The gradual shift from physical SIM cards to eSIMs is gaining momentum as more and more devices integrate this technology. eSIMs offer potential security advantages as they are embedded directly into the device. However, transferring eSIM profiles between devices can still be a hassle, often requiring carrier assistance or the use of new SIMs. To address this issue, Google announced a solution at last year’s Mobile World Congress—a new eSIM transfer tool for Android.
The purpose of this tool is to allow users to securely and quickly move their mobile plans to new devices without the need for physical SIM cards. While Google did not provide specific details or a launch date, users setting up their Pixel 8 devices noticed the practical implementation of this tool as early as October last year. It appears that the tool is now becoming more widely available.
Recently, a user setting up their brand-new Galaxy S24 Ultra using Samsung’s SIM transfer tool encountered a new eSIM transfer option during the setup process. This user reported that a pop-up appeared on their nearby LG V60 ThinQ, allowing them to transfer their SIM to the Galaxy S24 Ultra by simply scanning a QR code.
Samsung had previously introduced its own eSIM transfer tool within One UI 5.1, but it was limited to Galaxy devices only. However, this recent development suggests that the eSIM transfer feature for Android is expanding its compatibility across different brands and models in the future.
While there have been no reports of other brands adopting this feature yet, it is not surprising that Samsung is among the first to do so. Samsung and Google have been building a strong partnership recently, which likely contributed to this collaboration.
It is important to note that, currently, T-Mobile is the only carrier confirmed to support this eSIM transfer functionality in the US. Although there is growing interest in this feature, indicating that other carriers may adopt it in the future, it is still too early to confirm this definitively.
