What is an eSIM and how does it work?

The card is already in the phone

An eSIM is not a piece of plastic. It is a chip soldered into the phone at the factory, and instead of swapping cards you download a profile onto it. The profile holds exactly what a plastic SIM holds: which network you may use, how much data you have paid for, and for how long.

The practical consequence is that you can hold several profiles at once. Your Swedish subscription stays put and keeps receiving calls and texts while a travel eSIM handles the data. You switch between them in settings, not with a paperclip.

Which phones support eSIM?

On the Apple side: iPhone XS, XR and anything newer, meaning models from autumn 2018 onwards. iPhones sold in the United States from the iPhone 14 have no card slot at all, only eSIM.

On Android: Google Pixel from the Pixel 3, Samsung from the Galaxy S20, and most recent flagships from Motorola, Oppo, Sony and Huawei. Cheaper models often lack it even when new, so it is worth checking before you buy.

Two things can stop an eSIM even on a phone that supports it. It may be carrier-locked, which is common on instalment plans, and a second-hand phone can carry an old profile that blocks a new one. Both are settled with your operator before departure, not at the airport.

Why is it cheaper?

Outside the EU, Swedish operators bill roaming per megabyte at a price set to deter rather than to be used. A travel eSIM instead buys data directly from a local operator in the country you are in, at that country's price. The gap between the two is often tenfold or more.

Inside the EU different rules apply and your Swedish plan generally works as it does at home. A travel eSIM is rarely needed there, which we say plainly because it is true.

Common questions

Do I keep my Swedish number?

Yes. Your usual SIM stays in place and keeps receiving calls and texts. The travel eSIM is used only for mobile data.

Can I move an eSIM to a new phone?

Usually not. A profile is tied to the phone it was installed on, and deleting one is rarely reversible. Install it on the phone you are actually travelling with.

Does an eSIM work without wifi?

Using it, yes. Installing it needs an internet connection, so install before you leave rather than after landing with no way to get online.