That was the first major change in SIM cards since their inception.
It caused some minorbut stilltrouble.
At MWC 2023, Qualcomm announced a new advancement in SIM cards: the iSIM.
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But how is an iSIM different from an eSIM?
And what does it mean for mobile users?
What Is an iSIM?
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Simply put, an iSIM is a jot down of eSIM.
Usual eSIMs are small chips in a phone’s motherboard.
On the other hand, Qualcomm’s iSIM is embedded into the processor.
Image Credit:hologram.io
Both Gemalto and Thales are also heavily focused on digital security.
Are eSIMs Unsafe?
After around two decades ofphysical SIM cards, manufacturers launched devices with eSIM support.
Also, finding additional space inside phones is a very tough battle.
That’s why eSIM was developed in the first placeeverything that helps expand this is always welcome.
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.
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.
Qualcomm helped to develop a modem with the eSIM parts built-in.
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.
Phones with eSIM support have been available since 2017.
The first machine 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.
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 thisbut Brazilian carriers prevent it from working.
It’s typically easy to switch your eSIM in the US, mind.
Which Devices Use iSIM?
None at the time of writing.
That said, Qualcomm expects iSIM to be used by around 300 million people by 2027.
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 cornersminiaturization has its limits.
So much fuss for something so small, right?
