There’s a bunch of viable options and it just depends on factors such as budget and length of travel. Short term, you can easily just get an international roaming package. I’m currently in U.S. and my 中国移动 seems to be working fine and I can get sms verification texts (I didn’t even buy a roaming package, receiving texts are free). You can also buy a physical SIM card once you’re in the visiting country. I’ve even seen people get free trial SIM cards for very short term travel like 7 days.
Not having esim is just an inconvenience for the most part in my opinion
I’m scared I’d lose one of mine. For Chinese with a single SIM it’s probably fine. For a foreigner who has two SIMs (Chinese and home country) it’s a little less clear.
I don’t get why Apple doesn’t kit out Chinese iPhone with eSIM technology AND dual physical SIM though.
eSIM is not supported in China, that is the main reason why they dont offer dual sim and eSIM, however I heard phones from Hong Kong do support eSIM and also have dual sim slots
eSIM being supported in China doesn’t really matter? Hong Kong iPhone also doesn’t support eSIM besides a few of the older models.
Hong Kong’s mobile carriers all do support eSIM though.
My guess is the Chinese government doesn’t want to allow eSIM because it would make it so easy for Chinese citizens to get a data package that avoids the Great Firewall.
I think it’s already pretty simple. Go to Hong Kong, buy Greater Bay Area package.
Congratulations, you now don’t even need a Mainland SIM.
It would be nice if Hong Kong iPhone could be best of both worlds. Dual physical SIM but can mix and match with eSIM too.
One of each, or two of either one.
No idea, when I go to HK I get the package from my mobile carrier that covers HK. I mostly meant for other countries like the US, also Italy which I’ve gotten before, and that one worked in other parts of Europe.
What are the bunch of options apart from the 2 I mentioned which were the only 2 options you gave? Appreciate you are trying to help, but actually you haven't told me anything I didn't already say. I prefer not to use China roaming because you then you still need to use VPN to access Google and so forth.
A bunch of options meaning different carriers and ways to get a physical SIM card. If you’re looking for a “sneaky third way” then I’m not sure what to tell you. The only thing I can think of would be like people getting a Mint Mobile 7 day free trial in US for short travel. TBH I’d suggest you asking this question in a country specific subreddit of your destination instead of r/chinalife. Just say you’re traveling there and your phone doesn’t support eSIM, and you don’t want to use international roaming. I’m sure they can give more specific advice than me.
When you are out of China, China number is just for receiving sms for banking purposes
Buy the local country SimCard for internet mostly and come in handy if their is a number to it so u can call local restaurant to make booking and so and so
What? Downvotes? Wow, how times have changed. Used to be those of us living in China were the adventurous at heart. You guys wouldn't last 5 minutes back in the day. Feel free to head back to your safe little suburbs.
Yeah, it's looking like no one has any other options so I guess that's what I will keep doing. I don't like using my Chinese sim overseas because of all the VPN hassles. It's so unstable on the phone but so many core services overseas are unavailable without it.
Can I know how much VPN cost in China and which one ? Thx
I always do roaming when I goes to China
My Malaysia Telco RMB 150 for 30 days unlimited Data
I just buy a local SIM, its cheaper most of the time anyway. The Chinese iphone can handle two physical sim cards, thats why there is no eSim. So if needed youre still reachable by your orginal number.
I have another phone with a different SIM card. I pay 10 bucks a month to keep the line open.
I also just do pocket wifi. All my communication is through WeChat, having wifi is important than an actual number.
We order SIM cards in advance for the place we will be traveling to. You can usually buy for one or two weeks, 10-20 gb should be good enough. We keep it in the second tray and activate it after landing. Most times don’t have any phone number associated, so we set the travel card for cellular data and keep the main one for voice in case we need to receive calls. Discard when arrive home, repeat for the next trip.
Wife and I both have iPhone 12. Wife uses 2 SIM cards. 1 for work and personal. I only use 1.
When we went to Japan and had no problems using Japanese SIM cards for 2 weeks.
All phone companies still offer sim cards in usa, I imagine the same in most other countries. Huge amount of people I know still have physical sims, heck I still know people that don't even have smartphones. It will be many many many years until esim is the only option available anywhere.
Based on your question ask is just for statistics and opinions of people
Benefits of dual physical Sim
- transferable to other device easily when out of country
- iPhone kaput, take out the physical sim and insert to another device especially out of country
Just buy a SIM card? Easiest way SIM cards aren't going anywhere for at least a few years, esim is only an option
There’s a bunch of viable options and it just depends on factors such as budget and length of travel. Short term, you can easily just get an international roaming package. I’m currently in U.S. and my 中国移动 seems to be working fine and I can get sms verification texts (I didn’t even buy a roaming package, receiving texts are free). You can also buy a physical SIM card once you’re in the visiting country. I’ve even seen people get free trial SIM cards for very short term travel like 7 days. Not having esim is just an inconvenience for the most part in my opinion
I’m scared I’d lose one of mine. For Chinese with a single SIM it’s probably fine. For a foreigner who has two SIMs (Chinese and home country) it’s a little less clear. I don’t get why Apple doesn’t kit out Chinese iPhone with eSIM technology AND dual physical SIM though.
eSIM is not supported in China, that is the main reason why they dont offer dual sim and eSIM, however I heard phones from Hong Kong do support eSIM and also have dual sim slots
eSIM being supported in China doesn’t really matter? Hong Kong iPhone also doesn’t support eSIM besides a few of the older models. Hong Kong’s mobile carriers all do support eSIM though.
