I started using an eSIM for my summer travels — here's why I'll never go back to a physical SIM card
An eSIM is a digital SIM card already built into your phone — instead of installing a physical chip into a card slot, you simply purchase an eSIM and activate it remotely via a Wi-Fi connection (or cell network, depending on your device).
Nomad eSIM: When you're on the road, you need a data plan that matches your vibe. With its convenience, flexibility and coverage in over 200 destinations, Nomad eSIM is an essential companion for all travelers. Nomad has recently launched 21 new unlimited data plans starting at just $11 for three days. This summer, use the promo code NOMADSUN20 for 20% off.
While I can connect to Wi-Fi while traveling, I need to be able to connect to data while out and about without worrying about expensive roaming charges or pay-per-use rates. An eSIM allows me to purchase a data plan for the specific country or region I am traveling to for the duration of my trip at a relatively affordable price.
In addition to cost-effective data options, travel eSIMs have some advantages over purchasing a physical SIM card for a local network. When relying on removable SIM cards in the past, I have had to locate a vendor, leaving a gap between arrival and getting connected to a data network. With an eSIM, you can get everything set up in advance so your plan is active the minute you land. I also had to keep my primary SIM secure for the duration of the trip — SIM chips are tiny and easily lost.
Even if I wanted to use a physical SIM card, I'd have to purchase a second device in order to do so. My iPhone 15 Pro is eSIM only, meaning it lacks a SIM tray. It's far more convenient to use my own device with both a travel eSIM for affordable data and my primary SIM for receiving calls and texts from home than it is to buy and carry two separate phones.
Apple has largely discontinued the use of traditional SIMs in its iPhone lineup (at least for US users), while Android devices typically have dual capabilities with both a physical SIM and an eSIM. Note that your device will need to be carrier unlocked in order to use an eSIM from a different provider.
If you are traveling abroad, an eSIM is the simplest and often most cost-effective option for connecting to cellular data with your existing device. A travel eSIM allows you to do everything from use maps to stream video as soon as you arrive at your destination.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
19 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
Maximize Your Packing Space With These 27 Products
A set of packing cubes to level up your packing game, since these keep your items compressed and organized. You can sort them by item or by day — so when you get off the plane and make it to your hotel, you can easily change outfits without cave-diving into your carry-on to find that one cute top! Or, a pack of vacuum-free, space-saving compression bags that come in handy when you're packing for the trip, but come in SUPER handy when you realize you went a little overboard at those local boutiques and are bringing back way more than you packed in the first place. Just zip up your clothes, roll, and watch all the air leave the bags, making sure you can still zip up your roller board! A travel cable organizer because you've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty, which all come with So. Many. Charging. Cables. This keeps everything organized in one convenient place, and it's even waterproof! Or a 3-in-1 foldable wireless charging pad that charges your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. You can stay organized by getting rid of tangled cords *and* the high-quality magnets in the pad make sure your items don't slip away. And when folded up, it easily fits into your pocket. An eight-compartment pill organizer so you don't have to take up room in your toiletry bag with all your important medications. This compact little guy is great for travel, and some have even used the empty compartments to store smaller items like jewelry. A lightweight, waterproof travel backpack with so many cool features like a shoe compartment, a wet bag, a laptop pocket, *and* a USB charging port. It's perfect for those who know they're going to be taking weekend adventures since it holds a lot but still fits in the dreaded personal item crate! A *mini* Kindle because knowing that this lightweight guy holds thousands of books, has a battery life of up to six weeks, AND has a glare-free screen makes you wonder why you ever let books take up so much space in your carry-on. Now you can tackle your "to be read" list without sacrificing precious suitcase space! A 4-in-1 makeup brush set which saves so much room in your makeup bag because it's only the size of ONE brush. You get a foundation, eye shadow, concealer, AND powder brush! Any wannabe makeup artists on the go, this one's