E-SIM is a suitable option to reduce the need for physical SIM. E-SIM has reduced the hassle of changing physical SIM while traveling from one country to another.  In this, the e-SIM profile provided by the telecommunications provider of the country you are going to can be activated.

 

However, to make this facility more convenient and secure, Qualcomm is going to bring i-SIM facility.  i-SIM is a SIM feature that can be directly integrated into the processor of the device.  There is no need to have a separate SIM or chip for this.  It works like a physical SIM but has something special about an e-SIM. Compared to the physical SIM and E-SIM chip, the i-SIM is very small, occupying an area of ​​1 square millimeter.

 

According to Qualcomm, it costs less for the smartphone company to integrate this SIM, and its functionality is also higher than that of the E-SIM.  When this SIM is integrated, some space is left on the phone.  By reducing the space, the phone can be made smaller or some other device can be added in that space.  I-SIM consumes less power compared to E-SIM.

 

Chip manufacturer Qualcomm has collaborated with mobile device security company Thales to develop this technology.  It is said that the I-SIM that the company is going to bring will have the latest generation high-standard security protection like the E-SIM.

 

Qualcomm expects to distribute i-SIM in over 300 million devices by 2027.  For this, the company has said that it will support i-SIM in devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.

 

However, the company has not confirmed whether the Galaxy S23 series with this processor will have I-SIM support.  It is said that the feature of i-SIM support will be available in mid-range, high-end smartphones and wearables.

 

SIM cards have become a crucial component for mobile phones and other smart devices to connect to cellular networks. While physical SIM cards have been the only option, advancements in technology have brought about eSIMs as an alternative. This post will discuss the differences, features, benefits, drawbacks, costs, risks, users, and scope of physical SIM and eSIM.

 

There is a growing list of devices that support eSIM technology, including smartphones such as the latest iPhone models, Google Pixel phones, Samsung Galaxy devices, tablets like the iPad, many smartwatches, and some laptops. However, it is important to check if a specific device supports eSIM before assuming it does. The availability of eSIM may depend on the region or carrier, as not all carriers support eSIM technology or only support it on certain plans or devices.


Physical SIM cards are chips inserted into a SIM card slot, while eSIMs are embedded and pre-installed in devices. Physical SIM cards come in different sizes, but eSIMs are a digital version of the physical SIM card built into the device's hardware, which allows users to connect to cellular networks without a physical SIM card.

 

The main advantage of eSIMs is their remote activation, which is useful for people who travel frequently or businesses that need to manage many devices. eSIMs also allow users to store multiple profiles, making it easy to switch between carriers and plans. Additionally, eSIMs are more environmentally friendly, provide better security, and free up space in devices. However, eSIMs are not widely supported, may require upgrading a device, and may come at an additional cost.

 

The cost of physical SIM cards varies depending on the carrier and plan, while eSIMs may have an additional cost, and some carriers may charge a fee for activating or switching eSIM profiles. Moreover, eSIMs are not as widely adopted as physical SIM cards, may be more complex for some users, and have security concerns, especially if the device or carrier systems are not adequately protected.

 

An iSIM is an Integrated Subscriber Identity Module. It’s essentially a more advanced eSIM. It provides the same functionality, but you don’t have to solder it onto the device’s circuit board. Instead, an iSIM has a dedicated space on the System of Chip (SoC), where it’s protected by a Tamper Resistant Element (TRE).

 

Integrated SIMs continue the tradition of making cellular components smaller and more efficient, and it’s just a fraction of the size of an MFF2 (eSIM), which was already substantially smaller than a traditional SIM card. 

 

Advantages of an iSIM:

An iSIM has the same advantages as an eSIM: it’s more durable and tamper-proof, it can change carriers OTA (thanks to its eUICC), and since it’s even smaller than an eSIM and built right into the SoC, it has virtually no impact on your device’s design.

 

Since the iSIM is built into the chipset, you don’t actually even have to install it. No soldering necessary. At scale, this can help you manufacture and deploy devices faster.

 

Disadvantages of an iSIM:

Currently, iSIMs aren’t in widespread use. This is the newest SIM technology on the market, and so the components (and any components that need to be compatible with them) are significantly more expensive.

 

The most obvious difference between the SIM, eSIM, and iSIM is size. Smaller SIM formats give you greater flexibility when it comes to designing your device, and in some applications, building smaller, more discrete devices may be essential. Additionally, eSIMs and iSIMs are always going to cost more than traditional SIM cards. They’re more complex and advanced, which makes them more expensive to produce and develop with. However, this upfront cost can save you the monumental cost (or disruption to your business) of having to physically replace SIM cards down the road.