Why you should be using an eSIM

At Virgin Mobile, we are all about business that does good. For example, we have a commitment to sustainability through initiatives such as sustainable packaging for our SIM cards, carbon accounting, waste audits, and office recycling.

Another of our innovations to be a more sustainable business is by offering our customers the chance to choose a greener alternative to their SIM card. This is an eSIM.

What is an eSIM?

An eSIM (or an embedded SIM) is different to a regular SIM card. Unlike a regular SIM card, which can be removed from the phone, an eSIM cannot be removed and is physically connected to the phone. An eSIM is programmable and it is directly connected to the motherboard of a phone. eSIMs also come with added benefits.

You can have more than one number in your device

Although you’ll need to check if your phone is compatible, broadly speaking with an eSIM you can have more than one number assigned to your phone. Some phones even allow more than two phone numbers. This can come handy if you live in or travel to an area with inconsistent coverage or network quality.

Travelling becomes easier

When you land in a new country, you can avoid the sometimes laborious process of finding out where to get a new SIM card, filling out forms, registering and activating a new SIM. But, if you have an eSIM, you can do the whole process online depending on the carrier you choose. How SIM-ple is that?

Better for the environment

Last but not least, using eSIMs is better for the environment. The manufacturing of SIM cards tends to generate a lot of waste. When you use an eSIM, you can lower the impact on the environment as you’ll be using less plastic, less polythene on packaging, and also because they use fewer resources and have more streamlined logistics in terms of production and delivery.

What phones use eSIMs?

Many new smartphones today use eSIMs now – including the latest iPhones and Android devices. Here’s a list of phones that use eSIMs:

Apple

iPhone XS, XS Max*, XR*
iPhone 11 or later
*If you bought your phone in China or Hong Kong it won’t support eSIMs.

Android

Google Pixel 2, 3, 3XL, 3a, 4 or later
Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G or later
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Motorola Razr (2019), Razr 5G
Huawei Mate 40 Pro
Oppo Find X3 Pro
Click here to learn more about Virgin Mobile’s offers on eSIMs.