- Pixel 10 will not have physical sim card slots, confirms Google
- Buyers can transfer Esims from Apple to Android and Vice-Versa
- However, ESIM adoption is unequal and can present a risk for unprepared travelers
Google has confirmed that Esims will replace the physical locations of the SIM card in its new range of Pixel 10 smartphones.
Reports of Android authority Claiming Google’s implementation can also support bidirectional transfers, which means that users can transfer an ESIM from an Apple device to an Android or vice versa device.
For the moment, this change seems to apply only to American models, but comes after Apple has made a similar movement with the iPhone 14, and now Google follows suit, indicating that Esims is revolutionizing the industry significantly.
What does this mean for travelers?
Esims for International Travel has already become the essential solution for many and now Google’s latest decision suggests the start of a new era.
If important companies like Apple and Google are engaged in ESIM devices only and other technology giants like NordVPN and IPVanish enter the ESIM market, it is sure to say that ESIMs have become the norm.
On iPhones, the process could be managed via the “Transfer to Android” option in the settings, while the Pixel 10 devices can rely on the Android Switch application, either by scanning a QR code or by initiating a manual connection session.
Android authority Also reports that the functionality can only be taken care of in iOS 26, which should be launched alongside the iPhone 17 in September 2025. However, these details remain speculative for the moment, and we will have to wait for the official deployment to see what is true.
“Go only ESIM makes it faster and easier to connect to a network. You can download a plan in a few minutes without playing with a tiny SIM card, which is a huge victory for convenience,” said Sarah McGarr CEO of local SIM.
For travelers, this change means that getting comfortable with digital connectivity is no longer optional. As the physical locations of SIM disappear, verification of compatibility, understanding how to activate, transfer and manage ESIMS will be essential to remain connected transparently through borders.
“Check the best local ESIM plans, choose the best deal and be online in a few minutes. Google’s ESIM move will only expect more people expect this type of convenience, and it is industry to ensure that travelers can always find easy and affordable ways to remain connected,” adds McGarr.
However, the greatest challenge to this revolution is that adoption is uneven. The possibility of using an ESIM does not only depend on the possession of a compatible device, it also depends on the support of local technology operators and the plans they offer.
Travelers must be prepared and carry out their research on the compatibility of carriers before flying and keeping a global ESIM application as a backup.
“”The possibility of using an ESIM is not so much dependent on the country that it is dependent on the system and dependent on the network. This means that a traveler could only land somewhere to find that his mobile network does not yet take care of ESIM, or that their plan options are limited. In these cases, people can end up paying more roaming costs or having less choice than expected, “concludes McGarr.
