Traveling to Japan, I was excited to use an eSIM for the first time, hoping it would simplify my connectivity needs. I had carefully prepared ahead of time, thinking that ditching the pocket WiFi and relying solely on my phone’s eSIM would be a smooth, hassle-free solution.
However, I quickly learned that my phone needed to be unlocked to add an additional eSIM account, something I hadn’t considered. My iPhone 16, which only supports eSIM, was locked to my carrier, meaning I couldn’t use a physical SIM nor add the travel eSIM I had purchased. This oversight set the stage for a much bigger headache.
To make matters worse, my backup phone—a fully unlocked iPhone 13 that had been set up with the eSIM travel account—decided to fail me completely. The device locked me out and became a useless “brick” right at the start of the trip. Despite my best efforts, including a call to Apple support, there was no way to revive the phone. It was a frustrating experience, especially when I had hoped that my backup would be a safety net in case of issues. Instead, it added another layer of complexity to an already challenging situation.
Now, I’m stuck hitching a ride on my wife’s pocket WiFi, which is inconvenient and not ideal. I had spent so much time planning and preparing for a smooth trip, only to find that my new phone’s inability to use a physical SIM, paired with the failure of my backup phone, left me in a bind. The whole idea of an eSIM, which seemed so appealing in theory, has become a major source of frustration. It’s not just about staying connected—it’s about being able to access critical things like itineraries and Google Maps to navigate a foreign country. Without reliable internet, even the simplest tasks become daunting.
This experience has highlighted just how much we rely on connectivity while traveling, especially in a country like Japan where technology plays such a big role in navigating the cities. For someone who needs to be online constantly, this has been the worst nightmare.
My iPhone 16 may be cutting-edge with its eSIM-only design, but it doesn’t feel as practical now when I can’t even use a physical SIM card.
On top of that, my backup phone, which was supposed to have both a physical SIM and eSIM, chose the worst possible time to “have a stroke.” As I sit here, wondering if I need to rent another pocket WiFi, I can’t help but feel like maybe the good old physical SIM isn’t such a bad thing after all.
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