iSIM vs. eSIM: What’s the Difference?
Remember when Apple introduced the iPhone 4 with a MicroSIM slot, and customers rushed to their carriers for compatible cards? That was the first major change in SIM cards since their inception. It caused some minor—but still—trouble.
At MWC 2023, Qualcomm announced a new advancement in SIM cards: the iSIM. But how is an iSIM different from an eSIM? And what does it mean for mobile users?
What Is an iSIM?
Simply put, an iSIM is a type of eSIM. Usual eSIMs are small chips in a phone’s motherboard. On the other hand, Qualcomm’s iSIM is embedded into the processor.
Qualcomm’s announcementwas made with Thales, a French semiconductor company that purchased Gemalto, then the world’s largest SIM card manufacturer, in 2019. Both Gemalto and Thales are also heavily focused on digital security. Therefore, it can be said that one of the iSIM’s goals is to make devices even harder to tamper with.
Are eSIMs Unsafe?
Not at all. Part of the challenge was to make iSIM as safe as eSIMs, but that only tells part of the story.
After around two decades ofphysical SIM cards, manufacturers launched devices with eSIM support. An eSIM is an integrated chip in your device that contains your carrier, IMEI, and other data relating to your smartphone and account.
Now, just like you change SIM cards on your phone if visiting another country or changing carriers, for an eSIM, a QR Code gets the line activated. So, in theory, switching an eSIM is even easier than turning the device off to switch physical cards.
Also, finding additional space inside phones is a very tough battle. That’s why eSIM was developed in the first place—everything that helps expand this is always welcome. This remains true even for phones with a physical SIM slot since they can have dual-SIM functionality using half the space.
A NanoSIM needs 0.167 square inches that could be used by other components—just for the card itself, not counting for several other required parts. Phones likethe US version of Apple’s iPhone 14line or Motorola’s 2019 Razr don’t have a SIM tray—Motorola reverted this later. Many LTE-enabled smartwatches only support eSIM as well.
For end users,eSIM has several advantages. Firstly, better internals, since manufacturers get that extra space. But also, storing data for several different carriers in a single eSIM is another good example. You won’t be able to use 15 carriers simultaneously, but each one is just a few taps away if needed.
Safety is another positive aspect. Physical SIMs can be damaged, even if unlikely, but using an eSIM makes this difficult. The same applies to iSIMs.
How Are eSIM and iSIM Different?
It’s not just that iSIMs were harder to be made safe than eSIMs. Mostly, it was just a matter of developing the technology and passing through certifications. The eSIM standard was developed by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), a consortium of over 1,200 companies responsible for deciding how mobile phones work.
Qualcomm helped to develop a modem with the eSIM parts built-in. That’s no small feat of engineering because nothing in microelectronics is a small feat, but the concept is as simple as that. Every Qualcomm processor since 2021 has integrated the modem into the system-on-a-chip (SoC), including the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 announced at MWC 2023—the iSIM-compatible SoC. But the tech can be used in standalone modems as well.
Therefore, the difference between an eSIM and iSIM is where the embedded SIM is located. For a usual eSIM, it’s a separate chip. For an iSIM, it’s in the modem. For end users, nothing changes.
Physical SIM, eSIM, or iSIM: Which Is Better?
For the latter two, the answer is “both are fine.” However, considering all three, it depends. In concept, embedded SIM cards, be it eSIM or iSIM, should be more convenient. But that’s not always the case.
The flaw isn’t the tech itself. In objective terms, eSIM and iSIM are more convenient, secure, and environmentally friendly than physical SIM cards. Phones with eSIM support have been available since 2017. The first device to use it, Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch, was announced in 2016. But many carriers don’t handle eSIM usage very well.
From personal experience with Brazilian national carriers, the system doesn’t always work as it should. For example, among the three nationwide carriers, not a single one allows customers to transfer an eSIM whilesetting up a new Android phonewithout heading to a brick-and-mortar store. However,Apple has an eSIM solution baked into iOS. Unfortunately, using eSIM devices in Brazil with an Android is less convenient than having a physical SIM card.
As stated, that’s not something wrong with eSIMs or iSIMs, but an inconvenience created on purpose. Android has a feature for this—but Brazilian carriers prevent it from working. This can also be the case for other countries, so we suggest researching how your local carrier handles eSIM transfers before jumping on the eSIM/iSIM bandwagon. It’s typically easy to switch your eSIM in the US, mind.
Which Devices Use iSIM?
None at the time of writing. Some Android flagships feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen2, but Qualcomm’s MWC 2023 press announcement didn’t mention any phone or manufacturer.
That said, Qualcomm expects iSIM to be used by around 300 million people by 2027. It’s not clear, however, if current versions of the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 are already compatible with the tech or if iSIM compatibility applies only to a yet-to-be-announced hardware revision for the SoC.
Nothing to iSIM Here, Move Along
SIM card technology has come a long way. Did you know the first version, from 1991, looked like a bank card?
A 1st-gen SIM card measured a whipping 85.60 mm x 53.98 mm x 0.76 mm. Although, 30 years ago, mobile phones were slightly brickier (than an actual brick).
Nowadays, an eSIM takes 6% of a NanoSIM’s physical space. An iSIM can’t cut many more corners—miniaturization has its limits. So much fuss for something so small, right?
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