The iPhone 13 and its pro counterpart – what’s special?
As the possession of two phone numbers – for travel or business purposes – becomes increasingly prevalent in the world, cellular devices with the capacity to carry two SIM cards are becoming more and more popular. Typically, a phone will be able to hold an eSIM and a physical SIM card, or two physical SIM cards. However, with the introduction of the new iPhone 13 and its Pro counterpart, you can use two eSIMs in a single phone, depending on carrier support!
Apple and eSIM
Apple first introduced eSIM functionality in 2018 with the iPhone XS and iPhone XR – with these devices, users would be able to use one physical SIM card and one eSIM. On the other hand, the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro will be the first Apple handsets to allow dual eSIMs, according to the official iPhone 13 spec sheet (which also details all of their other features – read the sheet to find out more!).
Essentially, users of an iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Pro will no longer require a physical SIM card if they want to use two different numbers on the same iPhone — as long as their carrier allows it.
Apple also mentions that the iPhone 13 and 13 mini are incompatible with existing micro-SIM cards (the SIM cards typically used). As a result, users will need to use a nano-SIM card if they intend to use a physical SIM – further emphasizing the benefit of purchasing an eSIM!
Any caveats?
You might experience some difficult switching to an eSIM, however. Some phone carriers dislike eSIMs and may hinder your ability to switch to one. Others may not support eSIMs at all or may even disable them completely in network-sold versions. The pros of owning eSIM, however, far outweighs the difficulties you might face when attempting to acquire one. It is undeniably ideal for international travel or for businesses with a business line. You may never need to visit a carrier store or wait for a SIM card to arrive in the mail.
Here’s what you get when you upgrade to iPhone 13 from your old phone:
Below, we list the most prominent features of the new iPhone 13:
- Phone body: Larger (unless you get an iPhone 13 mini); more durable screen; and better water resistance.
- Display: Larger; brighter; higher resolution; OLED; HDR; True Tone display.
- Chip: Three times the speed of an average iPhone.
- Buttons: Face ID instead of Touch ID; sensors in the TrueDepth “notch” on the display; and gestures in place of the home button. There is no longer any support for 3D Touch.
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Battery life: Significantly improved.
- Networking: supports 5G, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 6, Ultra Wideband
- Camera: Wider aperture and improved sensors on the standard camera; new Ultra Wide camera for more expansive shots; sensor-shift optical image stabilization; Night Mode for low-light settings; Portrait Mode; Deep Fusion for enhanced details; Photographic Styles.
- Selfie camera with higher resolution (12 megapixels) and Portrait Mode.
- Video: Cinematic Mode; HDR video up to 4K 60fps.
- Charging: Wireless Qi and MagSafe charging are supported.
The iPhone 13 Pro also includes the following features:
- Display: The ProMotion display has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
- Camera: 3x optical zoom telephoto lens; ProRAW image capture and ProRes video capture; LiDAR scanner for night mode portraits; faster autofocus in low light; and augmented reality.
Apple’s new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 pro were released on September 24, 2021.
Get to know more about eSIM and all eSIM supported devices in the site now.
**Note: Dual eSIM does not apply for iPhone purchased from China and Hong Kong.
