain—but the transition is clearly underway. In fact, there are already over 500 million active eSIMs worldwide.

A major turning point came with Apple’s eSIM-only iPhone 14, which launched without a SIM card slot. While Apple didn’t invent the concept (the first eSIM-only phone was the 2019 Motorola Razr), Apple’s huge market influence and seamless execution helped normalize the idea of a “no-card-needed” smartphone. Since then, Google and Samsung have followed suit—with Samsung even encouraging users to switch to eSIM.

5 Major Advantages of eSIM Technology

Advantages for Customers

The biggest benefit of an eSIM is flexibility. You can keep a single eSIM profile active for years- just like a traditional SIM – or quickly download a temporary eSIM for specific needs, such as traveling, and delete it when you’re done.
In terms of signal strength and network performance, there is no difference between eSIMs and physical SIM cards. The real value lies in convenience and ease of use, not coverage.

Another major advantage is the ability to switch carriers effortlessly. With physical SIMs, providers often make switching networks intentionally difficult to keep customers locked in. With eSIM, you can change carriers directly in your phone’s Settings, without visiting a store or waiting for a new SIM card. This convenience is one reason some carriers initially resisted eSIM adoption.

Advantages for Travel

Traveling with an eSIM showcases its true power. In the past, using mobile data abroad meant choosing between:

Paying expensive roaming fees with your current carrier, or
Buying a local SIM card.

Roaming often leads to unexpectedly high phone bills, while physical local SIMs come with their own issues:

You must find a store or wait for delivery.
Inserting a new SIM means losing access to contacts, texts, and services linked to your main number (like two-factor authentication).
Dual-SIM phones were rare and limited.

A travel eSIM solves all these problems. It offers local rates without sacrificing access to your primary number or apps. Most eSIM-compatible phones can store 5–10 profiles at once, so you can switch between countries instantly – perfect for crossing borders. Plus, you can activate an eSIM the moment you land, with no need to search for a SIM card vendor.

Advantages for Businesses

Businesses quickly saw the efficiency of eSIM technology. Instead of buying separate work phones, companies can send a digital eSIM profile to an employee’s existing device. Employees can easily switch between personal and work numbers.

eSIMs also allow businesses to manage, distribute, and recall SIM profiles remotely, avoiding the hassle of tracking dozens of tiny plastic SIM cards.
Modern devices can even support up to 10 eSIMs, a major leap from the limited dual-SIM hardware of the past. This is especially useful for wearables, laptops, and IoT devices that require cellular connectivity but have limited space.

Advantages for Manufacturers

eSIMs don’t just benefit users – they also offer significant design advantages for device makers. Major brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google are embracing eSIM-only models, which in turn pushes carriers to prioritize eSIM plans.

By removing the SIM tray, manufacturers save valuable internal space. This extra room can be used for:

Larger batteries
Better cameras
More storage
Faster processors

This is crucial in foldable phones and ultra-thin devices, where every millimeter counts. Apple, known for removing ports to streamline design, has already led the shift with eSIM-only iPhones.

The space savings have also allowed the rise of cellular-enabled smartwatches and wearables, making devices smaller, sleeker, and more powerful.

Advantages for the Planet

Finally, eSIMs offer a major environmental advantage. Traditional SIM cards generate thousands of tons of plastic waste every year. Because they combine plastic, silicon, and gold, they are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfill.

eSIMs eliminate the need for physical cards entirely. The embedded chip stays inside the device for its entire lifespan, creating a plastic-free, more sustainable solution. This environmental benefit may ultimately be the reason physical SIM cards disappear for good.

eSIM Security: Is It Safer Than a Physical SIM?

Because eSIMs are built directly into the phone’s hardware, a lost or stolen eSIM device can be tracked and remotely disabled more easily than a physical SIM phone.

While an eSIM cannot physically stop someone from stealing your phone, it reduces the resale value for thieves. With a traditional SIM card, a thief can simply open the SIM tray and remove the card, making the phone harder to track. With an embedded eSIM chip, removal is impossible, which acts as a strong deterrent to theft.

