iPhone 14 eSIM Guide and Tips
by Anna Sherry Updated on 2022-09-14 / Update for iPhone 14
Apple has a history of getting rid of things. And when it does that, the industry follows. First, the headphone jack, then the in-box charger, and now the SIM card tray.
Apple is replacing the SIM card tray with something called “eSIM”. But what, exactly, is it? What difference does it make? Can you still use a physical SIM card in your new iPhone 14? This article will tell you everything you need to know.
Without wasting any more time, let’s dive right into it.
Before Reading: Answer Your Questions about iPhone 14 eSIM
Q1: Does iPhone 14 not have a SIM tray? Is the iPhone eSIM?
iPhones have had eSIMs since 2017 in the iPhone X. However, with the introduction of the iPhone 14, Apple has removed the iPhone 14 SIM card tray from the US models.
Be noted that if you live anywhere else other than the US, you will still get a SIM card tray.
Q2: Can I use both eSIM and physical SIM on iPhone 14?
It depends on where you live.
As said earlier, if you live in the USA, you will get 2 eSIMs in your new iPhone 14. But if you live anywhere else, you will still be able to use an iPhone 14 eSIM + physical SIM.
Q3: How many eSIMs can the iPhone 14 have?
If you live in the USA, your iPhone 14 will have 2 eSIMs.
If you’re not in the US, you will get at least one physical SIM in your iPhone 14.
- Part 1: So, What is iPhone 14 eSIM?
- Part 2: How to Set Up and Use iPhone 14 Lineup eSIM?
- Part 3: What are the Pros and Cons of iPhone 14 eSIM?
- More Questions about iPhone 14 eSIM
- Bonus: How to Transfer Contacts to new iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max?
Part 1: So, What is iPhone 14 eSIM?
If you’re not familiar with what eSIMs are and how they work, this section has got you covered.
While a physical SIM card has a built-in chip that you need to insert into your phone, an eSIM already comes preinstalled in your phone — and you can’t remove it. It’s an electronic chip that’s capable of working as a SIM, and you can assign your cellular plan to it.
Once you assign your cellular network to an eSIM, it works and behaves like a normal SIM card.
Part 2: How to Set Up and Use iPhone 14 Lineup eSIM?
When you’ve got your iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max in your hands, you will need to get an eSIM from your carrier to use with your new phone. While that sounds difficult, it’s actually very simple.
All you have to do is call your carrier and ask them to convert your SIM card to an eSIM. When they do, they will email you a QR code to your registered email address. Depending on where you live, you might have to visit a service center of your carrier and get the QR code by hand.
When you’ve got the QR code in your hand, follow the steps on your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app.
Go to Cellular and add a new plan.
- Scan the QR code and follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up your iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max eSIM.
Now, you will start getting cellular signals on your phone, and your SIM card will work as usual.
Part 3: What are the Pros and Cons of iPhone 14 eSIM?
Here are some of the pros and cons of using an eSIM.
Pros:
- If your phone gets stolen, the thieves won’t be able to take out your SIM card.
- When you get a new iPhone in the future, the eSIM gets transferred to your new phone automatically.
- You don’t need to have a SIM card ejector tool with you to add or remove SIM cards, you can do it from your phone’s settings.
Cons:
- Some people, especially the ones who aren’t tech-savvy, might find eSIMs very complicated.
- If you damage your phone so much that it becomes unusable, you won’t be able to go into Settings and remove/transfer your eSIM. In this case, you will need to visit your carrier’s office again.
More Questions about iPhone 14 eSIM
1. Can eSMbe hacked?
iPhones are the most secure smartphones out there. It’s not very likely that your eSIM will ever be hacked.
2. Does iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max have only eSIM?
If you live in the USA, yes. But if you live outside of the US, no — you can still use a physical SIM card in your new iPhone.
3. Is eSIM faster than physical SIM?
There is no difference between the two in terms of speed. Phone calls, messages, and the internet should work exactly the same.
4. Why is eSIM not Popular?
Most people are used to physical SIM cards, that’s why they never bothered with eSIMs. But now that eSIM is the only option in the USA, it will now get more popular.
Furthermore, as Apple is now eSIM-only in the USA, other companies might also follow this step soon.
So, expect Samsung, Google, and other brands to come with eSIM only in the near future.
Bonus: How to Transfer Contacts to new iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max?
If you’ve just got your new iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Pro Max and want to transfer your contacts from the old device to the new one, we’ve got you covered.
While there are other methods to go about the situation, Tenorshare iCareFone is the best one. Why? Well, simply because there’s no iTunes or iCloud involved. You don’t have to upload your contacts to the cloud to restore them on the new iPhone, which will waste a lot of your precious time.
iCareFone is a perfect iOS data management tool that can help you transfer/manage/backup/restore iOS data within minutes.
Here’s how it works.
Download and install Tenorshare iCareFone on your computer. Connect your old phone and open iCareFone.
Select Backup and make a backup of your contacts. You can also make a backup of your other data if you want.
When the backup is completed, remove the old phone and connect your new iPhone to the computer.
Select Restore in iCareFone and select the backup you just made.
Proceed with the restore process by clicking Restore to Device, and all your contacts will be moved to the new iPhone in an instant!
Final Words
And there you have it — that’s everything you needed to know about the whole iPhone 14 eSIM situation.
If you’re outside of the US, don’t worry, you don’t have to say goodbye to your physical SIM card yet. If you’re in the US, you don’t have to worry either. Just call your carrier and get an eSIM from them.