If we disregard the fact that many older but still usable phones don’t support e-sim (which was the original point), what do you mean ”just” download the e-sim?
At least in my country, getting an e-sim is a pretty involved process which requires secure authentication, and specifically in my case that authentication would be gone with the now-broken phone if one didn’t have the foresight to have a backup (which many people do not).
If you have a physical sim, you can move it to almost any (unlocked) mobile phone in existence (at least in Europe) and at most you’ll need the PIN/PUK.
Of course, this goes the other way as well if you drop your phone in the ocean for example, provided you have alternate authentication and a compatible phone, e-sim will have you up and running again much faster.
Not everyone has that option. For my carrier I have to call them and ask if they can help me set up esim each time because I can't do it myself. And each time it takes at least 30 minutes. Plus I just don't trust esim yet, it hasn't been able to shine as a technology. Give it a few years, I'm all for esim, but we have to make the switch gradually. Give me both for now and keep physical sims alive for the next 7+ years to get everyone onboard. By then the process for getting an esim will have gotten waaay smoother.
Lucky for you, but I don't have that option. I also like having the ability to move a SIM between my 5G CPE and my phone. Not gonna replace a 2 year old, €700 CPE just to try and chase eSIM dreams.
Oh yeah, it's great that my car has a way to install a saddle on, because if the car breaks I can easily switch back to my horse.
Carriers are the real problem here, not letting you easily switch between a physical SIM and an eSIM in case that happens. Some do, but you usually have to call up, there are delays, etc. Ideally it would be an easy switch in their web admin panel.
If we disregard the fact that many older but still usable phones don’t support e-sim (which was the original point), what do you mean ”just” download the e-sim?
At least in my country, getting an e-sim is a pretty involved process which requires secure authentication, and specifically in my case that authentication would be gone with the now-broken phone if one didn’t have the foresight to have a backup (which many people do not).
If you have a physical sim, you can move it to almost any (unlocked) mobile phone in existence (at least in Europe) and at most you’ll need the PIN/PUK.
Of course, this goes the other way as well if you drop your phone in the ocean for example, provided you have alternate authentication and a compatible phone, e-sim will have you up and running again much faster.