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eSIM: why the plastic SIM card is disappearing
In short: An eSIM is a SIM built into your phone that your mobile provider sets up digitally, usually with a QR code or app. Industry analysts expect consumer eSIM use to keep growing quickly through 2026 and 2027, and some phones are now sold without a SIM tray. eSIMs make switching providers and travelling easier, but moving to a new phone needs a little planning.
What an eSIM is
A traditional SIM card is the small chip you push into your phone. It holds the details that prove to your mobile provider that the phone belongs to your account. An eSIM (embedded SIM) does the same job, but the chip is built permanently into the phone. Instead of posting you a card, your provider sends a digital profile that you download, usually by scanning a QR code or using the provider's app.
Why it is spreading
Phone makers like eSIMs because they free up space inside the phone and remove a tray where water and dust can get in. Some phones are now eSIM-only: Apple's US iPhones have had no SIM tray since 2022, and more models and countries have followed. GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the mobile industry body, expects consumer eSIM use to roughly double in 2026 and again in 2027.
The benefits
- Quicker switching: change provider or plan without waiting for a card in the post.
- Travel: buy a local or travel data plan online before you land and keep your home number active at the same time.
- Two numbers on one phone: for example, a work and a personal number.
- Harder to steal: a thief cannot simply pop out your SIM to use or block your number.
The pitfalls
- Changing phones: you cannot just move a card across. Most phones now offer an "eSIM transfer" step during setup, or your provider can issue a new QR code. Check how your provider does it before you wipe the old phone. See Setting up a new phone safely.
- Lost or broken phone: you need to contact your provider to reissue the eSIM to a replacement.
- Fake QR codes: only scan eSIM codes that come from your provider's official app or website. A criminal who tricks a provider into issuing an eSIM for your number can receive your texts, in a version of the SIM swap attack.
- Not every provider or country supports eSIM equally yet, and travel eSIM services vary in quality.
Tip: Ask your provider to add extra checks before any SIM or eSIM change on your account, such as a PIN or password. It makes SIM swap attacks harder.
What it means for 2-step verification
Because your phone number is easier to move with eSIM, it is a good moment to switch important accounts from text-message codes to an authenticator app or passkey. Our comparison SMS codes vs authenticator apps explains why.
Travel eSIMs: a practical note
Travel eSIM services sell data plans for other countries that you install before your trip. They can be much cheaper than roaming, but quality varies. Buy from a well-reviewed provider, check that it covers every country on your route, install it while you still have Wi-Fi at home, and keep your main line switched on for calls and texts if you need them. Set the travel eSIM as the line for mobile data, and turn off data roaming on your home line so you are not charged twice. When you return, you can delete the travel eSIM from your settings.
Key takeaways
- An eSIM is a SIM built into the phone and set up digitally.
- Use is growing fast, and some phones no longer have a SIM tray.
- It makes switching providers and travelling easier.
- Plan eSIM transfer before wiping an old phone, and protect your account against SIM swaps.
Sources and further reading
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