The iPhone X series supports dual SIM cards, which is great for those who want to have two different phone numbers on one device. This feature is available on the new iPhone XS and XR models. The first model, the iPhone X, has a single SIM card and the second model, the iPhone XS Max, has a dual SIM card. To use the dualSIM card feature on an iPhone XS or XR model, you will need to first enable it in your settings. To do this, you will need to go to your Settings app and select General > Airplane Mode > Dual Sim. Once you have enabled dualSIM support on your device, you can then use either of your SIM cards to take calls and send texts using the same account. If you are using an international plan with a foreign country as your primary phone number, then you will need to switch your primary phone number from your domestic plan to the dualSIM card for international calls. You can do this by going into Settings and selecting International > Phone Number & Carrier > Switch Primary Number. Once you have switched your primary phone number for international calls, then you can continue using your domestic plan for domestic calls and switch back to your foreign country’s primary phone number when needed for international calls.
While dual SIM technology has been around for several years now, the new iPhone X series (XS, XS Max, and XR) marks the first time it’s been available in an iPhone. But what does that mean?
What Does “Dual SIM” Mean?
If you’re a lifelong iPhone user, this might be the first time you’ve encountered the term “dual SIM,” so a bit of explanation is in order. For starters, it’s exactly what it sounds like: you have two SIM slots in your phone instead of just one. This way, you can have two phone numbers—even from two different carriers—all on one phone. The phone will seamlessly switch between the two SIM cards for calls, texts, and data.
Historically, this meant dual SIM phones have needed two physical SIM card slots. In the case of the new iPhone X series, however, it’s using a single nanoSIM—the same type of slot iPhones have used since the iPhone 4—along with a new eSIM slot.
eSIM, or “embedded SIM,” is a new type of non-removable SIM card that carriers can program. This means switching carriers doesn’t require a SIM swap; you won’t even have to walk into a brick and mortar store since carriers can program the eSIM remotely. You’ll even be able to program it yourself with an app.
RELATED: What Is an eSIM, and How Is It Different From a SIM Card?
Dual SIM is great for anyone with two phones numbers—like a personal number and business number, for example. It’s also great for international travel, as you can keep your home SIM in one slot, then add your international SIM to the second.
Note: The Chinese iPhone X series phones will have two SIM slots instead of using eSIM.
Cool, So Who Supports eSIM?
In its current state, eSIM is still relatively new tech—especially in phones. The Apple Watch has been using eSIM for a bit, and some smarthome tech also supports it. For phones, however, it’s not as common yet.
At the time of this writing, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all support eSIM, so you’ll be able to switch between them quickly and easily. Then you can drop your work or international SIM card into the available slot on your iPhone.
If you’re on another carrier, well, you’re out of luck for the time being. That does not mean you won’t be able to use a new iPhone on your carrier, of course—it just means that the eSIM won’t be active and you’ll be limited to a single SIM slot.
In other words, nothing changes for you. Easy peasy.
