eSIM vs physical SIM cards: What you need to know

Maybe you’re thinking of getting a new phone, but you’re not sure if you need an eSIM or a physical SIM card. Or maybe you’re just wondering if your current phone is eSIM-compatible. Whatever the reason you’re questioning the differences between eSIM vs physical SIM cards, this blog will cover all of them…so let’s get into it.

What’s the difference between eSIM and a physical SIM card?

The quick answer is an eSIM is a SIM card that’s already built into the phone (the “e” stands for “embedded”), unlike the physical SIM card you’re familiar with. The main difference between eSIM and a physical SIM card is that an eSIM cannot be removed, as opposed to physical SIM cards, which can be ejected from one phone and placed in another. You can also activate an eSIM instantly, while a physical SIM card will need to be mailed to you or purchased at a physical location.

What are the pros and cons of eSIM and physical SIM cards? 

Benefits of eSIM

• Easy activation: If you purchase a Mint Mobile plan for your unlocked, eSIM-capable phone, you can start using your plan in minutes without waiting to have a physical SIM card shipped to you.
  
• Environmentally-friendly: No plastic card or shipping materials means less waste. We here at Mint Mobile really like green stuff, and not just all the money we save you.

• Harder to damage: Since it’s embedded into your phone, there’s no real way to break or damage your SIM card.
  
• Enables dual SIM: With an eSIM, you can have a second SIM card and have dual SIMs on the same phone. This is great when you want to have another account for a business or personal line. Or just one for your mom.
  
• Takes up less space on your phone: Some newer phones are eSIM-only, meaning they don’t have a slot for a physical SIM card. This leaves more room inside the phone for a bigger, longer-lasting battery, a faster processor or more memory (because nobody has ever complained about their phone not having enough SIM card in it).

• Makes finding your phone easier: If your phone is stolen or misplaced while connected to the network via eSIM, it’ll be much easier to track down since the thief won’t be able to remove the SIM card.
  
• Exceptionally safe: With your eSIM being permanently embedded in your phone, it can’t be stolen and placed in someone else’s phone or cloned as easily. They’re also extremely difficult to hack thanks to additional built-in security features.  

Potential drawbacks of eSIM

• Not supported by older phone models: If you’re rocking an older phone (we listen and we don’t judge), chances are it won’t be eSIM-compatible.
  
• An internet connection is required for activation: You can’t just pop in your SIM card whenever you want, like with a physical SIM.
  
• If your current phone is damaged, your eSIM can’t be transferred to a new phone: Moving your account from one eSIM to another requires both phones to be operational, so if you’re replacing a phone that fell out of your pocket on a roller coaster and then got run over by a zamboni (we’re imagining you’re at a fun hockey-themed amusement park), then you likely won’t be able to access the eSIM yourself and will need to contact your wireless carrier to switch phones.

Benefits of physical SIM cards

• Compatible with most phones worldwide: This makes them a great choice regardless of which carrier you’re running on, or wherever you are in the world.
  
• Enables easy transfers: All you have to do is pop in (or out) your physical SIM card and you’re good to go. This is particularly useful when you’re traveling and using an international SIM card. 

Potential drawbacks of physical SIM cards

• Easier to damage: Since you have to remove your physical SIM card to transfer it, it makes physical SIM cards more prone to damage. Plus the simple fact of them being a physical SIM card, unlike an eSIM, makes them easier to damage.
  
• Easier to steal or lose: Thieves can easily pop out your SIM card, unlike an eSIM. And because physical SIM cards are so small, they’re easier to lose, unlike an eSIM, which you’d have to lose your phone to misplace.
  
• Takes up more phone space: Because there needs to be room for a SIM card slot, your phone loses space for valuable things like extra storage or cool design innovations like a larger battery or more memory.
• Must be obtained via mail or at a physical store: Unlike eSIM, you’ll need to wait for your SIM card to be delivered or put on real pants to go buy one in person. 

Can phones use both eSIM and a physical SIM card at the same time?

Possibly, yes. If your phone is eSIM-capable and also accepts physical SIM cards, it has dual SIM capabilities – meaning you can have at least two separate lines on the one phone. This feature is handy for people who want a personal line and a business line on the same phone, or anyone that travels internationally.

Do I need to switch to eSIM?

Now? No, not yet. Physical SIM cards aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but eSIM is likely to become the new normal at some point when it comes to wireless devices. There’s a good chance the next phone you upgrade to will support it (if your current phone doesn’t already) or, in some cases, only support eSIM. For example, every iPhone model since iPhone 14 has been eSIM only. So the more you know about eSIM now, the better prepared you’ll be when we all make the switch.

When you’re ready to make the leap, we’ve got eSIM plans for you. And now when your friends ask you about eSIM, you’ll know what to tell them because you’re officially an eSIM authority. (You thought we were gonna say expert, right? Too easy.)

Originally published May 2022; Updated April 2025