iPhone and iPad that support two cellular calling plans add a side by side option that lets your device draw from both connections when it’s useful. iPhones and iPads released in the past few years with a physical SIM slot let you add a second one in the form of an eSIM. The iPhone 13 and later can use two eSIMs instead of one physical SIM, while the iPhone 14 models sold in the United States only have eSIM support (for use with one or two at a time).
If each network subscription has different capabilities, such as non-local free voice calling or data limits based on network coverage, you can use another SIM in your home area. However, it is most likely that you will install another SIM for traveling away from your home region or country, as I recently did in Central Europe.
If you have some coverage from your main carrier and use a roaming SIM to supplement it, you can take advantage of the feature Apple provides to manage cellular data usage. in Adjustment , cellular / cellular datayou can allow cellular data switching, Apple describes the feature briefly, “Turning this feature on will allow your phone to use cellular data from both lines, depending on coverage and availability.” In practice, it works with a fair amount of sophistication, and it’s worth turning on for what appears to be an optimal experience.
I subscribe to T-Mobile in the US and the company’s Magenta and higher-tier Magenta Max plans include unlimited data at 256Kbps for what T-Mobile describes as more than 215 countries without roaming charges. (Unlimited texting and voice calls are also included at $0.25 per minute.) In the 11 countries covered by Magenta plans and in all countries with Magenta Max plans, T-Mobile also includes 5G rates for a total of 5GB per monthly billing cycle. In my travels, I covered three of the five countries I visited. (Sadly, my billing cycle took all of that usage up from T-Mobile one month, instead of 5GB the next and 5GB the next month.)
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Also, I bought a 5GB eSIM which worked all over Europe. I also found Wi-Fi everywhere, and hotels, restaurants, museums, and other places have access codes prominently displayed or offered freely. Relying on Wi-Fi where possible kept my cellular data load down.
At times, I lagged cell data service even though I should have been getting 5G rates from T-Mobile, likely due to coverage gaps. The same happened while switching to a purchased eSIM plan.
What seemed like a distinct improvement was enabling Allow Cellular Data Switching, providing more consistent coverage at the highest possible data rate without completely emptying the 5GB pot.
Apple doesn’t disclose what it means by “coverage and availability,” but it was clear that where T-Mobile offered just 256Kbps, it still supplements the purchase of an eSIM — otherwise, I’d go with 5GB. Removes fast.
On the last day of my trip, I passed through the airport in Montreal. Canada is another country included in T-Mobile’s Magenta 5GB deal. After checking usage, I found I still hadn’t run through my T-Mobile data and had about 4.7GB on the SIM I purchased just before the last leg home. Perfect landing.
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