T-Mobile made it harder for tech enthusiasts like me to leave – here’s what changed

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

ZDNET Highlights

• eSIM management became an initial, frustrating, time-consuming challenge.
• T-Mobile now offers amazingly seamless eSIM transfers within its app.
• iOS Quick Transfer also works well for transferring eSIM between devices.

As a mobile reviewer, I spend a lot of time on phones, but I spend comparatively little time reviewing each individual phone. The constant cycle of switching from one handset to another as it launches throughout the year has made one aspect of my life a joy – the SIM card. Not to be confused with eSIM.

Also: eSIM vs SIM: What’s the difference?

As my assignments (or the flights of my imagination) dictate, taking out a SIM card from one phone and moving it to another is no big deal. But all this began to change when Apple moved to an eSIM-only model in the United States two years ago. The first year, I got the iPhone 14 for review and had to transfer my main T-Mobile SIM to it, and so, as a tech reviewer, I decided I wanted to stay on the eSIM as long as possible.

I stayed for about four months.

The following January, calling T-Mobile, explaining to them why I wanted to change my SIM, saying, “No, thanks. I don’t want to buy a brand new phone; I already have one,” and going through that entire process became too much of a hassle. it was a mess.

So, this year, when Google launched the Pixel 10 series of phones ditching the SIM tray, I was ready for a fight once again. I figured at least the Pixel and iPhones launched so close to each other that I could just deal with it for a few months and go straight back to my trusted SIM card.

But to do this, I first have to transfer my SIM from Google Pixel 10 Pro to iPhone…

…and it was…a little easier?

Why eSIM?

Swapping the SIM card is simple, as long as you have a SIM ejector tool (or paper clip). You simply remove the card from one phone and insert it into the new phone. Inside the phone, pins make contact with the SIM card to read it.

The card contains the information needed to connect your phone to the network. Unlike requiring a natively coded chip in an eSIM, the electronic components needed to connect to the network are hard-wired directly into the phone.

Also: How to Clear Your Android Phone Cache (And Fix Slow Performance Forever)

Carriers and phone manufacturers prefer eSIM for a variety of reasons. Most notably, eSIM chips take up even less space inside the phone, freeing up valuable millimeters of internal space for more components, better airflow, or even a larger battery inside the phone’s casing. eSIMs also remove the SIM ejector tray, eliminating another hole in the phone that is an entry point for water and dust, reducing the chance of damage to the phone.

If we’re being completely honest here, there’s also a lock-in effect. Removing the ability to switch from one phone to another without thinking may cause people to stick with their phones (and their carriers) longer.

how’s it going

Since I first got the Pixel 10 Pro, I’ve swapped SIMs for both of their lines several times, switching between phones from Google, Samsung, and yes, even Apple, almost seamlessly.

As it turns out, T-Mobile hasn’t been living up to its accomplishments over the past two years. It has actually built the ability to switch SIMs into its T-Life app. Here’s the process for this: Open the T-Life app, go to Manage, tap on the line you want to transfer, tap “SIM Transfer or Activation” and follow the prompts from there. Ultimately, you will be asked to enter the IMEI and EID of the destination device, and that’s it.

This will take a minute, but you will get a text message that the transfer is complete. In some cases, you need to go into Settings on the destination device and activate the eSIM, but I don’t think this is for every phone.

Also: How to Restart Your Android Phone Without Power Button: 2 Easy Ways

The iPhone also has a SIM transfer method, which is similar but does not involve the carrier. Yes, it works on iPhone and Android phones too. I’ve done this about a dozen times since initially installing the Pixel, and it’s been mostly seamless every time.

one thing needs to be improved

The only thing T-Mobile could (and should) do to make the process easier is to integrate an “Install eSIM on this phone” button, which you can access after entering your username/password and even 2FA information. Mint Mobile (actually a subsidiary of T-Mobile) has a similar method, and I’d love to see T-Mobile adopt it.

The main advantage is that you don’t have to type incredibly long IMEI and EID numbers to make the switch.

At the moment, T-Mobile’s biggest drawback is that the phone you’re using to swap the eSIM must be activated on T-Mobile’s network to initiate the switch. Depending on your account permissions, you may also need to be the primary account holder to do this.

I can (and have) logged in to the T-Life app on dozens of phones, so in theory I should be able to initiate a swap from a non-active phone, but T-Mobile currently prevents this, so it’s a bummer.

Also: Best Android Phones to Buy in 2025

But other than that, the process has been remarkably simple, and I like the fact that carriers are adopting this technology. Apple (and now Google) have forced this, but at least it’s now a relatively simple and evolving process. I also realize that this experience is limited to T-Mobile only, so naturally, your mileage may vary.

At the moment, while the process isn’t as simple as moving the chip from one phone to another, I’m reasonably sure I can put the SIM card in the rearview mirror, even as a tech reviewer who changes phones as often as I change my shoes.