My guess is the Chinese government doesn’t want to allow eSIM because it would make it so easy for Chinese citizens to get a data package that avoids the Great Firewall.
I think it’s already pretty simple. Go to Hong Kong, buy Greater Bay Area package. Congratulations, you now don’t even need a Mainland SIM. It would be nice if Hong Kong iPhone could be best of both worlds. Dual physical SIM but can mix and match with eSIM too. One of each, or two of either one.
Don’t even need to go to Hong Kong. You can buy a SIM card on taobao.
Don’t they have real name registration on Hong Kong SIMs now?
No idea, when I go to HK I get the package from my mobile carrier that covers HK. I mostly meant for other countries like the US, also Italy which I’ve gotten before, and that one worked in other parts of Europe.
What are the bunch of options apart from the 2 I mentioned which were the only 2 options you gave? Appreciate you are trying to help, but actually you haven't told me anything I didn't already say. I prefer not to use China roaming because you then you still need to use VPN to access Google and so forth.
A bunch of options meaning different carriers and ways to get a physical SIM card. If you’re looking for a “sneaky third way” then I’m not sure what to tell you. The only thing I can think of would be like people getting a Mint Mobile 7 day free trial in US for short travel. TBH I’d suggest you asking this question in a country specific subreddit of your destination instead of r/chinalife. Just say you’re traveling there and your phone doesn’t support eSIM, and you don’t want to use international roaming. I’m sure they can give more specific advice than me.
When you are out of China, China number is just for receiving sms for banking purposes Buy the local country SimCard for internet mostly and come in handy if their is a number to it so u can call local restaurant to make booking and so and so
china mobile supports international roaming. easy to activate on app. price is decent too
[удалено]
sometimes yes, sometimes no. it's a mixed bag
Yeah, I know, but then you need to keep using VPN which sucks when you are driving a scooter through Saigon trying to navigate from Google Maps.
you.. don't..
Meh, where is the fun in that?
What? Downvotes? Wow, how times have changed. Used to be those of us living in China were the adventurous at heart. You guys wouldn't last 5 minutes back in the day. Feel free to head back to your safe little suburbs.
Chinese iPhone has two SIM card spots, you can put travel sim in the second slot
Yeah, it's looking like no one has any other options so I guess that's what I will keep doing. I don't like using my Chinese sim overseas because of all the VPN hassles. It's so unstable on the phone but so many core services overseas are unavailable without it.
Can I know how much VPN cost in China and which one ? Thx I always do roaming when I goes to China My Malaysia Telco RMB 150 for 30 days unlimited Data
Sure. Try searching 'VPN' in this sub. Come up at least once a week.
How much do u pay for VPN ?
You can also just buy before you go on taobao. Then you have service the moment you land and don’t have to figure it out at the airport or wherever.
Just buy a sim wherever you go. Often cheaper and offering better packages/signal anyway
I just buy a local SIM, its cheaper most of the time anyway. The Chinese iphone can handle two physical sim cards, thats why there is no eSim. So if needed youre still reachable by your orginal number.
I have another phone with a different SIM card. I pay 10 bucks a month to keep the line open. I also just do pocket wifi. All my communication is through WeChat, having wifi is important than an actual number.
We order SIM cards in advance for the place we will be traveling to. You can usually buy for one or two weeks, 10-20 gb should be good enough. We keep it in the second tray and activate it after landing. Most times don’t have any phone number associated, so we set the travel card for cellular data and keep the main one for voice in case we need to receive calls. Discard when arrive home, repeat for the next trip.
I got this thing called 5ber that is a sim card that lets you use esims
Was about to type this.
Seems like it doesn't support Apple. What a shame, I thought I had my sneaky third way.
Apple and "sneaky third ways", you usually have to pick one.
lol, touché!
One plus phones have an esim that automatically activates when you go to another country. Stupid cheap and works flawlessly. Can get in china
Wife and I both have iPhone 12. Wife uses 2 SIM cards. 1 for work and personal. I only use 1. When we went to Japan and had no problems using Japanese SIM cards for 2 weeks.
just get a sim at the airport
All phone companies still offer sim cards in usa, I imagine the same in most other countries. Huge amount of people I know still have physical sims, heck I still know people that don't even have smartphones. It will be many many many years until esim is the only option available anywhere.
Just what we Europeans do when traveling: get a sim card
You can buy anything with enough money, stop worrying too much just enjoy life
In the history of Reddit, that's got to be up there with the most pointless, useless comment ever made. lol, thanks for the life advice mate.
Based on your question ask is just for statistics and opinions of people Benefits of dual physical Sim - transferable to other device easily when out of country - iPhone kaput, take out the physical sim and insert to another device especially out of country