The time has come for Apple, Samsung, and Google to address the eSIM issue.

Recently, Apple introduced the new iPhone 16e, and in all of the company's stores worldwide, the only option listed under connectivity is eSIM. A physical SIM card is not mentioned, which initially raised concerns that Apple might have decided to sell the iPhone 16e exclusively in eSIM format globally. However, after conducting some research and reviewing some photos, it was confirmed that this was not the case. This sentiment sparked a reflection on the current state of eSIMs and their potential, especially for travelers.

Throughout a month of travel, the experience with eSIMs has proven to be frustrating. While they were touted as a promising solution to various difficulties, such as saving space on phones and increasing security by eliminating the risk of theft of a physical SIM card, the reality is that many complications still exist. The benefits that were expected from eSIMs for travelers, such as acquiring a local SIM card as soon as you land in a new country or quickly reinstating a SIM card if you lose your phone, have not materialized.

Despite companies like Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad allowing users to add local eSIMs while roaming, strict identification requirements in many countries complicate this process. Most foreign carriers do not offer eSIMs to visitors with prepaid cards, and many require the use of a physical SIM card to activate eSIMs, demonstrating that for an eSIM-centric future to be realized, the current operations of these systems need to change.

In the United States, Apple has already begun selling the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro without a SIM card tray, adopting a fully eSIM approach, which has created various complications for users who wish to swap their SIM cards. While this reduces costs for carriers, it hampers access to more flexible options for travelers.

There is a possibility that manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Samsung could collaborate to resolve the apparent chaos surrounding eSIMs, similar to how they worked together in 2021 to track lost devices. If companies like Samsung were to adopt Apple’s eSIM model, carriers would likely need to improve their practices related to eSIMs.

A key aspect is facilitating the exchange of eSIMs between devices across different platforms without requiring carrier confirmation. Another relevant factor is the standardization of eSIM provisioning technology and customer identification for carriers. This is a crucial step for consumers to easily activate eSIMs, even when abroad.

Despite the potential of eSIMs, the current process for transferring them to new phones remains complicated and frustrating. The absence of a proper solution is evident, and many argue that the limitations surrounding eSIM implementation have more to do with carriers' preferences than with the need to save space in devices. Therefore, it is essential for phone manufacturers to decide on a clear approach for the future of SIM cards.

While there is a longing for a future where eSIMs are the norm, the interests of carriers might hinder any significant progress. If Apple were to globally adopt the eSIM model, this would likely prompt a rapid change in the current situation, although it seems like an unlikely scenario. In the meantime, many users continue to face the same obstacles when trying to switch their eSIMs to a new device.