eSIMs are annoying episode #2 – or why I kicked my iPhone to the curb

ARTICLE – Every week in the past, I posted an article about my experiences transferring an eSIM from my iPhone 15 Professional Max to a model new Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely. Lengthy story brief, it was simple going making the swap from the iPhone to the Samsung however after I tried to modify again, chaos ensued. I ended up having to enter a T-Cellular store to get them to do the change. I even made a Gadgeteer Video Podcast about it which you’ll be able to go watch now if you happen to like.

Okay, all caught up? Good. Let’s skip ahead to late final week after I acquired the OnePlus 12 to evaluation (go examine my unboxing/first impressions). I like OnePlus gadgets so much. My present favourite Android machine is the OnePlus Open folding smartphone. So I wish to do job on the evaluation of the OnePlus 12 which suggests I must make it my main telephone and which means switching the eSIM from the iPhone to the OnePlus. Following up to now?

I went into the OnePlus 12’s cell community > eSIM settings and selected the add eSIM choice. It then requested if I used to be transferring from one other telephone, to select the provider, after which if I used to be transferring from an iPhone. I picked all the appropriate picks and was instantly introduced again to the primary query about including a brand new eSIM. I attempted this half a dozen occasions with the identical consequence. Grrrrrr…

Then I went to T-Cellular’s web site with my MacBook, logged into my account, selected my predominant line, clicked replace machine SIM, and was then proven the picture above. What the heck? Sure, I attempted a number of occasions over a few days with no pleasure.

What did I do subsequent? I placed on my footwear, grabbed a jacket, my iPhone 15 Professional Max, the OnePlus 12, and my keys, and drove as much as the T-Cellular retailer (once more). I felt sort of embarrassed to stroll again into the shop after simply being there every week in the past for the same drawback. I advised them that I needed a bodily SIM for my main quantity in order that I may put it into the OnePlus 12 (which they drooled over). Lower than 10 minutes later, I walked out with a deactivated iPhone in a single pocket and the OnePlus 12 with a bodily SIM and my predominant telephone quantity.

What about my iPhone 15 Professional Max? Nicely proper now, I’m so aggravated with Apple that I don’t even wish to have a look at it. Is that this eSIM drawback really Apple’s fault? Not totally. I do assume that transferring eSIMs backwards and forwards between telephones isn’t one thing that we mere mortals can simply do proper now and never between platforms (iOS/Android). But it surely ought to get simpler between two Android gadgets quickly with Google’s eSIM switch instrument that has been rolling out to some telephones (perhaps that’s what I used on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely final week and didn’t comprehend it).

However when it comes right down to it, I truly do blame Apple for this/my challenge as a result of with the iPhone 14 and newer, they don’t provide you with a selection between an eSIM or a bodily SIM like different telephones do. In the event you don’t wish to use an eSIM, then you may’t use an iPhone. So for now a minimum of, the iPhone and I are on a break.