by LONDON (AP) – For summer trips abroad, a smartphone is essential for most people. How else will you check Google Maps to find your Airbnb, post an Instagram video from the Eiffel Tower, or WhatsApp friends and family back home?
Of course, if you’re using data-hungry apps while traveling in a foreign country, there’s always the risk of incurring hefty roaming charges from your phone carrier. The solution? International travel eSIM for your smartphone.
How do you use this technology? Here are some tips.
What is an eSIM?
If you’ve ever bought a new mobile phone, you’re probably familiar with the SIM card. Short for subscriber identity module, the SIM is a small, pebble-sized chip that fits into a slot on most phones. Without it, you couldn’t get cell service because it contains your account information and phone number.
But physical SIM cards are slowly being replaced by eSIMs – the e stands for embedded – built into newer phones. These digital versions do the same thing and can make life easier, although they can be confusing at first for people used to physical SIMs.
Why should I use an eSIM?
They make changing cell carriers easier. And if you bought a new phone recently, you might not even have a choice: Apple got rid of the SIM card tray starting with the release of the iPhone 14 in September 2022.
They are especially beneficial for travelers. If you have a compatible mobile phone, you can add an eSIM from a virtual carrier with better data roaming rates than your home network. Many phones will let you add more than one eSIM, making it easy to switch back and forth, or — for phones that have the ability — to use two at the same time.
Think convenience: Gone are the days of a strange land after a long flight, looking for a local phone company’s airport kiosk, carefully popping open the SIM tray to swap pins in the new chip, and trying not to to lose the one that is there.
Where can I get a roaming eSIM and how much will I pay?
The eSIM market is booming. Kester Mann, director of consumer research at CCS Insight, says there are many providers that can be found online, with names such as Nomad, Holafly, Easysim, Airhub and Airalo.
“These people have a role to play because I think they offer a very reasonable and attractive opportunity for international travelers,” Mann said.
The boom means there is plenty of competition keeping rates low. Prices are usually clearly displayed online, either through a package menu on the provider’s website or through a calculator based on the amount of data required and the length of the trip.
About 800 carriers support eSIMs, according to CCS, so international coverage is extensive. Traveling to Europe and need data for a month covering 30 countries? Airalo, for example, offers 10 gigabytes for $37 and the Holafly package has unlimited data for 69 euros ($75).
For an upcoming trip to Prague, I bought 5 gigabytes of data for just $5 from Global Yo. I was a little disturbed by some negative reviews that identified problems with the purchase, installation or activation of the company’s eSIMs, but I had no problems myself.
How do I put an eSIM on my phone?
You’ll need a phone that’s unlocked for use with different wireless carriers.
Unless you’re setting up a new phone, the usual method of activation is a QR code, or a more traditional string of numbers and letters. If you’re planning a trip and buying one in advance, it’s a good idea to print it if you don’t want to activate it right away.
For iPhones, go to your Settings menu, then the Cellular or Mobile Service section, then tap Add eSIM. You will be prompted to scan the code, or enter it manually. The process is similar for Android users. Samsung has a guide for Galaxy devices, and Google has a help page for Pixel users, and eSIM carriers have step-by-step guides. Apple has a YouTube video, as well as tip sheets on using eSIMs for international travel and using two eSIMs simultaneously.
If you have a phone that supports dual eSIMs, you can choose “the best possible network based on price and/or coverage” when you’re traveling, Mann said.
Some carriers have their own apps to manage eSIMs and track data usage.
How do I know if my mobile phone can use an eSIM?
More than 200 devices support the technology, says CCS Insight. UK phone company Vodafone has a list of compatible devices. Or dial (asterisk)#06# – EID code indicates compatibility.
For iPhone users, it’s any model released since the XS, XS Max or XR, as well as recent iPads. They are compatible with any Samsung Galaxy device released since 2020, and will work with Google Pixel 4 and newer models; some Pixel 3 devices also support them.
Does it always make sense to use a travel eSIM?
First check your own carrier’s roaming charges for the places you visit. Sometimes it’s not worth it.
“Roaming costs these days are much lower and less prohibitive than they once were,” Mann said. They were even abolished for residents of the European Union who cross the internal borders of the 27-nation bloc. But travelers in Britain, who have left the EU, are once again faced with travel to the continent.
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