The SIM card was created in 1991 and has shrunk in size over time until the nanoSIM. smaller version of this cardand whose slot is available on all mobile phones in the world.

But… what if there wasn’t that slot and we could use the SIM virtually? That’s what Xiaomi thought and happened four years agoWith the arrival of MIUI 10 in 2018, it was included in various models.

What is eSIM?

Virtual SIM card or eSIM works the same as a regular card, only this version It is part of mobile components. eSIM is a kind of ‘internal memory’ rather than a physical card inserted in the device. data that the original SIM would have is discarded.

Although our Xiaomi mobiles still offer SIM slot for inserting the card, this technology eSIM offers a wide range of benefitsfor both companies and users:

• Producers save device space and use it to develop other components such as batteries or cameras.

• users we wouldn’t have to walk with a skewer additionally to remove the mobile slot we could have had a better device and requesting a SIM can be done online without shipping.

When we wanted to change our carrier, instead of removing the SIM, we would simply associate it. a number our company can disableand portability will be much faster by not having to wait for the card to come home.

Xiaomi was one of the first to adopt eSIM

chinese company has always been a pioneer to incorporate new technologies into their phones and when MIUI 10 was released in September 2018, the new version of this operating system included eSIM compatibility.

However, an update was not the only thing required to take advantage of the virtual SIM. The device also had to be preparedand Xiaomi’s top of the line product at the time, the Xiaomi Mi 8 was the company’s first smartphone with the ability to integrate. Simultaneous physical and virtual SIM.

In addition, the Mi 8 also had NFC, a fingerprint sensor under the screen and infrared face unlock, and all this for a price that did not even reach 500 euros at that time.

4 years and still using the same SIM…

If we have eSIM technology in most Xiaomi mobiles for more than 4 years, Why do we keep using the SIM for a lifetime? The reason is very simple: telephone companies such as Vodafone, Orange or Movistar based in the countries where the mobile phone is marketed. You don’t have an eSIM yetand in countries where this technology may carry an additional cost Which is really not worth it right now.

Produce mobile phones for certain countries without SIM slots requires an extra expense as a manufacturer that most brands are not willing to invest in more different versions.

Therefore, we will have to continue using the physical SIM until now. We have option in Spain and other countries To include an eSIM, there are still no mass market devices that do not include the slot, but we are sure that Xiaomi will be one of the first to do thissoon or later.