eSIM vs SIM

• SIM can be swapped, eSIM cannot.
• eSIM can be loaded or reloaded online via a QR code emailed or text’d, SIM has to be shipped.
• eSIM can be reloaded and used with another carrier or another plan, most SIMs cannot.
• SIM needs a tool or a paperclip, eSIM does not.
• SIM connections and trays can fail, eSIM lacks those entirely.
• SIM can be migrated into eSIM, eSIM cannot be migrated to SIM.
• eSIMs don’t need drawers and are permanently in-built, while SIMs and physical mountings need a fair amount of volume within a phone’s design, and a slot or tray to load the SIM along the outside of the phone.

In the USA at least all iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models since pre-order period that were ordered from Apple with service setup included shipped with the service set up on the eSIM. Apple did that to avoid the waste of physical SIM cards when not needed.

I have not seen any posts about complaints with service issues with iPhone 13 or 13 Pro because of their service being set up on the eSIM. The eSIM can be fully programmed to take advantage of all the new 5G features such as those related to more secure cellular connections.

My iPhone 13 Pro shipped from Apple with my AT&T service set up on the eSIM and it has had zero issues and was pre-ordered on the first day of pre-ordering, so has been using that eSIM for ~9 months now.

The eSIM in iPhones can also be programmed for several separate services, although only one can be active at a time ( About eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support ).

ps: if you’re thinking of swapping carriers, the phone must be carrier unlocked:

How to unlock your iPhone for use with a different carrier - Apple Support

This carrier lock mechanism is independent of the use of eSIM or SIM.

I guess esim can be used to have 2 sim iphone lol (1sim-esim 2sim-Real Sim card)