- Pixel 10 will not have physical card slots, confirms Google
- Buyers can transfer Apple to Android and vice versa
- However, Esim’s adoption is unequal and can represent a risk for unprepared travelers
Google has confirmed that ESIMS will replace the physical SIM card slots in its new Pixel 10 smartphone range.
Reports of Android authority Google implementation can also admit bidirectional transfers, which means that users can transfer an ESIM of an Apple device to an Android or vice versa device.
For now, this change seems to be applied only to the US models, but after Apple made a similar movement with the iPhone 14, and now Google is following its example, which even more indicates that the ESIM are revolutionizing the industry in a significant way.
What does this mean for travelers?
ESIMS for International Travel has already become the reference solution for many and now the last Google movement suggests the beginning of a new era.
If the main companies such as Apple and Google commit themselves to only ESIM devices and other technological giants such as Nordvpn and Ipvanish are entering the Esim market, then it is safe to say that the ESIM have become the standard.
On iPhones, the process could be handled through the “Transfer to Android” option in the configuration, while Pixel 10 devices can trust the Android Switch application, either by scanning a QR code or starting a manual connection session.
Android authority It also reports that the function can only be compatible in iOS 26, which is expected to be launched together with the iPhone 17 in September 2025. However, these details remain speculative for now, and we will have to wait for the official deployment to see what is true.
“Going to Esim only makes it faster and easier to connect to a network. You can download a plan in minutes without playing with a small SIM card, which is a great victory for convenience,” says Sarah McGarr, CEO of local SIM.
For travelers, this turn means that feeling comfortable with digital connectivity is no longer optional. As the natural slots disappear, verify compatibility, understand how to activate, transfer and administer esims will be essential to stay connected without problems through borders.
“Verify the best local ESIM plans, choose the best treatment and be online in minutes. The ESIM movement of Google will only make more people wait for this type of convenience, and it depends on the industry to make sure that travelers can always find easy and affordable ways to stay connected,” adds McGarr.
However, the biggest challenge for this revolution is that adoption is unequal. The ability to use an ESIM not only depends on having a compatible device, but also depends on whether local operators support the technology and plans they offer.
Travelers must be prepared and investigate the compatibility of the operators before flying and maintaining a global ESIM application as a backup.
“The ability to use an ESIM does not depend so much on the country and dependent on the device and depends on the network. That means that a traveler could land somewhere just to discover that his mobile network does not yet admit Esim, or that his plan options are limited. In those cases, people can end up paying more in roaming rates or having fewer options than they expected, “concludes McGarr.