for you. And a Subtl Beauty Stak that has genius written all over it. It allows you to keep up to NINE makeup products in one compact and convenient place, AND you can customize it if your routine is more of a no-makeup makeup routine. Plus, it comes with a mirror lid and includes a brush! A splurge-worthy set of Cadence Capsules if you're a little picky about hotel shampoos and prefer to stick to your tried and trues. These are super sturdy and they're magnetic, so they'll keep all your vitamins, moisturizers, lotions, and basically anything you want to put in them super safe and organized. A hanging toiletry bag that proves you can do a carry-on only, but still bring every toiletry you need. This holds so many things, keeps them in one compact place once you unpack, and lets you see everything at a glance. A neck pillow you can stuff with clothing, which many reviewers have said helped them skirt around those strict carry-on restrictions many airlines enforce. Sometimes you gotta work smarter, not harder, to get in those extra vacay outfits, and this thing does just the job! A tri-fold travel wallet that keeps all your important documents in one super secure, RFID-blocking place. This material allows for your credit cards, IDs, and passport to be safe from any unauthorized access, so you can keep your hard-earned money and enjoy your trip worry free! The iconic Alleyoop Pen Pal, which is basically a cooler makeup version of the classic BIC 4 Color Pen. This has four retractable colors so you can touch up your brows, eyeliner, lips, and highlights. Plus, it takes up little to no room in your makeup/toiletry bag! And Alleyoop's portable travel razor that includes several razors, a moisturizing bar, and a refillable spray bottle to tackle those sneaky little hairs you missed last night while shaving in preparation for your beach vacay. Or an on-the-go Gillette razor, which proves that all the best things in life do come in small packages. This five-blade razor saves space and saves you from using those disposable razors that just don't step up to the plate. A garment travel bag — once this baby goes through the security conveyor belt, the TSA worker is gonna be like, "Oohh, they're smart smart." You'll be so amazed at how much you can fit in this after packing all your clothes in the inner garment section! A jewelry organizer to prevent your necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings from basically getting into a full-on catfight in your suitcase. This is easy to roll up and a LOT easier to pack than a mini jewelry box. A lightweight, waterproof raincoat, which surprisingly packs up super duper small, allowing you to reserve most of your carry-on space for your sunny weather wardrobe. Or an even smaller portable rain hood if you don't want to even bother with packing a designated rain coat at all. So when Mother Nature tries to pull a fast one on ya, you can be like, "Not today!" A 2-in-1 contact and glasses case perfect for those who aren't blessed with 20-20 vision. (Curse you, vision gods!) This allows you to keep your glasses and everything you need for your contacts — a case, contact solution, and rubber-tipped tweezers — in separate compartments but in one place for traveling! A 4-in-1 travel adapter if you find yourself taking a multi-country trip and need something that won't take up a lot of space in your tech bag but will work for all your bucket list destinations. Plus, this lets you plug up to four devices at once! A mini lightweight flat iron so small you'll be amazed at how well it works. If you want to save space in your luggage and maintain your sleek locks, this is the thing for you. A slim, packable Trtl neck pillow if you drew the short stick and got stuck in the middle seat with no good place to lean your head. The internal support system keeps you upright, while the super soft fleece helps you get in those well-deserved Zzzzzs. Plus, it's way less clunky than the traditional donut ones! A mini wallet emergency kit equipped with things like an extra hair tie, Tylenol, a bandage, and a deodorant wipe. Whether you use it on the actual plane ride or keep it in your purse for the vacation days following, this will be sure to come in handy since you'll have just enough of every essential. An Anker charging port that lets you charge six devices at once and helps prevent the family arguments of who gets to use the ONE USB port that's right by the bedside table. Plus, it'll keep the amount of clunky charging blocks (that take up SO much room) to a minimum. A set of genius scrunchies so you can keep your small essentials on you rather than have them take up precious room in your purse or toiletry bag. Plus, it's a great way to sneakily hide your keys or small amounts of cash for those who want to outsmart the pickpockets.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Surveillance-Minded Parents Can Now Hide AirTags In Kids Shoes
