Okia G18 mobile telephone, 2007-2012 (mobile telephone)

Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone?

Okia G18 mobile telephone, 2007-2012 (mobile telephone)

Can you have an eSIM and a physical SIM on the same phone? The quick answer to this question is yes, but there are certain conditions that must be met in order to be able to pull this off. The potentially better question though, might be what are the real benefits that you can obtain from this? There are actually plenty to chose from. There’s no question that the eSIM revolution is well underway. We feel that physical SIM cards are going to be on their way out big time. Really in the next decade or so this is going to be a question that won’t really matter. In any case, let’s get down to business to see how it is that you can have these two SIMs on the same phone at once. 

As previously mentioned there are a couple of things that you’re going to need in order to be able to get two different types of SIM cards on the same phone. Number one is the most obvious one, you’re going to need a phone that is eSIM compatible and has a regular SIM portal on the phone as well. If you don’t have that the answer to the main question here of can you have an eSIM and a physical SIM on the same phone, is always going to be no. That’s not the only technicality that you need to be on the lookout for though. If you get this done right, as we also mentioned you’ll be able to rack up quite a few benefits. 

  • Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone – Requirements To Get This Done
  • What Are The Benefits of Having Two SIMs? 
  • How Can You Switch From SIM to SIM
  • Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone – Would It Make Sense To Have That Scheme Locally?
  • Does It Affect You In Any Way To Have Two Active SIM Cards? 
  • Quick Ways To Get An eSIM  

Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone – Requirements To Get This Done

blue and yellow phone modules
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We’ve established that you can get this done and you obviously need a phone that is eSIM compatible and also still features a regular SIM outlet. From there what you’re going to need is to unlock the pbone. A lot of people tend to think that this is not going to be an issue for them anymore. As things stand right now though if you bought your phone directly from your regular service provider and infact you are still paying the rent on the device with your monthly fee we have news for you that phone is likely going to be locked. So even if you want to add an eSIM or regular SIM to it you won’t be able to get the device to read the new SIM because of the fact that the phone is locked to one company. 

Could you potentially get another SIM with a different number from the same company? That may actually work without having to unlock your phone. You won’t be able to access better coverage since it technically should be the same, but you can have multiple numbers on one device. Let’s stop before we go too far down that rabbit hole though, and recap. You need a phone that is eSIM compatible and has a regular SIM port. Ideally you’re going to want the device to be unlocked. That’s pretty much going to give you all of the access that you need to be able to have both regular and eSIM technologies on the same phone.   

What Are The Benefits of Having Two SIMs? 

We already spoke about the possibility of having two numbers reach the same device. That’s entirely possible, we know that’s not the only what you’ll be able to do this. In fact you’ve been able to redirect calls to other numbers for years, but anyway that is still one of the benefits that you’ll have. Really what we feel is the main benefit is the fact that you’re going to be able to obtain coverage from different networks. Of course the upside to this is potentially better illustrated when you abroad. What happens is that you’re going to be able to have those two SIMs active in the phone at the same time to be able to get local coverage at better rates. 

You usually want to be careful though you need to keep tabs on which SIM is the one that is active and providing the coverage at any given time when you’re traveling. The last thing that you want is to have the local SIM only to realize that you where getting roaming coverage from your regular SIM all this time. It’s like when you get home and you forget to turn on the Wifi. If you have an unlimited plan it’s more or less ok. If you’re paying roaming for this mistake then that’s a big problem. The multiple network coverage though is certainly the main advantage that you’re going to have when the answer to can you have an eSIM and a physical SIM on the same phone is a yes.    

How Can You Switch From SIM to SIM

black smartphone on black table top
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Of course with the regular SIM you have to insert it in the traditional way. Once you’ve done that accordingly though it should show up in your settings as an active SIM. If you can’t get it to show up in your settings as an active SIM there are usually two things that could be going on. Number would be that the SIM was not inserted properly. You can remove it and try again, make sure that the regular is compatible with the device that you want to insert it in. The other issue that you could be facing is that you still have a locked phone. Make sure you take care of that before you worry about the next steps in the process.  

