Google’s Pixel 10 series is finally here, and for the most part, all the upgrades we were expecting have come to fruition. The Tensor G5 chip promises big performance gains over the G4, the Pixel 10 now has a telephoto camera, and all Pixel 10 models have magnetic charging built in.
While it’s mostly good news, there is one change that’s likely to make a lot of people upset: the removal of physical SIM cards. If you buy a Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, or Pixel 10 Pro XL in the United States, you’ll only be able to connect it to your carrier using an eSIM; the physical SIM card tray that has been on your phone for years is gone on most of the Pixel 10 series.
It’s a big shakeup that’s almost certainly going to rub plenty of folks the wrong way, but I have a hot take: It’s OK. As someone who has exclusively used eSIMs for the last year or so, I welcome Google’s anti-SIM card future.
Will you miss the physical SIM slot on the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL? 151 votes Yes, it should have been there 83 % No, I'm okay with eSIM only 17 %
eSIMs aren’t scary. In fact, they’re pretty darn good
Joe Maring / Android Authority
Although eSIMs have existed since 2012, the technology received its biggest spotlight in 2022 with the release of the iPhone 14, the first major smartphone without a physical SIM card slot. While Android phones have avoided jumping on the bandwagon up until this point, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before that changed — and the Pixel 10 is the first major Android phone to kickstart this change.
I’ve been using eSIMs with my iPhone since 2022 (I keep one on hand for testing purposes), and about a year ago, I also transitioned all of my Android phones to eSIMs. And throughout that time, I’ve not run into any significant issues. If anything, embracing eSIMs has made my life easier.
A great example of this happened when I left T-Mobile earlier this year and switched to Visible for my cell service. Like most carriers in 2025, Visible still offers SIM cards as a backup option, but if your phone supports eSIMs, that’s what you’re encouraged to use. Not only did I transfer my T-Mobile number to a Visible eSIM, but I also did the same for my partner, grandma, and my dad.
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
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