ESIM is gradually better than before, but why are you still afraid to use it?

ESIM in Vietnam still faces reluctance to change, conversion fees and complicated processes. But as smartphones gradually abandon the closed SIM tray, eSIM will become an inevitable trend. In fact, many people already know about eSIM, some have even used it, tried to change it, or at least heard about it from friends. Therefore, I don't need to repeat what eSIM is anymore. The problem is that there are many concepts that are easily misunderstood, and these misunderstandings create a cautious mentality.

It's like I haven't experienced it yet, but hearing others say "eSIM reception is weak", "losing the QR code means losing money", "changing eSIM is very complicated"... it naturally gives rise to aversion. In reality, there are situations that some people encounter but others do not, depending on the network, device and usage. So, instead of listening superficially and concluding that eSIM is troublesome, I think you should look at the nature of technology, each carrier's policies and hardware trends to have a clearer view.

Cost psychology and QR code ambiguity

The first thing is the "unnecessary expense" mentality. The eSIM exchange fee can range from 25,000–50,000 VND. This number is not large, but for many people, the question is still: "The physical SIM is working well, why change it to lose money?".

This is quite understandable psychology because users do not immediately see benefits big enough to change. Besides that, there is the eSIM QR code story, which is causing a lot of misunderstandings. Many people assume that a QR code can only be scanned once. If you change the device, you have to go to the store to re-issue it, which is both a waste of time and can incur costs.

This is true for some carriers but not all. With Viettel and VinaPhone, the eSIM QR code is basically only used for one-time activation. When changing to another device, users must go through the eSIM re-issuance procedure. Meanwhile, MobiFone supports rescanning in some conditions, while some MVNOs such as iTel, Wintel, FPT have more flexible policies. It is this heterogeneity that makes it difficult for users to imagine how eSIM actually works. This person had trouble changing devices, told others, and then gradually formed the thought that using eSIM is always troublesome. In other words, this is a case of "I haven't had it but I've heard other people have it", thereby forming prejudices before even experiencing it.

The online process is complicated

Another barrier lies in the online eSIM exchange process. Network operators promote that users can sit at home to switch, but in reality they still have to go through a series of steps such as scanning the NFC chip on the chip-mounted CCCD, taking a photo of their face for comparison, signing an electronic contract and making online payments. For tech-savvy users, this is not a big problem. But for common users, if the NFC cannot be read or the face authentication does not match, the process can be interrupted. Some special subscription types, such as beauty numbers or business subscriptions, may also require users to go directly to the store. In addition, the process of converting documents from a 9-digit ID card to a CCCD without a chip, or later with a chip, also leads to the subscriber's data being out of sync at the time of eSIM conversion.

Technical prejudice about waves

This is probably the most classic misunderstanding: eSIM reception is weaker than physical SIM. Technically, this is not true. Physical SIM and eSIM both store subscription information for the device to authenticate with the mobile network. The quality of broadcast reception depends mainly on the modem, antenna, RF front-end, software and network coverage conditions, not whether subscriber information is on the physical SIM or eSIM. Therefore, it is not true that eSIM itself causes the phone to receive weaker signals. And those who complain like that don't have specific numbers to prove it.

Hardware trend: SIM tray gradually disappears

If we ignore psychology and look at smartphone hardware, there is a fairly clear fact: eSIM is being promoted by companies. Apple has completely removed the physical SIM tray on iPhones sold in the US many generations ago, and in Vietnam that is the iPhone Air model. In Android, many flagship models and folding smartphones are also reducing the number of physical SIM slots, combining physical SIM with eSIM. You see, the SIM tray issue is not only about changing the user experience, but also directly related to hardware design. A SIM tray, SIM slot and accompanying mechanical mechanism take up a lot of space inside the device. As smartphones become thinner, batteries need to be larger, cooling systems are more complex and components are more numerous, eliminating components that are no longer really necessary will help companies have more space to optimize.

In fact, many brands previously distinguished two versions: physical dual SIM version and 1 physical SIM + eSIM version. This both complicates the supply chain and increases production costs. Now combined into a single version, companies can both save costs and standardize configurations. And when they don't have to make room for two SIM trays, they can take advantage of that space for other features. For example, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII brought back the microSD slot - a feature that the user community still appreciates. As companies continue to switch to eSIM-first or eSIM-only designs, users will gradually run out of options. Maybe right now you still prefer physical SIMs because of familiarity, but hardware trends will make eSIMs a normal part of the smartphone experience. As this technology continues down to the mid-range and entry-level segments, eSIM is likely to become a common standard rather than a flagship-specific feature.

Better security of eSIM

Another benefit of eSIM that is often overlooked is the ability to protect subscribers when losing their phone. With a physical SIM, thieves can remove the SIM from the device and use it on another device. In some situations, this may facilitate receiving SMS or OTP sent to the phone number. The eSIM cannot be removed that way. Subscription information is built into the device's hardware and cannot be simply retrieved with a SIM stick.

This does not mean that eSIM automatically makes the user's account absolutely secure. If an intruder has gained access to a device or account, many other risks can still occur. However, not being able to remove the eSIM and immediately switch to another device creates an additional layer of physical protection. In case of device loss, users also have more time to lock accounts, lock subscriptions, locate devices or remotely erase data. This is a real benefit that many people only realize after experiencing problems.

Some general comments and advice

In my opinion, the slow eSIM conversion in Vietnam is not necessarily because the technology is not good, but mainly due to user psychology, inconsistent policies, and the conversion experience is not smooth enough. Carriers need to simplify the eKYC process, improve error handling capabilities, and most importantly, make the eSIM reissuance policy transparent. Users need to know exactly how many times they can use their QR code, how to change devices, and in which cases they have to go to the store. Besides, you should not take the experience of one carrier or one specific case to draw conclusions for the entire eSIM. If you've ever changed your eSIM online and encountered NFC, face authentication errors, or had to go to a store, that experience can be completely frustrating. But it reflects the carrier's process at the time, not proving that eSIM itself is an inconvenient technology. On the other hand, if you use eSIM stably for many years, it does not mean that all carriers have the same policy. New hardware trends are the most notable factor. Just like the process from regular SIM to micro SIM, nano SIM to 4G, 5G, at first any change will create a little inconvenience. But as the ecosystem has moved to the new standard, users will gradually adapt. With eSIM, the story will likely be the same.

More importantly, be mentally prepared that physical SIMs will appear less and less on high-end models and may gradually spread to lower segments. Getting familiar with eSIM from now on will help you avoid surprises when the market completely switches to this standard.

Conclude

In summary, you may still find the physical SIM more convenient because you are so used to it. But in a few years, when more and more smartphones no longer have SIM trays, the question will probably no longer be "Should I use eSIM?", but will be "Which carrier best supports eSIM?". Have you used eSIM yet? How was the experience, especially when changing devices or re-issuing eSIM? If you have ever had trouble with QR codes or the conversion process, please share more for everyone to refer to.