7 eSIM Myths, Busted: Battery, Privacy, Security and More
Does an eSIM drain your battery? Can it be hacked or tracked? Is it hard to switch phones? We debunk the seven most common eSIM myths with straight, practical answers.
eSIMs are now mainstream, but a few persistent myths still make people hesitate. Let us clear them up — quickly and honestly — so you can decide based on facts, not fears.
Myth 1: "An eSIM drains your battery"
False. An eSIM uses essentially the same power as a physical SIM — it is just a chip on your board instead of a card in a tray. What does affect battery is signal strength and how hard the radio works, which is identical for both. Running Maps all day drains your battery; the eSIM itself does not.
Myth 2: "eSIMs are less secure or easy to hack"
False — if anything they are more secure. There is no physical card to steal or clone. An eSIM profile is protected by the same carrier-grade encryption as a physical SIM, and it cannot be popped out and moved to another phone by a thief. For SIM-swap-style scams, an embedded profile is a harder target than a removable card.
Myth 3: "An eSIM tracks or spies on you"
False. An eSIM is just a connectivity profile — it carries your data plan, not spyware. It knows no more about you than a normal SIM does (i.e. that your phone is connected to a network). Your privacy is governed by the apps you use and the provider's policy, exactly as with any SIM.
Myth 4: "Switching phones with an eSIM is a nightmare"
Mostly false. Moving a travel eSIM is usually as simple as installing it (or re-downloading it) on the new phone from your account dashboard. Modern iPhones and Android phones also offer quick eSIM transfer during setup. The one caveat: some single-use QR codes install only once — which is why keeping your plan in an account you can re-download from matters.
Myth 5: "You lose your phone number"
False. A data-only travel eSIM does not touch your number. Your home SIM keeps your number for calls and texts while the eSIM carries data. Full details in our keep-your-number guide.
Myth 6: "eSIMs only work on the newest phones"
False. Any phone from roughly 2018–2019 onward supports eSIM — iPhone XS+, Pixel 3+, Galaxy S20+ and most flagships since. Check yours in 20 seconds with our compatibility guide.
Myth 7: "Setup is complicated"
False. If you can scan a QR code, you can install an eSIM — it takes about two minutes. Our step-by-step install guide shows the exact taps for iPhone and Android.
The bottom line
The fears do not hold up: eSIMs are as power-efficient and more theft-resistant than plastic SIMs, they do not spy on you, they keep your number, and they are easy to set up and move. If your phone qualifies, there is no downside to going digital. Browse plans for 190+ destinations and see for yourself.
Straight answer: an eSIM is a safer, equally efficient version of the SIM you already use — with none of the plastic to lose or clone.