However, this doesn’t eliminate all security risks. eSIMs can still be targeted by SIM swap scams, where attackers trick the carrier into transferring your number to another device.

Additionally, the embedded and remotely managed nature of eSIMs raises privacy concerns. The same technology that allows easy tracking of a lost device can also make it easier for companies or carriers to collect user data and monitor device usage.

In short, eSIMs improve device security in some ways but introduce new privacy considerations.

using an eSIM

Are Physical SIM Cards Becoming Obsolete?

If eSIMs are widely accepted as the next step in SIM technology, why haven’t physical SIM cards disappeared? There are several reasons—and most of them come down to time, accessibility, and user habits.

1. A Global Technology Shift Takes Time

SIM cards are a legacy product with billions of users worldwide. Large-scale transitions don’t happen overnight.
Think of it this way:

VHS tapes were still sold until 2005.
Around 2 million people still use pagers today.

While SIM cards may not become nostalgic collectibles like vinyl records, they won’t vanish immediately.

2. eSIMs Require Newer Devices

eSIMs only work on devices manufactured after 2018.
Millions of people around the world still use older phones—either because of budget constraints or personal preference. For them, physical SIMs are still necessary.

3. Physical SIMs Feel Simpler

Even though eSIMs are more convenient overall, many users prefer something tangible.
Physically inserting or removing a SIM card feels more intuitive than downloading a digital profile, which can seem abstract or “technical.”

4. Dual-SIM Is the Current Best Solution

In the near future, most users will likely rely on dual-SIM devices that support:

One physical SIM card
Multiple eSIM profile

This setup offers maximum flexibility and eases the transition.

5. SIM Cards Have Already Evolved

SIM cards have changed dramatically over time:

1990s SIM = size of a credit card
Today = tiny nano SIM

In this context, eSIM is simply the next evolution—just like:

Digital banking replacing physical cards
Mobile tickets replacing paper tickets

Physical SIM cards are the last step before full digitization—an outdated format that will eventually fade out, but not instantly.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose eSIM if:

You travel often
You want multiple numbers or plans on one device
You prefer a secure, modern, eco-friendly solution
Your phone supports eSIM

Choose a physical SIM if:

You prefer a simple, traditional method
You have an older or incompatible device
You frequently swap between different phones

How to Use an Twise eSIM on Your Phone: Step-by-Step Guide

Using an eSIM can be better than a standard SIM card for convenience, security, and flexibilitythough the choice depends on individual needs. eSIMs are more secure because they cannot be physically stolen, allow you to store multiple plans, and let you switch carriers or plans instantly without needing a physical card. However, a drawback is that moving your plan to a new device can be more difficult, and compatibility is limited to newer phones and carriers.

Advantages of Twise eSIM

Convenience: You can activate a new plan instantly, which is ideal for travelers who can get local plans abroad without visiting a store.
Security: eSIMs are embedded in the phone, so they cannot be physically lost or stolen. This makes it harder for thieves to remove the SIM to prevent tracking, though other forms of fraud like SIM swapping are still possible.
Flexibility: You can store multiple eSIM profiles on one device, allowing you to easily switch between carriers or phone numbers.
Space-saving: The embedded chip frees up internal space in devices, which can be used for other components like a larger battery or for better waterproofing.

Disadvantages of Twise eSIM

Device transfer: Switching to a new phone can be more complex, as you can’t just pop the SIM card into a new device.
Limited compatibility: eSIMs are not compatible with all phones or plans. Some older phones or specific devices may only support a physical SIM card.
Less ideal for testing: It can be more difficult to frequently test out different phones with an eSIM compared to simply moving a physical SIM card.

Twise is a reliable travel eSIM provider from the USA, making it easy for you to stay in touch with family and friends wherever you go. With coverage in more than 195 countries, our eSIMs offer an affordable, fast, and convenient way to stay connected while traveling. We stand for quality, clear pricing, and a simple, secure checkout process. Once your payment is complete, your eSIM will be delivered in just one minute—so you can start using it right away without any hassle.

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