Google Drops Physical SIMs in Pixel 10 US Models, Embraces eSIM

Google unveiled its latest offerings at the Made By Google event, revealing the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Pixel Watch 4, Pixel Buds 2a, and the Pixel 10 series. The new Pixel 10 devices boast several under-the-hood upgrades, but one change is bound to spark debate: the absence of physical SIM card slots in US-bound models. Here’s what you need to know about this shift towards eSIM technology.

During a pre-event preview, I noticed an intriguing detail about Google’s upcoming devices – the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL lack physical SIM card slots. In contrast, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a slot for a traditional SIM card. I sought clarification from Google regarding this discrepancy.

Google opted to remove physical SIM card support from its US-bound Pixel 10 devices, instead choosing to support eSIM exclusively. According to Google representatives at the event, approximately 70% of existing US Pixel owners already utilize eSIM only. This high adoption rate is likely due to the ease of provisioning eSIMs when purchasing Pixels from a US carrier. It’s worth noting that Pixel 10 devices sold outside the US continue to support physical SIM cards.

This decision mirrors Apple’s move when it launched the iPhone 14 in 2022, as all subsequent US iPhones were released without a physical SIM tray. If you prefer a phone with a physical SIM card, you will need to purchase an iPhone abroad. iPhones can accommodate up to two active eSIMs simultaneously and contain a total of eight. The shift away from physical SIM cards sparked controversy among iPhone 14 buyers due to potential connectivity complications.

Google explained that the elimination of physical SIM card slots in US Pixel 10 devices is due to the requirement for mmWave 5G support by US carriers. Millimeter-wave 5G is the fastest wireless network technology available, though its deployment remains limited to select large cities across the country. European carriers do not mandate mmWave support because it is scarcely available on the continent.

To accommodate mmWave components within the US Pixel 10 devices, Google repurposed the internal space typically reserved for physical SIM cards. Since Pixels sold in Europe do not require mmWave, that space is used for SIM cards instead.

Opinions on eSIM technology remain divided. While it offers ease of installation and activation for travel purposes, the process isn’t always seamless. I’ve personally encountered issues with eSIM transfers, requiring lengthy phone calls with US carriers to resolve them. If these problems had arisen while traveling abroad, the outcome could have been more inconvenient.

Whether you view eSIM as a boon or a burden, there is no denying that swapping physical SIM cards between devices provides unparalleled convenience. If you plan to purchase a Pixel 10 in the US, prepare to say goodbye to that luxury.