Once you’ve got everything up and running you need to go to your settings you can type in SIM with most phones if you can’t find the right spot right off the bat. In that menu you’ll be able to switch off the active signal of a particular SIM. Different phones are going to feature different options in certain cases. What may happen is that the phone automatically recoganize with SIM has the best coverage at any point in time and switch to that. However, that can be a problem if you’re using SIM cards from different countries. You could be using up data on your regular SIM when you want to be using it on the SIM from the country that you’re currently located in. 

Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone – Would It Make Sense To Have That Scheme Locally?

We’ve established at this point that in fact you can have essentially two SIM cards on the same phone. Also, we’ve talked about the benefits that doing something like this brings when you’re traveling internationally. What about when you’re just in your home country? Is there a practical use for two SIM cards on the same phone? Again, we’ve talked about the two phone numbers, we don’t necessarily think that’s a massive advantage because really you could a bit more of an advantage from those apps or sites that allow you to get a number from wherever and redirect the calls to your regular cel. What we feel may be an advantage is the coverage situation. 

Maybe you live in an area where the coverage is good, but when you go out to work the coverage in your work area isn’t great on one network. Another network though provides much better coverage around your workplace. If that’s the case then it could totally make sense to have to SIM cards. Sure, you’d have to find plans that make sense to the point where you could be paying two companies for coverage in a month. Either that or you can get your company to pay for it so you don’t really care about the price tag. People in big cities are going to potentially laugh at this suggestion, but there are plenty of rural areas that still don’t get great cell coverage. This is true all over the globe. The situation is unique, but it can happen.   

Does It Affect You In Any Way To Have Two Active SIM Cards? 

close up photo of black smartphone
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It really shouldn’t across the board. The only thing that could be an issue would be restarting the phone and having the SIM card that you don’t want active to kick in. When you’re abroad you want to be very vigilant of this. You may want to activate the SIM because you want to get the texts or calls that you want to make through apps. Essentially what you’re doing is activating the number. You can use that number on a wifi network and be fine and safe from roaming fees. Once you’re outside of the Wifi range you want to make sure that you’re back to getting coverage from the local SIM card. 

If you slipp up there you could end up paying roaming fees regardless. Which is what you where potentially trying to avoid with this scheme to begin with. Other than that though, we would not say that you are in danger of having something “bad” happen to you. Just make sure from time to time that the right SIM card is active so that you’re using the coverage that you’re supposed to. If you reset your phone you really want to make sure that you’re on top of that.  

Quick Ways To Get An eSIM  

There are a couple of ways that you’re going to be able to get an eSIM and have two SIM cards in one phone. The easiest way to get it done is upgrade to an eSIM with your regular service provider. Most of the wireless service providers across the globe are moving towards eSIM technology. With the shortage in tech raw materials that has come about through the pandemic it just makes sense for wireless service providers to make this switch. It’s usually easier to get an eSIM from regular service providers on a long term contract. 

The other thing that you’re going to be able to do is get an eSIM from an eSIM marketplace. This can be a really good option because you can buy coverage as you’re needing it and you really don’t need to deal with contracts and other issues that may be present with traditional methods to be able to get coverage. 

Can You Have An eSIM and A Physical SIM On The Same Phone – Conclusion

The first thing that you really want to have to be able to fulfill this is an unlocked phone. As we mentioned, some people feel that since the phone can hold 2 SIM cards or a en eSIM, and a regular SIM card you won’t have the problem of the phone being locked. Remember though that this is an issue that comes from the service provider. Wireless service providers want to make sure that you stay with them, and this is one of the few ways that they have to try and keep you in the fold. In any case, you can unlock the phone even if you bought it directly from the wireless service provider. 

When you’re traveling abroad it’s a good idea to keep track of which SIM you’re getting coverage from. The last thing that you want to do is think that you’re getting great coverage from your local SIM card only to realize that you’re getting hit with roaming fees. You really shouldn’t have too much trouble beyond that when having two active SIM cards on the phone. It’s just that through the article we’ve tried to really cover all of the things that can happen, particularly in the worst case scenario. To make sure that you don’t get caught off guard.