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iPhone Dual SIM With eSIM

eSIM support on the iPhone was first introduced by Apple with the release of iPhone XR and iPhone XS in 2018. Both iPhones feature dual SIM with eSIM, which means you can use a regular nano SIM and an eSIM simultaneously. An eSIM or ‘embedded SIM’ is a built-in programmable SIM built into the phone, allowing you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical SIM. You can install multiple cellular plans or eSIM profiles into your phone’s eSIM, however, you can only use one at a time. This eliminates the need to use a paper clip or pin to remove the SIM tray on your iPhone to swap out the physical SIM card whenever you switch carriers.  

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Dual SIM with eSIM enables you to:

• Use one number for business and another number for personal calls. Both phone numbers can make and receive voice calls and send and receive text messages. However your iPhone can only use one cellular data network at a time.
• Add a local data plan when you travel to another country. This helps you to avoid roaming data charges.
• Have separate voice and data plans.

With the release of iPhone 13 models in September 2021 last year, Apple introduced dual SIM with dual eSIM support for the first time on all iPhone 13 models -  iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. This means you can either use two eSIM cellular plans - both active at the same time or you can use a physical nano-SIM and an eSIM cellular plan simultaneously on the iPhone 13.

To check your iPhone’s dual SIM status and signal strength, simply swipe down diagonally from the top right corner of your phone. Your primary line is indicated by the label [P] after the signal strength bars.

At esim-online we offer eSIM travel data packages to many popular destinations around the world. Check out our data packages here.

Learn how to install and activate an eSIM in our tutorial here.

Note:

• To use two different carriers, your iPhone must be unlocked. Otherwise, both plans must be from the same carrier. If a CDMA carrier provides your first SIM, your second SIM won't support CDMA. 
• eSIM on iPhone is not offered in mainland China.