A SIM card built into your phone. What it is, how it differs from a physical SIM and from roaming, and which phones support it.
An eSIM is a SIM chip soldered into your phone at the factory. Instead of swapping plastic, the carrier details are loaded onto that chip as software. Getting a line abroad is no longer a trip to a shop - it is a profile download.
When you buy a package on Penyu you receive a QR code and activation details. Scanning that code installs a partner carrier line for your destination. When you land, your phone connects to that network on its own.
| Your line + roaming | Local SIM abroad | Penyu eSIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready when | Instantly | After queueing at the airport | Days before you travel |
| Your number | Kept | Changes | Kept - your own line stays on |
| Price | The most expensive | Varies, needs haggling | Fixed and known upfront |
| ID / registration | Not needed | Passport required in most countries | Not needed |
| Swapping cards | None | You remove your own SIM | None, nothing comes out |
The plan starts counting the first time the eSIM connects to a network at your destination. That is why installing it at home, on a calm Wi-Fi connection, costs you nothing.
As a rule of thumb: iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer. Two caveats: the phone must not be carrier-locked, and some regional models (notably mainland-China iPhones) ship without eSIM hardware. Check your exact model below.
Saisissez le modèle de votre appareil et découvrez s'il prend en charge l'eSIM
No. The eSIM sits alongside it as a second line. Your number stays reachable for calls and SMS; you only point "cellular data" at the eSIM.
Penyu plans are data-only, so no carrier calls or SMS. Voice and video calls through WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram and similar apps work fine.
No. An eSIM profile installs on one device. Two phones need two plans - which you can buy in a single order by choosing a quantity.
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