Physical sim to esim transfer

As far as I know most eSIMs can only be configured through the home network's connection, and in most cases eSIM does not support international roaming, so if your account is Verizon/USA you might want to retain the hardware SIM until you return to USA. Check carefully because the last thing you want is to have the old Hardware SIM deactivated then the new eSIM fail to complete because you are out of area.

Also see Apple's support doc, Find wireless carriers that offer eSIM service - Apple Support

Ask your cellular carrier.

It's up to them, not Apple.

Just FYI, the 5G eSIM that any preconfigured iPhone 13 or 13 Pro ships with works exactly like a physical SIM, including international roaming. When I pre-ordered my iPhone 13 Pro the order mentioned this. I called AT&T and they confirmed that was the case and that the eSIM would function indistinguishably from an AT&T physical SIM.

All of the new model iPhones ordered in the USA preconfigured for Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile are shipping with eSIM setup and no physical SIM included. All 3 carriers have FAQs explaining that the eSIM functions exactly like a physical SIM, supporting all call and service features.

With AT&T, I have never heard anything other than that an eSIM from them will function identically to their physical SIM cards, once the eSIM is activated.

I like that they are doing this with the new phone models. Why clutter the world with millions of additional plastic and metal bits when they are not needed for anything?

Michael Black wrote:

Just FYI, the 5G eSIM that any preconfigured iPhone 13 or 13 Pro ships with works exactly like a physical SIM, including international roaming.

OK, it sounds like they have moved to an updated scheme with roaming support since I last read the specifications. Thanks for the update.