eSIM pros and cons?

[PHL1365]

I'm getting a new phone that has 2 SIM slots and 1 eSIM.

My primary service is with T-Mobile, but I'd like to put my TF SIM into the second slot. The TF number is for backup purposes. I currently have a TF device, but it's kind of a pain to carry it around when I rarely use it.

What are the benefits of esim vs psim? My primary reason for getting a new phone was so I could install a second psim when traveling overseas. If I use a TF eSIM, then I should be able to do so without risk of losing the TF SIM. On the other hand, I understand that esims can be something of a pain to manage. I could also purchase prepaid esims, I suppose. I could also put my T-mobile service on an esim, I suppose.

Any thoughts on the pros and cons of each approach?

[hpham]

Just curious, which phone are you getting that has two physical SIMs AND one eSIM ?

Before you get too far with your plan, I believe right now TF only supports eSIM on iPhones (11 and later I think) and only when activating a new line, not for an existing TF line.

If someone has newer info about TF eSIM support, please correct me.

The advantage of an eSIM over a pSIM is that you don't have to juggle it which reduces the chance of losing it. You can put your main service on eSIM and use the pSIM for the temporary service.

[PHL1365]

Just curious, which phone are you getting that has two physical SIMs AND one eSIM ?

Before you get too far with your plan, I believe right now TF only supports eSIM on iPhones (11 and later I think) and only when activating a new line, not for an existing TF line.

If someone has newer info about TF eSIM support, please correct me.

The advantage of an eSIM over a pSIM is that you don't have to juggle it which reduces the chance of losing it. You can put your main service on eSIM and use the pSIM for the temporary service.

I'm getting a OnePlus 11. My primary concern with using an eSIM for my main service (T-Mobile) is if my phone should get damaged, it may be difficult to get a new eSIM while traveling.

I suppose if TF doesn't support eSIM except for new apples, I don't have a lot of options.

[PHL1365]

The advantage of an eSIM over a pSIM is that you don't have to juggle it which reduces the chance of losing it. You can put your main service on eSIM and use the pSIM for the temporary service.

In a related question, will TF easily replace a SIM card if I lose the device/SIM? This phone has something like 8 years of service days attached to it, lol. It is the end result of 9 months of playing the rewards game.

[hpham]

In a related question, will TF easily replace a SIM card if I lose the device/SIM?

I don't have actual experience with replacing a lost SIM/device. My understanding of the process is that you contact TF and report that the SIM/device was lost and ask them to transfer service to a new SIM/phone. The normal procedure is for the rep to text a security code to the phone number to verify your identity, but if the SIM/phone was lost then they'll have use a different method like send the code to the email address of the account, or use the "challenge questions" that you set up (what's the middle name of your father, what grade school that you attended, what's you pet's name, etc.).

[PaulCrawhorne]

In a related question, will TF easily replace a SIM card if I lose the device/SIM? This phone has something like 8 years of service days attached to it, lol. It is the end result of 9 months of playing the rewards game.

Tracfone usually does not "replace" SIMs as in pre-activate and send it out

You just buy a BYOP one and transfer the line to it yourself in the MyAccount app,

if you do not have access to the "losing device" you may need to work with a Chat CSR and authenticate with another method, or another accessible device in that MyAccount.

There are many howTo's posted on this process in previous threads.

[tomseys]

According to the TF site only these devices are eSim compatible:

[fv22652]

Folks,

I just converted from a physical TracFone sim to an esim earlier this week. Here's a run down on what I did:

*Back in November I purchased a TracFone Nokia 2760 with one year of service for $49.99 with a $20 discount.
*Activated the phone, then after 60 days unlocked it.
*In March I had enough points to get a $300 off discount. I purchased the iPhone SE 2022 using the $300 discount and paying $100 to cover the $399 cost.
*When I received the iPhone SE 2022, I dropped the Nokia and added the iPhone to my Tracfone line. I used the physical sim that came with the iPhone.
*End of May the iPhone SE 2022 unlocked.

I contacted TracFone through chat and asked if it was possible to switch my line from the physical sim to an esim. The representative said that was only possible for the iphone 14 (which makes no sense since the iphone 14 does not have a sim card slot). Here's what I did to convert my physical sim to an esim with TracFone:


*I went to tracfone.com/activate and selected Keep Your Own Phone/Activate
*On the next screen I selected I want to keep my number and typed my TracFone number in the box
*At some point I selected I want to use esim
*I had to enter the IMEI2 from my iPhone SE 2022.
*Once that was done,I received a message on the iPhone after 10-15 minutes asking to install a new esim profile. I did that and esim went active shortly thereafter.

One important thing to keep in mind: Leave the TracFone physical sim in the sim card slot so the new TracFone esim install under the IMEI2. If the esim installs under the IMEI1, the phone will not work.

IF the Tracfone esim installs under IMEI1, you can force it to IMEI2 by doing the following:

Under settings -> cellular turn off all sims
Power the phone off and insert a sim card in the sim card slot
Power the phone on.
Turn the physical sim card on under settings -> cellular
Turn on the TracFone esim under settings -> cellular
You should get a message saying a new esim profile is ready to install. This is the TracFone esim switching to IMEI2 (since IMEI1 is being used by the physical sim card)
The esim should activate after 10 minutes or so and your TracFone number/service should work (using th esim).

Final notes: The iPhone SE 2022 supports dual active esims OR one physical sim and one esim active at the same time. You can also have multiple esims on the iPhone SE 2022. I currently have four esims installed with two active (RedPocket and TracFone).

Eric

[tftess]

Folks,

I just converted from a physical TracFone sim to an esim earlier this week. Here's a run down on what I did:

(SNIPPED)

Final notes: The iPhone SE 2022 supports dual active esims OR one physical sim and one esim active at the same time. You can also have multiple esims on the iPhone SE 2022. I currently have four esims installed with two active (RedPocket and TracFone).

Eric

Thank you for this! I plan on doing the same once my SE3 unlocks, this is so helpful!