All articles tagged with #esim
Opera has integrated a travel eSIM directly into its Android browser, offering users in select countries 3GB of free 5G data for three days. The feature eliminates the need for separate apps or physical SIM swaps, providing whole-device connectivity across 47 destinations without requiring upfront payment details.
Apple's new iPhone Handoff feature allows two iPhones to share one phone number, but AT&T has declined to support it. T-Mobile offers the service for $5/month, while Verizon and EE plan to add support by year's end.
iPhone Handoff is a new iOS 27 feature that lets two iPhones share the same phone number for calls, texts and cross-device app use; setup requires both devices on iOS 27+, on the same Wi‑Fi and signed into the same Apple ID, with one phone designated as the primary and both devices able to use eSIMs; as of the article, only T-Mobile (US) and Telekom (Germany) have confirmed support, with T-Mobile charging an extra $5/month; limitations include no Apple Watch handoff between devices, some wallet items may not work, and you must transfer the eSIM when replacing a device; disabling requires contacting the carrier.
iOS 27 introduces iPhone Handoff, allowing the same eSIM number to be used on two iPhones, initially for T-Mobile US and Deutsche Telekom in Germany. T-Mobile will charge $5 per month for the feature; only one device can be active at a time, with calls, voicemails, messages, Find My, and app data syncing across devices. Setup requires iOS 27 on both devices and the same Apple ID; rollout begins September 14.
T-Mobile will charge $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, Apple’s iOS 27 feature that lets two iPhones share the same number via eSIM. At launch, it will be available to U.S. T-Mobile customers and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany, requires two iPhones running iOS 27 or later connected to Wi‑Fi and signed into the same Apple ID with FaceTime, iMessage, and Messages in iCloud enabled. Activation can be done when setting up a new iPhone or in Settings, and a single number can be active on only one iPhone at a time. Wallet cards and car keys can work across both phones, though some items (like transit passes or IDs) may only function on one device. iPhone Handoff supports Dual SIM as long as both eSIMs are from carriers that support the feature, and both eSIMs switch when you unlock. iOS 27 launches Sept. 14, with the iPhone 18 Pro shipping Sept. 18.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are eSIM-only in Bahrain, Canada, Guam, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; in all other countries (including the UK and Europe) these models retain a physical nano-SIM tray. This continues Apple's broader SIM-card phase-out, with the iPhone 17 Pro already adopting the same eSIM-only approach in those markets, and eSIMs offering multiple-profile support for travel and security.
Apple’s EU energy labels reveal the iPhone 18 Pro has 4,056 mAh and the iPhone 18 Pro Max 5,391 mAh (up 1.7% and 11.7% vs the 17 series, respectively). The Pro Max shows a larger battery life improvement than the Pro. eSIM-only variants will have a slightly larger battery in several regions to offset the missing SIM tray, but exact eSIM capacities haven’t been confirmed yet; standard SIM-tray models in the UK/Europe retain the regular capacity.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, possibly called iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, is expected to debut Sept 9 with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup at a premium price. To fit a thin design, it may drop Face ID in favor of Touch ID on the side power button, omit a dedicated telephoto camera in favor of two 48MP sensors, and feature an outer 5.5-inch display with a 7.8-inch internal screen. MagSafe is expected to stay, and the device could ship with eSIM-only connectivity and potentially miss mmWave 5G in some versions; details such as button layout and crease reduction hinge remain speculative.
T-Mobile is testing iPhone Handoff, a feature that would let two iPhones share a single phone number by using a primary device with the main eSIM and a secondary device with a companion eSIM; the feature is carrier-dependent, in beta on T-Mobile and not yet live, with a broader rollout expected to follow on other carriers.
Apple’s iOS 27 adds a feature called iPhone Handoff that lets two iPhones share the same phone number by designating a main device (with the main eSIM) and a companion device (receiving a secondary eSIM). Setup is in Settings > Cellular, and the system will manage cellular settings from the main iPhone while location sharing depends on the active device. Carrier support is expected and two iPhones running iOS 27 are required, with early mentions that carriers like T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom may offer it; after beta testing, iOS 27 is planned for release later this month.
The iPhone Ultra, Apple’s rumored first foldable high-end iPhone, is said to launch over $2,000 but will reportedly drop key features including a telephoto camera, Action button/mute switch, Face ID, MagSafe, and a physical SIM, in favor of Touch ID in the side button and eSIM-only support.
A leak and regulatory data point to the iPhone 18 Pro Max having a notably larger battery than the iPhone 17 Pro Max: about 5,391 mAh in China and 5,567 mAh for the U.S. (vs. 4,823 mAh and 5,088 mAh), implying roughly 10–12% gains, while the smaller iPhone 18 Pro would see smaller increases. Differences stem from non-U.S. models retaining a SIM tray, freeing space for a bigger cell in the eSIM-only U.S. version.
A Japanese outlet and the GSMA IMEI database show three Xperia 1 IX variants (XQ-H44 for Japan with eSIM, XQ-HH54 Europe, XQ-HH74 rest of the world) with model year 2027 codes, suggesting Sony is developing a successor to the Xperia 1 VIII. While Sony isn’t exiting smartphones, the looming DRAM shortage could mean higher prices when the 2027 flagship arrives.
Samsung’s updated Smart Switch now works with iOS 26’s Transfer to Android, letting you wirelessly move iPhone data to a Galaxy (including text messages and apps) via a QR‑code setup and even migrate the SIM to an eSIM; the home screen layout is preserved, but occasional transfer hiccups remain and iMessage can still cause some messaging quirks as RCS improvements continue.
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to get its biggest battery boost yet, with US models reportedly packing a 5,567mAh cell (vs. 4,823–5,088mAh on the 17 Pro Max across regions) and Chinese variants around 4,056–4,288mAh. The jump is aided by Apple’s switch to an eSIM-only design in the US, freeing space for a larger pack, and is expected to pair with a next-gen A-series chip and more efficient displays to deliver noticeably longer endurance, narrowing the gap with Android flagships. Launch is anticipated later this year.