How To Use Two Sim Cards In One Iphone

Sometimes, we just have too many needs for a single phone number to fulfill. For example, maybe you want multiple carriers when you're traveling for work or on holiday. Other times, you might want to be able to separate your work and personal life.

While Android has endless options for dual SIM phones, there are only a handful iPhone models that let you use this multiple SIM cards. If you're thinking about getting a dual SIM iPhone, here's a list of iPhone models that you can choose from.

What iPhone Models Are Dual SIM Compatible?

For iPhones, there are three ways that you can use two SIM cards at once—two nano-SIMs, two active eSIMs, or a mix of both nano-SIM and eSIM. Using dual SIM, you can send and receive messages, use iMessage, SMS, and MMS while using a single cellular data network at a time. However, more recent models allow for using two active sim cards at a time.

Image Credit: Apple

The nano-SIM is a SIM card that is physically inserted into an iPhone. Alternatively, the eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a cellular plan without a physical SIM card. Depending on where the iPhone was manufactured or what model it is, it will have limitations on what dual SIM combination it can use.

If you're wondering whether your iPhone can support dual SIM, keep reading.

iPhone Models Supporting Two Active eSIMs or a nano-SIM with an eSIM

In Apple's latest releases, you can use dual SIM with either two active eSIMs or a nano-SIM with an eSIM. Here are the iPhone models that let you do so:

iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini

iPhone Models Supporting a nano-SIM and an eSIM

If you don't need a phone that can use two eSIMs at the same time, here's a list of iPhone models that also let you use dual SIM using a combination of a nano-SIM and an eSIM:

iPhone 12
iPhone 11
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR

As of writing, the eSIM option is unavailable for these models if the iPhone was manufactured in mainland China. However, the following iPhone models from Hong Kong and Macau do allow eSIM cards:

iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPhone XS

IPHONE 13 mini

iPhone Models Supporting Two Physical nano-SIMs

Due to government regulations, iPhones manufactured in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau are the only iPhones that let you use two physical nano-SIMs. Here are the iPhone models manufactured in these countries that allow such usage:

iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR

Can You Use Dual SIM on Locked iPhones?

If your device is carrier-locked, you will not be able to use SIM cards from other carriers for the second slot. While you will still be allowed to have two plans from the same network carrier, you cannot use them for foreign networks or an alternative carrier.

If your first SIM card is from a CDMA carrier, your second SIM will not be able to support CDMA. Similarly, if your iPhone is enterprise or corporate-issued, dual SIM capability may vary depending on your organization's contract. For these special cases, you should contact your network carrier to confirm the status of your specific device.

Get the Most Out of Your iPhone With Two SIMs

While you may not find a reason to get a dual SIM device right away, it's possible that the need may arise in the future. As time passes, so do the ways that we use our iPhones. In fact, there are several reasons why you should consider getting a dual SIM iPhone today. So, if you want to get the most out of your iPhone, it's best to have your options open.

6 Reasons You Should Get a Dual SIM iPhone

With Dual SIM iPhones becoming more and more common, here are all the reasons you should get one yourself.