"The first batch of smartphones with eSIM arrived in 2017 and 2018, with the Pixel 2 and the iPhone XR among the most notable phones. In 2022, Apple ditched the physical SIM slot to go eSIM-only for the U.S. market, and Google followed suit with the Pixel 10 this year. This year, Apple upped the ante by releasing the eSIM-only iPhone Air and offering an eSIM-only model of the iPhone 17 series in more than 11 countries as an option."
"Analytics firm Counterpoint said that in 2024, the penetration of smartphones with eSIM was just 23%. The U.S. is the strongest market for eSIM, with 41% of devices launched in 2024 having eSIM capabilities. Until recently, eSIM has been a feature of top-end devices, but that is changing slowly. GSMA said that just in the first half of 2025, brands have launched than 60 eSIM-enabled smartphones."
"China can be a major factor in eSIM's adoption. This October, after the launch of Apple's eSIM-only phone and a few hiccups, China's telecom providers began offering eSIM support. Pablo Iacopino, an analyst at GSMA, said local manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo will also likely launch more eSIM-native or supported devices. These manufacturers have a big share in economically sensitive markets in Asia and Africa. They can gradually include eSIM support across price ranges to support the domestic demand."
eSIM technology has existed for about a decade but global adoption remained low, around 3% last year and projected to exceed 5% this year. Optimism about rapid growth is driven by travel demand and increasing device compatibility. Major manufacturers, including Apple and Google, have introduced eSIM-only models, improving battery life slightly. Smartphone penetration of eSIM-capable devices reached 23% in 2024, with the U.S. strongest at 41% of new launches. GSMA reported over 60 eSIM-enabled smartphone launches in the first half of 2025. Chinese carriers and manufacturers are beginning to enable eSIM, which could expand adoption across Asia and Africa.
Read at TechCrunch
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