eSIM technology still feels new to a lot of travelers, and that unfamiliarity is exactly why misinformation
spreads so easily. Here are the myths we hear most often, cleared up one at a time.
Myth 1: “eSIMs Aren’t as Reliable as Physical SIMs”
Not true. An eSIM connects to the same carrier networks a physical SIM would, using the same underlying
cellular infrastructure. There’s no technical reason for a properly installed eSIM to be less reliable — see our
full eSIM vs. physical SIM comparison for the details.
Myth 2: “You Can’t Use an eSIM If You Break or Lose Your Phone”
This mixes up two separate things. If your phone breaks, you’ll need to reinstall your eSIM profile on a new
device — the same inconvenience you’d have transferring any digital account. What doesn’t happen is losing
your plan itself; most providers can resend your activation details for reinstallation on a replacement device.
Myth 3: “eSIMs Are Less Secure”
The opposite is generally true. Because an eSIM is embedded in your phone’s hardware, it can’t be physically
removed or swapped the way a plastic SIM can, and it avoids some of the SIM-swapping attack vectors that
target physical cards. See our full eSIM security guide for the details.
Myth 4: “Only Expensive Phones Support eSIM”
eSIM support has expanded well beyond flagship devices. iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and
newer, and Google Pixel 3 and newer all support it — a range that now includes several mid-range models, not
just the newest premium phones.
Myth 5: “You Lose Your Home Number When You Activate a Travel eSIM”
You don’t. Dual SIM support means your home number stays active for calls and texts on your existing line
while the new eSIM handles data — see our full guide on keeping your number while traveling for exactly how
this works.
Myth 6: “eSIM Setup Is Complicated”
In practice, it’s a QR code scan and a couple of taps, typically under five minutes end to end — see our stepby-step setup guide if you want the exact process before your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any real downside to eSIM at all? The main limitation is that not every country or carrier supports
it yet, and very old devices lack the hardware — beyond that, most of the commonly repeated downsides don’t
hold up.
Will eSIM eventually replace physical SIM cards entirely? The trend is clearly moving that direction,
with several newer flagship phones already sold as eSIM-only in some markets, though physical SIMs will likely
remain available for older devices and less-covered regions for some time yet.
Now that the myths are cleared up, the easiest next step is to see it for yourself — check fiGO’s plans for your
next destination and get set up in a few minutes.
