esim for phones ? Any help please

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  1. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #1

    esim for phones ? Any help please


    Hi folks

    This is not particularly a Windows question but so many people on these forums are quite well up on modern phones.

    As I'm now on the 5G network for phones and my old one is around 4 years old and not 5G capable I thought it might be time to upgrade. The 5G offerings I can get look good too with unlimited data etc -- so could be useful too rather than relying on Wifi for Internet when I can't use a LAN cable.

    I quite like Samsung phones (people have different opinions on phones -- OK I get it but I'm used to Samsung) and the point is to find out about this esim stuff rather than "various merits of different brands of phones".

    I'm looking to upgrade to a Samsung Ultra S20 5G - it offers a thing called "esim". so it can have either "2 Sims" or this esim thing and a micro sd card. Can anybody point me into a direction which reasonably explains what these are -- current Google stuff isn't (at least to me) particularly informative or even whether I should bother with esim.


    Cheers

    jimbo
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  2. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #2

    The problem with 5g is the range is very limited ao you may never get it. If you can the download spees are fantastic
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  3. Posts : 16,781
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #3

    The manual Galaxy S20 5G | Samsung Support UK explains that the eSIM card is an embedded SIM card. You can choose to use a normal nano-SIM card or you can choose to enable & use the embedded SIM.

    If the eSIM is not enabled then dual-SIM models have the choice of two nano-SIMs plus a memory card.
    The manual is not at all clear about using the 2nd SIM/memory card slot in dual-SIM models when the the eSIM is enabled.
    - If the eSIM is not additional to the physical SIM card slots then it does not seem to have any benefits at all.
    - If any of the physical SIM card slots are inhibited by the eSIM then the eSIM seems to me to be worse than useless.
    - The download page for the manual does have a Contact us link.

    The instructions for enabling the eSIM [page 25] refer to inputting a QR code so an eSIM seems to me to be no more than an additional SIM built in to the phone that allows phone network providers to provide codes for download rather than cards by post. I have a dual-SIM so I have two different phone numbers with two different carriers & a MicroSD card without any need for eSIM at all.

    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 11 Mar 2021 at 01:32.
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  4. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #4

    FYI, there was/is a big controversy about Samsung claiming US variants would support eSIM when in reality that wasn't true. Many claimed Samsung straight out lied to customers when calling to confirm eSIM capability.

    Here's a thread on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G Ultra about the "claim" - esim availability on the note 20 ultra. I have the Note 20 Ultra so I guess I can't complain about something I don't have (or never knew about).

    Anyway, my point is double check what Samsung claiming.
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  5. Posts : 2,177
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit v22H2
       #5

    Samuria said:
    The problem with 5g is the range is very limited ao you may never get it. If you can the download spees are fantastic
    There are 3 bands for 5G
    • Low band
    • Mid Band
    • High Band

    Low band 5G
    • Longer waves give greater range
    • Aren’t affected by obstacles
    • High latency

    Mid Band 5G
    • Mid-length waves bring balance between speed and range
    • Coverage broad area with fast speeds
    • Better latency

    High Band 5G
    • Short waves cover a small area
    • Super fast transmission
    • Can’t penetrate buildings
    • Low latency

    The first to rollout will probably be Low band 5G followed by Mid Band 5G. High Band 5G will only be used in large cities where the high density of antennas are needed to compensate for its short range. That is the high cost can be offset by the high density of users.

    I have a Samsung S21 5G. I have Metro by T-Mobile. I have 5G service in my town.
    I ran four tests for each mode with Xfinity Speed Test and took the average.
    Network mode: 5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) - Avg: 16.5 Mbps
    Network mode: LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) - Avg: 4.4 Mbps

    My only complaint about the Samsung S21 is unlike the Samsung S20 is that it doesn't support using a micro SD card.

    I have read that the Samsung S21 does have an eSim but all US variants have it disabled.
    Last edited by MisterEd; 10 Mar 2021 at 23:39.
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  6. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #6

    I can tell you I'm not constantly getting 5G in my area yet. In fact my indicator constantly shows 4G, not 5G.

    MisterEd said:
    My only complaint about the Samsung S21 is unlike the Samsung S20 is that it doesn't support using a micro SD card.
    I bought my Note 20 before the S21 was released. But yeah, the S21 would have been passed up simply due to lack of support for SD cards. I think Samsung made a big mistake there.

    That said, I do love my Note 20, being I'm upgrading from the Note 9. BTW, the Note 9 was an upgrade from my Samsung S7 Edge.

    The big selling point of the S21 is the camera. And though it does support the pen use, it's a separate item and not storable on the phone.
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  7. Posts : 2,177
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit v22H2
       #7

    sygnus21 said:
    I can tell you I'm not constantly getting 5G in my area yet. In fact my indicator constantly shows 4G, not 5G.

    I bought my Note 20 before the S21 was released. But yeah, the S21 would have been passed up simply due to lack of support for SD cards. I think Samsung made a big mistake there.

    That said, I do love my Note 20, being I'm upgrading from the Note 9. BTW, the Note 9 was an upgrade from my Samsung S7 Edge.

    The big selling point of the S21 is the camera. And though it does support the pen use, it's a separate item and not storable on the phone.
    The Samsung S21 was a big upgrade for me since my old phone was as Samsung S7. I bought the base 128GB model. I can live with that because if I fill it up I will just move photos and videos to my computer.

    Another difference between the S20 & S21 is that the S21 does not include a power adapter or USB-C headset. When I ordered the S21 I had to buy the Samsung 25W adapter separately. Samsung 25W adapter does not include a USB cable since they assume you have the one that came with the phone.

    Only the Samsung S21 Ultra supports the S Pen.

    The new S Pen will be available as an optional $39.99 accessory, and Samsung says the S21 Ultra will also work with S Pens from other Galaxy Note or Galaxy Tab devices.

    Samsung is selling cases with S Pen carrying slots, which cost $69.99 when bundled with the stylus.
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  8. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #8

    MisterEd said:
    Another difference between the S20 & S21 is that the S21 does not include a power adapter or USB-C headset.
    My Note 20 Ultra didn't come with a headset (nor did I miss it); however, it did come with a power adapter and cord. Anyway, this is another cost cutting ripoff from Samsung. It's ridiculous not to provide a power adapter.

    Didn't realize only the Ultra supports the S-Pen. Thanks for the clarification.

    Kind of messed up but if this is the road Samsung is going to go down with SD card-less phones and no included power adapter, then my next upgrade down the road may have me looking past Samsung. Love their phones, been using them since 2003, but these cost cutting measures make the phone more expensive to own then need be.
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  9. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hi there
    Thanks for all the clarification == 5G around here has been tested at over 1Gbs which is perfectly acceptable in my book even if so far range is fairly limited -- So now I'm really confused about Samsung S20 Vs S21 models. The lack of being able to use a microSD card would be a deal breaker for me though.

    Probably the best solution is to wait a bit -- here also it's a mute point as to whether one would get the USA or European model(s) so another point to query.

    The trouble with waiting a bit is then all the introductory offers like unlimited data will soon vanish once 5G goes mainstream.

    My current phone is the S8 which is still working perfectly OK although no 5G -- so I'll probably retain that as a convenient Handset for TV's etc and to stream audio into a blue tooth transmitter to forward into various devices.

    Thanks though guys.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  10. rqt
    Posts : 130
    Windows 10 mainly 64 bit
       #10

    eSIMs are a programable "SIM" built into the phone. I think they use a QR code for programming.
    In the UK at least only the major networks (EE, O2, Vodafone & maybe 3) have them. All the smaller / virtual networks are physical SIM only.
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