We live in the digital age where a new phone model is released every other day. With so many options, we have focused too much on what the phone looks like and the services it offers. The layman doesn’t know much about what goes on behind the digital screen on their palm. 

For years, we have been used to operating our phones with physical SIM cards, which are placed in a physical SIM tray and inserted into our phones. With time, we updated to 2 SIM cards per phone. Now, with the advent of eSIMs, how we tap into network plans, both local and global, has changed drastically. Let us see what the difference is between a physical SIM and the new digital or online eSIM. 

Design:

The traditional SIM card and the new eSIM differ significantly in design. As mentioned above, the physical SIM card is placed in a retractable SIM tray and inserted into the phone. This requires the phone model to have a design that accommodates a physical SIM card. ESIM, on the other hand, is a microchip that is inbuilt into the phone. Your eSIM provider will usually be compatible with a new-generation phone that supports this technology. 

Installation and activation method:

With a traditional SIM card, activation happens after you insert it into your phone. If you want to switch to new networks or international data plans, you might be required to insert another SIM card. However, since eSIMs are already inside your phone, you just need to activate them online. There is usually an activation code or a QR code involved, and you can switch to different networks within a few clicks. This saves time and allows for seamless transitions between networks.

Security:

A physical SIM card is prone to getting lost, being damaged, or getting stolen. If your phone is lost, you have to start over with a new SIM card. The security of your phone depends on how secure your mobile phone is. With an eSIM, no such problems occur. You can forget about the eSIM once you have it installed since it cannot be stolen or destroyed. But if your phone gets stolen, the thief cannot access your phone number, and this number can be activated on another phone. 

Pros and cons:

ESIM seems to be at an advantage because of its discreet design, easy activation, and better security. However, eSIMs need to be compatible with your phone model if you want to use it. Not every phone company has caught up to this trend, and people still heavily rely on physical SIM cards. If you want to access a global eSIM plan, you have to make sure that the country you are traveling to has the supportive infrastructure for this technology. Both physical SIMs and eSIMs have their pros and cons; you can choose depending on your requirements. 

Whether you choose an eSIM data plan or a physical SIM data plan, at the end of the day, they are there to serve you the same function. Go through their differences and similarities carefully, and pick the one that serves you the best.