We interrupt your regularly scheduled doomscrolling to bring you a new development from the blossoming world of child surveillance: the sneaker brand Skechers is selling new kids shoes that come with a hidden AirTag compartment, enabling parents to quietly track their meandering progeny at all times. Readers, we're officially Skech'd out. According to the sneaker company, the tiny Apple tracking devices can be slotted into a hole in the heel of the shoes that's accessed by lifting the sole. That's the only difference with the shoes in its newly dubbed "Find My Skechers" line — otherwise, they're visually indistinguishable from regular pairs. They were announced earlier this month, but weren't spotted until this week, when they were noticed by Apple Insider. Skechers seems to be aware of how creepy this all sounds, because its carefully worded marketing would have you believe that people want to use $30 AirTags to keep track of shoes that at most cost $60, and definitely not the kids that would be wearing them. "Know where your kid's shoes are at all times and give yourself comfort of mind," reads one marketing line. "See where your kid's shoes are with the Find My app," reads another. "Each pair is designed with a secure, hidden pocket under the insole that perfectly fits an Apple AirTag®*, so you can always know where their favorite shoes are." To be clear, the "Find My Skechers" are for younger kids and not, say, teenagers, who are old enough to demand some privacy away from their parents. And Skechers may argue that it's merely filling an existing demand, as many parents already use AirTags to keep tabs on their toddlers. The peace of mind it could give a beleaguered mom or dad who has to wrangle a bunch of wandering ankle-biters is a powerful thing indeed. Still, in our age of mass surveillance, be it through algorithms or cameras, it does feel a little icky. And who's to say this won't inspire other brands to start selling their own AirTag ready apparel, until we reach a point where teens or adults are expected to wear them, too? "A lot of 12-year-olds are going to learn the phrase 'op sec' in the next few years," quipped one user on Bluesky. More nefariously, what if someone slips an AirTag into one of these compartments without consent — be they a parent or a stranger? What then? Maybe that sounds extreme, but Apple has had to constantly update its AirTag software to combat it being used as a stalking tool — which it has been on an alarming number of occasions. Helpful as it may be, the shoes are a testament to how casual of a practice surveillance has become. "Sync it to your drone for literal helicopter parenting," joked one user in The Verge's comments. More on privacy: Cursed New Dating App Matches You Based on the Most Deranged Thing We Can Imagine
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
iPhone 17 Air leak shows off impossibly thin battery — and it's bigger than we thought
We are so close to the launch of Apple's next iPhone generation. The iPhone 17 series is expected to be officially announced next month, and consistent rumors have suggested that there will be an iPhone 17 Air accompanying the usual suspects. A new rumor from reliable leaker Mijan Bu reveals the iPhone 17 Air's battery capacity, which is reportedly 2,900mAh, slightly larger than initially expected. The leak also says the battery is housed in a steel case. Previously, we had heard that Apple's extra-slim phone would have a 2,800mAh battery. Sure, it's only 100mAh difference, but when you're talking about a battery that small (the iPhone 16 uses a 3,561mAh battery, for perspective) any extra juice is a good thing. As scary as a battery that small is, reports indicate that it'll still offer a full day of battery life thanks to improvements in battery life technology and some performance tweaks in iOS 26. Obviously, we'll need to test this for ourselves to see if a battery under 3,000mAh can really meet the demands of iPhone users, but I'm hopeful. The battery is expected to be small, as previous reports have indicated that the phone will be just 5.5mm thick. The iPhone 16 is 7.8mm, so there's a noticeable difference in depth between the current phone and the rumored Air. If Apple manages to get to that rumored thickness, that would just beat the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures 5.8mm. Apple may not be the first to release a thin phone, but it might have the thinnest, which seems to be the way Apple operates. The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to replace the iPhone 16 Plus in Apple's lineup, meaning the company would still release four devices — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The current prevailing rumor has said that Apple will hold its iPhone 17 event between September 8 and 10, so we won't need to wait too long to learn all about the thin iPhone on the horizon.
