Securing eSIM: iPhone PIN or Cell Carrier?

What do you mean by secure your eSIM? The eSIM is attached to your iPhone, unlike a physical SIM. While you can add a SIM PIN to a eSIM, it is redundant if you keep the iPhone locked with a passcode and/or FaceID.

A SIM PIN for a physical SIM is a good idea, because it prevents a thief from removing the SIM in your iPhone and putting it in another phone.

If this doesn’t answer what you meant please clarify.

No, they don’t provide the same security. Locking with the carrier is protection against “SIM swapping” scams, where a malefactor asks the carrier to move your SIM to a different device so they can intercept your

SMS 2 factor authentication codes or pretend to be you. The do this by pretending to be you. Sometimes they trick the carrier CSR through social engineering, but some CSRs actually accept bribes to do it. By adding a security to your carrier account you can better protect your number (and SIM) against SIM swapping scams.

However, SIM swapping is rare, and generally only a risk to people with public personas.

I'm not sure what benefit you'll get from securing an eSim, but you can certainly set up a SIM pin on your iPhone, if it makes you feel better. But every time you restart your iPhone, you'll be prompted to enter your SIM Pin and if you use a Passcode on your iPhone, there really isn't much benefit to this in the first place.