One of the biggest advances in the new iPhone X S X S Max, and X R is the dual-SIM feature which allows you to use two mobile networks at the same time. Like Sinatra, Apple is known for doing things in its own way, so their dual-SIM setup is a bit different than you might think.
All three 2018 iPhone models are dual SIM, just not in the way most of us imagined. Traditionally, dual-SIM smartphones literally had two SIM card slots to allow the use of two networks. However, Apple went a different way and developed flagship to use only a Nano-SIM card and matched it with embedded SIM, eSIM short, together. That said, Chinese variants of the latest iPhones are using the traditional double-nano-SIM slots that give customers the ability to activate two lines more easily. For the rest of the world, creating a second line through eSIM is only possible in iOS 1
What is an eSIM?
Embedded SIMs, sometimes referred to as electronic SIMs, are not new to the mobile phone world. Android devices such as the Google Pixel 2 and the Nuu Mobile X5 use the technology as a viable alternative to physical Nano-SIMs to store your phone number and user data associated with the cellular network. Apple has even used eSIMs in select devices like the Apple Watch 3 and the iPad Pro.
The eSIM is a non-removable chip that is integrated with the new iPhones. If you enable this chip, it works the same way as a physical SIM, for which the new iPhones also have a slot (hence the dual-SIM aspect – a removable and an embedded one). As an added bonus, you can store multiple eSIMs in your iPhone, although you can only use them individually. At this point we are still unsure how many lines you can program into the eSIM of an iPhone. If we know more about it, of course we will review it again.
Because eSIMs are embedded in the hardware of your iPhone in the form of a microchip, compared to a physical Nano SIM card, eSIMs leave significantly less space on your device's motherboard and all its associated hardware components. This reduces the overall cost that may play a role in why the iPhone X R starts at around $ 950 in China, compared to $ 750.

You may feel a little uncomfortable using an eSIM to save your line as it is a way of tying you to your net and switching to one other companies to complicate better service. However, this is not the case, as the transfer of your line from one carrier to another via the eSIM of your iPhone is as easy as changing W-Fi networks.
In fact, the technology behind eSIM is so disruptive that big carriers like it. AT & T and Verizon have been contacted by the US Department of Justice, which will launch an investigation in early 2018 to determine if companies are working with the GSMA to prevent eSIM development and adoption. The investigation revolves around her alleged attempt to influence mobile technology to prevent innovation and maintain dominance.
Which carriers support eSIMs in iPhones?
Due to the general lack of infrastructure to support the iPhone's dual-SIM functionality via eSIM, only a handful of large carriers from ten countries offer eSIM support as of the release date of iOS 12.1:
T, T-Mobile and Verizon dual-SIM functionality with iOS 12.1, while Sprint has also said that they will support eSIM immediately or very soon. According to PCMag, Verizon will offer all regular plans for the eSIM, while T-Mobile and AT & T will offer eSIM support on a roll-out basis.
To repeat, variants of the iPhone X S X S Max, and iPhone X R with The standard dual Nano-SIM configuration is only available in China, Hong Kong and Macau. [19659007] Enabling a Line on an eSIM
As mentioned earlier, the ability to enable a line with an eSIM, primary or secondary, is only available in iOS 12.1 or later. Because of this, you probably already set up your iPhone using the traditional Nano SIM method and set the Nano SIM card number as the primary line.
However, make a secondary line with the eSIM of your iPhone easily enough. Keep in mind that your iPhone needs to be SIM unlocked if you want to use it with two different carriers. Otherwise, you must activate a second line with the same carrier. You can only use GSM plans if your iPhone is already on a GSM carrier or a CDMA carrier. You can not add a secondary CDMA plan if your current plan is CDMA-based.
However, you should also be able to transfer your primary line from your Nano SIM and reprogram it into your iPhone's eSIM to unlock the SIM card slot after you activate the phone. This allows you to use the physical SIM card slot when traveling or switching to a network that does not support eSIMs. Note that if you move a line from a physical SIM card to an eSIM card, the old physical SIM card is likely to stop working.
Detailed information on Adding and activating a lead on the eSIM and more details How it works and what you can and can not do is explained in our complete manual.

![Everything You Need to Know Information on Using Dual SIMs on the iPhone XS, XS Max & XR [19659013] <em> Pictures of Justin Meyers / Gadget Hacks </em></figcaption></figure>
<p> It is worth noting that, as mentioned above, you can store more than one eSIM in your iPhone, using only one eSIM-based line at a time. To switch between eSIMs, you first need to go to the Mobile Settings page in the Settings app. There, select "Mobile Plans", tap the plan you want to use, and click "Turn on this line" to set the number for use. </p>
<p> With two (or more) active lines, you can make and receive voice calls and send and receive ordinary text messages (SMS) and picture messages (MMS). However, you can only use a mobile data network for Internet-based services such as FaceTime, iMessage, and Safari </p>
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The iPhone X S X S Max and X R [19659002] Handle with two active lines in a direct manner. You use your default number set to make or receive calls to contacts you have not yet called. You can manually call a contact with your secondary number, and if you do, your iPhone will automatically use that number to communicate with that contact.
Apple lets you freely choose which phone line to associate with each connection. Contact via an option on its info page. You can also change numbers before making a call by tapping the Primary button in the Dialer app, and then selecting the line you want to use from the input line that appears.


When you call a contact in your Favorites list, swap numbers by tapping the blue information button on the right, then tap your current phone number and dial the other number
During a call, all incoming calls on the second line will not result in call waiting. Instead, they will be forwarded directly to your voicemail (if you have one set up). More importantly, due to a recent call on the other line, you will not receive missed call notification for incoming calls on the second line.
For this reason, we strongly recommend that you set up call forwarding to divert calls between your two lines. Avoid important phone calls. In addition, call waiting and out-of-office notifications will continue to function normally if they are received at the same number as your active call.
Sending and Receiving Messages
For iMessage and FaceTime, your iPhone is X S X S Max, or iPhone X R [19659003] uses the mobile data from the phone number you assigned as the default line. As with phone calls, you can always change the line using the "iMessage" and "FaceTime" options in the "Settings" app.
If that's not enough, you can also change the numbers within the conversation box in the News app by pressing the blue "Primary" button (shown below).
![Everything you need to know about using dual SIMs on the iPhone XS, XS Max & XR [194559013] <em> photo by <a href=](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/66/51/63676493682693/0/everything-you-need-know-about-using-dual-sims-iphone-xs-xs-max-xr.w1456.jpg)
managing your mobile data
As mentioned earlier, X S X S Max and ] X R lets you use only one line at a time with respect to cellular data, as opposed to phone calls , SMS and MMS texts that are active for both lines. You can change the line you want to use on the Internet at any time by simply clicking "Mobile" in the Settings app and then "Mobile data".
Additionally, you can also access the Primary button or Secondary tabs under the Cellular Plans section in Cellular in the Settings app to enable or disable mobile data for each line


Please note that if you are in an active phone conversation on a line that you have not specified as your data number, your mobile data does not work So if you want the Internet to continue to work, you'll need to connect this line to your data line during a call, which can be problematic if you're on the road using Apple Maps to navigate to your destination
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