Pros and Cons of eSIM | Advantages and Disadvantages of eSIM

Pros and Cons of eSIM Card | Advantages and Disadvantages of eSIM Card

Introduction : What is eSIM?

SIM is stands for Subscriber Identity Module. It is a card containing a chip that identifies the mobile device and connects the device to the cellular network via wireless connection. Normally, the mobile number is encrypted to the SIM card. Simply it means mobile phone number contain by SIM card and a SIM card able to contain an only one number.

There are four standard sizes of this detachable SIM cards. 

• Full-size SIM (1FF)
• Mini-SIM (2FF)
• Micro-SIM (3FF)
• Nano-SIM (4FF)

But after 2016, introduced the modern version of SIM which called eSIM. In simply, eSIM means embeded-SIM. eSIM is an attached chip to the motherboard of a device. It is very smaller than Nano-SIM. eUICC (Embedded Universal Circuit Card) is another name used to refer to eSIM. This is a rewritable and programmable chip which cannot remove and use with another device. Currently, eSIMs are used as secondary SIM for Dual SIM mobile devices.

Pros of eSIM

1. Less possibility to damage (Normal SIM cards are more prone to getting damaged, scratched or broken. After such damage, you have to buy a new SIM card for that phone number. But the possibility of physical damage to the eSIM chip is minimal)
2. Not depend on slot (When using a normal SIM card, the size of the SIM slot of the device should be the same as the size of the SIM card. In cases where it is not the matching size, the SIM card has to be cut. In some cases the device needs to be changed suddenly, the size of the SIM card may not fit into the slot. But when using eSim, there is no mismatch on the size of the sim or the size of the slot)
3. Better option for Rugged phones (There are some smartphones specific for rough use, called as Rugged (IP68) phones. Those rugged phones are waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, etc. But in some cases there can be problem with SIM slot for maintaining rugged quality. But eSIM is better solution for rugged phones to maintain good rugged qualities)
4. Saves space (eSIM helps mobile device manufacturers to make devices in small size because comparatively eSIM take very less space than normal SIM slot)
5. Network availability without geographical barriers (In some cases, there are no network coverage of some network providers at some areas or countries. Then you should switch to another service provider by changing mobile number and SIM card. In simply, you must buy new SIM card. But if you use eSIM not required to buy and change new physical SIM card. Just you can easily change the network service provider with new number by requesting from network company)

Cons of eSIM

1. Depends on the device (If the device malfunctions during normal SIM usage, the SIM can be transferred to another device and used. But if the device is malfunctioned while using eSim, the phone number cannot be used by another device immediately)
2. Can be tracked very easily (The network provider can easily track you because the eSIM is attached to the device)
3. Smartphone is compulsory (Normal SIM can be use with smartphone or normal GSM/3G/classic mobile Phone. You cannot use eSIM without smartphone which support eSIM. But still majority of smartphones not support eSIM feature)
4. Expensive (Smartphone which have eSIM facility is expensive in the market than other mobile phone)