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Checking eSIM support requires locating an EID code on the device, which can be found by dialing *#06# or through system settings. On iPhones, this is under Settings > General > About, while Android users can check Settings > About phone under Device details or Status information. Apple requires an iPhone XS or later for eSIM support, with iPhone 13 and newer able to run two eSIMs at once.
A new report outlines how devices like iPhones and laptops vary by region, including SIM slot configurations, limited Apple Intelligence access in China, cellular band certification, keyboard layouts like AZERTY, and differing voltage and plug standards across countries. It warns that buying tech from a different country can cause compatibility issues with local carrier networks and electrical systems.
Tello Mobile, an independent wireless carrier running on a major US 5G network, is offering a limited-time deal of 10GB of data with unlimited talk and text for $10 a month. Standard plans start at $5 per month, with options ranging up to an unlimited plan for $25 monthly, and customers can bring their own unlocked phone and number via eSIM activation without a fixed-term contract.
Flipper Devices says it wants to add Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellite connectivity to its upcoming Flipper One device, using the standardized 5G/LTE satellite protocol built on the regular cellular stack with SIM/eSIM authentication. The company is seeking a partner, citing Skylo as an example, to support a satellite network through its eSIM module and help select an NTN M.2 module to officially support.
A SIM Manager connector has surfaced in Gemini on a Pixel 9 running Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2, letting the assistant set up new eSIM profiles, convert physical SIMs to eSIMs, transfer or restore profiles, and delete them. Google has not announced the feature, and it does not appear on non-Pixel devices tested, suggesting an early or accidental rollout. Testing confirmed the connector actually triggers the eSIM setup process rather than just displaying placeholder prompts.
A comparison explains that eSIM and physical SIM cards offer identical network reception and data speeds, with the key distinction being how service is activated and transferred. eSIMs let users activate plans via app, QR code, or settings, store multiple profiles, and set up travel plans in advance without hunting for a local SIM vendor. Physical SIMs remain simpler to remove and swap manually, though eSIM activation requires compatible, unlocked devices.
A tech explainer notes that most modern smartphones allow users to remove and replace physical SIM cards while powered on, without requiring a shutdown or airplane mode. The guide outlines the swap process—ejecting the tray, changing the card, and reinserting it—and notes dual-SIM phone owners should confirm which slot they're changing. It also contrasts physical SIM flexibility with eSIM, which uses QR codes or carrier apps for transfers but can only have a few profiles active simultaneously.
EE has become the first UK carrier to detail pricing for Apple's iPhone Handoff feature, which lets a single eSIM and phone number move between two iPhones. The feature will be included free with EE's Full Works Plus plan or cost £5 per month on other plans, and is listed as 'coming soon' ahead of Apple's stated year-end rollout.
Verizon announced it will support Apple's iOS 27 Handoff feature, which lets a single eSIM number be shared across two iPhones, for $10 monthly. The company also confirmed it will carry the iPhone Duo, with Handoff listed as 'coming soon' to its network. T-Mobile already offers the same feature in the US for $5 a month, as does Deutsche Telekom in Germany.
Apple unveiled iPhone Handoff, a feature letting a user designate a main and a secondary iPhone that share the same phone number, with calls and Find My following whichever device is unlocked. T-Mobile is the first US carrier to support it, charging an extra $5 a month, Verizon plans to add support by year-end, and AT&T currently has no plans to offer it.
Security researchers at Tibane Labs found counterfeit or tampered Ledger Nano X hardware wallets fitted with an extra chip that reads the device's screen output via electromagnetic leakage, plus a hidden LTE modem, eSIM and antenna powered by the wallet's own battery. This setup lets attackers capture a user's seed phrase as it's displayed and transmit it over mobile networks, despite the wallet's Secure Element chip remaining untouched. Ledger has acknowledged at least one customer suffered losses from a manipulated device, with total losses across victims estimated near $100 million.
Apple's iOS includes a Low Data Mode, found under Settings > Cellular > Data Mode, that reduces streaming quality, pauses automatic updates and backups, and limits background refresh to conserve mobile data. Users can also disable Background App Refresh selectively through Settings > General, or block individual apps from using cellular data entirely via the Cellular settings menu.