iPhone Air Eliminates Physical SIM Card Slot | Is eSIM More Expensive Than a Physical SIM Card? Analysis of the Reasons

Why are eSIMs often considered more expensive than physical SIM cards?

Physical SIM cards have a fixed expiration date, and retailers often offer clearance sales nearing their expiration date, resulting in extremely low prices for travel SIM cards. eSIMs are completely different; they are issued by the telecom operator immediately upon purchase, eliminating inventory and expiration issues, and therefore lack the clearance prices of physical cards. However, eSIMs are not always more expensive than physical SIM cards.

If you need to purchase an eSIM, you can compare prices at http://1worldsim.com . The online store already offers Hong Kong SIM cards and global travel cards.

Benefits of eSIM

For users on short business trips or with sudden needs , the biggest advantage of eSIM is its instant download and activation , eliminating the need to visit a telecom operator's store to purchase or wait for a physical SIM card to be mailed, thus significantly saving time and transportation costs. This feature is especially important when traveling internationally or arriving at the airport and urgently needing internet access.

Furthermore, mobile phones or devices that support eSIM can store multiple eSIMs simultaneously, allowing users to quickly switch between them as needed. Whether retaining local and international phone numbers or managing personal and work calls separately, this provides greater flexibility and convenience. This is an advantage that traditional physical SIM cards cannot replace, and it is one of the reasons why eSIM is gradually becoming more widespread in the global telecommunications market.

The significance of eSIM in iPhone 17

Apple's complete removal of the physical SIM card slot on the iPhone Air further promotes the adoption of eSIM technology. This not only makes the device thinner but also provides more space for future heat dissipation design, antenna layout, and internal structure. In fact, Android brands such as Google Pixel have also launched models that only support eSIM, indicating that the international market is gradually moving towards "full eSIM adoption."

For Hong Kong users, most major telecommunications operators now support eSIM. This website compiles a list of recommended popular eSIMs from various telecom operators: https://1worldsim.com/blogs/news/esim-list

in conclusion

In summary, eSIMs are considered more expensive than physical SIM cards primarily due to the lack of clearance sales in overseas markets, higher pricing for cross-border plans, and operator pricing strategies. However, from the perspectives of convenience, flexibility, and long-term use, eSIMs are not necessarily more expensive, and may even be more cost-effective in scenarios involving multi-country travel and multiple phone number management.

With the iPhone 17 Air adopting dual eSIM across the board, this technology is bound to accelerate its adoption, and in the future, "phones without physical SIM card slots" may become the industry mainstream.

Other articles: Lucky SIM - Number Portability and Number Retention

Many people still keep their Hong Kong phone numbers, and the "$138 3-year" plan is the top choice for number portability! Besides free SMS in Hong Kong and overseas, it also includes 15GB of Hong Kong data, all at the same price. The other 13 portability plans offer even greater increases in Hong Kong data!

All data transfer plans and roaming data for 17 countries can be upgraded/renewed later. Whether you are in Hong Kong or overseas, you can purchase more data as needed and never have to worry about running out of data.

Lucky SIM SIM cards are compatible with various phone models, including physical cards and eSIM-enabled phones. Whether you are in Hong Kong or overseas, you can apply for a transfer using the official authorization form below, and an officially authorized agent will contact you.

Google Form application form: https://forms.gle/tY7vCdDgRFTYZd616 (Physical SIM card or eSIM optional)

Official authorized distributor BBK.com is offering priority sales of all LuckySIM and Lucky2 eSIM models. Please refer to the order form for pricing: https://bit.ly/4cTV8VH

Lucky2 13 countries/regions 365 days 10GB Unlimited Data Card

This annual data plan offers 365 days of roaming data service, with the first 10GB being high-speed data. After that, you can continue to use unlimited data at a reduced speed of 512kbps for browsing news, watching videos (low definition), or contacting friends and family via WhatsApp. A best-selling option, this is a rare affordable annual data plan on the market! Real-name registration is not required in Taiwan.

Network Provider:
Unicom China
Macau CTM
Taiwan Mobile
Japan SoftBank/KDDI
South Korean KT/SKT
Singapore Telecom
Maxis Malaysia
Telkmosel Indonesia
Vietnam Mobifone
Thailand AIS
Globe Philippines
Optus Australia
New Zealand TNZ

Lucky2 Travel SIM Card: 365 Days, 46 Countries/Regions, 10GB + 5GB Hong Kong

This annual data plan offers 365 days of roaming data service, with the first 10GB being high-speed data. After that, you can continue with unlimited data at a reduced speed of 384kbps for browsing news, watching videos (low definition), or contacting friends and family via WhatsApp. It also includes 5GB of Hong Kong data – a rare find for such an affordable annual plan! Real-name registration is required only in Hong Kong and Taiwan; no registration is required for other regions.

46 countries/regions include:
China, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Israel, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Serbia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Nigeria, South Africa, Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand

Lucky2 365-day 30GB Unlimited Data Card for China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Macau

The best-selling model, a rare find in the market for affordable Japanese annual data plans! First 30GB of high-speed 5G/4G, then unlimited internet at 512K speed, plus an additional 5GB of Hong Kong data.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, real-name registration is required, but only one registration is needed for use in these two places. Real-name registration is not required in China, Macau, Japan, or South Korea.

Network Provider:
China Unicom
Taiwan CHT/ Taiwan mobile
Macau CTM
JapanSoftbank/KDDI
South Korean KT/SKT

Official authorized distributor BBK.com is offering priority sales of all LuckySIM and Lucky2 eSIM models. Please refer to the order form for pricing: https://bit.ly/4cTV8VH