Google's Pixel 10 series shifts US models to eSIM-only operation, eliminating the physical SIM tray found on prior models. Pixel 9 allowed either a physical SIM or an eSIM, while Pixel 10 supports two eSIM profiles for separate numbers. eSIMs are embedded hardware that enable multiple carrier profiles and plans on one device, useful for personal and business lines. Activation and management occur via software or QR-code provisioning rather than removing a physical chip. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold remains an exception, retaining both physical SIM and eSIM options. Removing the tray frees internal space for other components and may upset users who prefer removable SIMs.
Google just announced its latest smartphone lineup, the Pixel 10 series, and yes, on the surface, they look a whole lot like last year's Pixel 9. However, there is one very significant change under the hood: the move toward using eSIMs only, ditching the physical SIM card entirely. With last year's Pixel 9 series, users had the option of having a traditional SIM card or an eSIM. With the Pixel 10, foregoing the SIM tray altogether is a rather unexpected move that might not be popular with everyone. Note that this change applies to phones in the US only.
So what's the difference between the two? Traditional SIM cards -- familiar to most smartphone users -- are physical, removable chips associated with a single carrier and number. An eSIM (or embedded SIM) is a built-in component that's part of the phone's hardware. The benefits of an eSIM include the ability to have different profiles attached to different numbers or plans -- even different carriers -- on the same device, allowing for different lines for personal or business, for example. The Pixel 10 series phones will support two eSIM "slots," allowing for two different numbers. This is all managed by the phone's software or by scanning a QR code, instead of extracting a chip from the device.
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