Dual SIM smartphones have become popular, allowing you to always have two separate phone numbers on the same device. For a long time, the iPhone only supported one SIM card. But over time, more and more users began to require multiple SIM cards. So, Apple also joined the race and released an iPhone with dual SIM support. But are dual-SIM iPhones a better choice than single-SIM ones? Let’s find it out when we discuss the reasons for dual SIM on iPhone.
Which iPhone models support dual SIM?
Apple is expanding its lineup of dual-SIM iPhone models, making them the standard. There are three ways to use two SIM cards simultaneously with iPhone: two active nano-SIMs, two active eSIMs, or a combination of the two.
A nano SIM is a physical SIM card inserted into your iPhone. Alternatively, you can get an eSIM, a digital SIM card. Below is a list of all iPhones that support multiple SIM cards.
| SIM card combination | Supported Devices |
| Two nano-SIM cards (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau only) | iPhone XR, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series |
| Two eSIMs | iPhone 13, iPhone SE (3rd generation) and later |
| 1 nano-SIM + 1 eSIM | iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and iPhone 14 series (outside the US) |
Source: Apple
Note. All iPhone 14 models sold in the US only support e-SIM.
But why do people want to use two SIM cards? Keep reading to find out the most compelling reasons to use a dual SIM iPhone if you’re not sure if you need one.
8 Reasons You Should Buy a Dual SIM iPhone
- Support one iPhone
- Avoid network blocks
- Best network coverage
- Get amazing offers from carriers
- Separate work and personal life
- Easily manage your contacts
- Travel Benefits
- More storage space
Ultimately, it all depends on your individual needs and preferences. Having two phone numbers is beneficial in both personal and professional work. Let’s find out why a Dual SIM iPhone is better than a Single SIM iPhone!
1. Support one iPhone
You no longer need to carry two phones with you if you have a personal and business number. You can use one iPhone using dual SIM technology. Alternatively, you can simply top up one number and access cellular data on your iPhone.
2. Avoid network blocks
Some iPhones may have a carrier or region lock. Carrier lock means your phone is locked to its original carrier, which prevents it from being used with other SIM cards. If you are using a SIM card from another carrier, text messages and calls will not work. Worst of all, Apple doesn’t have access to unlock it.
Also, region lock may be enabled depending on your country and carrier. Thus, it can be difficult to get a new number from other operators. In this case, use two SIM cards to keep the blocked number and still be able to access other networks. When it comes to carrier-related crashes, this will help.
3. Better network coverage
Staying connected during carrier outages or service outages is another goal of the Dual SIM iPhone. In most cases, network coverage varies by location. So, if your phone has two SIMs, you can temporarily switch to another SIM if one of the operators has technical problems or poor signal strength. You will have twice as much network coverage.
4. Get great deals from carriers
With such high competition, all network providers are always trying to keep their customer base. Thus, one network may provide better calling packages, while another may offer more significant discounts on data packages. If you’re using a dual-SIM iPhone, you can have access to all the best carrier deals.
5. Separate work and personal life
It can be difficult to distinguish between business and personal phone bills if you only use one number for both. Thus, having a dual-SIM iPhone helps distinguish between work-related expenses and business compensation. Many people don’t want to give up their personal phone number when switching to a work phone. So, if your company rents you a Dual SIM iPhone, you can use your personal number on it.
6. Easily manage your contacts
The presence of two SIM-cards simplifies the management of personal and professional contacts. In addition, you can set different ringtones for both SIM cards. This way you can easily distinguish between professional and personal calls. If the same contact is in the contact lists of both SIMs, their ringtones will change depending on which number they call.
Also, commercial applications such as Microsoft Outlook can work independently using your business number. On the other hand, WhatsApp can only access contacts on a private SIM card when using two SIM cards on your iPhone.
7. Benefits of travel
If you are traveling abroad, you must top up your roaming account in the destination country in order to make calls. But buying a local SIM card is often much more affordable. Therefore, using a dual SIM iPhone is better than using a single SIM card to greatly increase your travel savings.
In addition, you can take advantage of exclusive discounts on local SIM cards. Contacting local companies or individuals using a local SIM card is easier and ensures greater network reliability.
8. More storage space
You can use the memory of each SIM card to store contacts. There are SIM cards with a capacity of up to 256 kilobytes. So your iPhone can store twice as many contacts, texts, etc. using two SIM cards.
Disadvantages of Dual SIM on iPhone
While there are many benefits to having a dual SIM iPhone, there are a few downsides that you should be aware of.
- This potentially impacts iPhone battery life by reducing standby time. While modern iPhones are equipped with efficient battery management systems, using two SIM cards at the same time can cause the battery to drain faster.
- Dual SIM phones often produce higher electromagnetic frequencies (EMF).
- Also, losing a dual SIM iPhone is twice as problematic as data related to dual SIM cards will be lost. Keeping your iPhone as secure as possible is critical to staying out of trouble.
To sum it up, using a dual-SIM iPhone might not be necessary unless you travel frequently and don’t need multiple phone numbers. I’d rather keep a second spare phone.
two or one; what would you choose?
Purchasing a dual SIM iPhone depends on your needs and preferences. If you travel frequently, need multiple phone numbers, or want to combine your devices, you might want to consider a dual-SIM iPhone. However, a single SIM iPhone may be enough if you don’t need multiple phone numbers. Regardless of your decision, check with your carrier and consider the potential impact on battery life before purchasing.