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Google Fi adds a one-week eSIM trial and 'Wireless' to its name
Google Fi is now Google Fi Wireless, and it's offering some extra perks.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones are the first to support built-in 'iSIMs'
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones can now use 'iSIMs' that save space and money compared to eSIMs.
Apple kills off the SIM tray on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro in the US
Apple gives and it takes away
iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are Apple's first phones with dual eSIM support
Apple's iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are the company's first phones with dual eSIM support — you can use two lines without a SIM card.
Chrome OS update adds a dedicated Google Meet app and eSIM support
Chrome OS devices now come with built-in Google Meet and support eSIMs.
T-Mobile uses eSIM to let iPhone owners test its network for free
T-Mobile is offering a new way for people to test out its network coverage in the area where they live.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra gets eSIM support for T-Mobile in the US
T-Mobile has rolled out an update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that adds eSIM support to the phone, allowing you to use your number without having to slot in a physical SIM.
Apple will reportedly add 5G support for iPhone 12 in dual SIM mode
The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro will not be able to access 5G networks if you’re in dual SIM mode, according internal document that was posted on Reddit a few days ago. MacRumors says it was able to confirm the document’s authenticity — it’s apparently for Apple employee training — and that it obtained another internal Verizon slide containing good news. Apple reportedly plans to roll out a software update that will enable 5G even in dual SIM mode later this year.
You can now set up Google Fi on your iPhone using an eSIM
You can finally activate Google Fi on an iPhone's eSIM instead of having to get a physical card.
Planet Computers' Astro Slide is a smartphone and PDA in one
Planet Computers is continuing to build very unique physical keyboard smartphones with the launch of its latest flagship, the crowdfunded Astro Slide. It's a phone with surprisingly robust specs, but the key trick is that it can be used either as a standard 6.53-inch touchscreen smartphone or as a PDA, thanks to the "RockUp" slide hinge mechansm.
Oppo's first Android smartwatch borrows a lot from Apple
Something felt a little familiar about Xiaomi's Apple Watch clone when we first laid eyes on it a few months ago, but Oppo's first entry into the smartwatch space may have made us do a double take. The aptly-named Oppo Watch was announced alongside the Find X2 series in Beijing earlier today. It's an Android-powered wearable that runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2500 chipset, and for those who care, this comes with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Much like the latest Apple Watches, Oppo's smartwatch lets you make phone calls via an eSIM, make payments via NFC (at least in China) and keep track of your vitals like heart rate, exercise performance, menstrual cycles and sleeping quality. The obvious missing feature here is the electrical heart sensor, meaning no electrocardiogram capability.
Pixel 4 gets improved Face Unlock and other surprise updates
Earlier this month, Google announced that instead of regular Android updates, Pixel 4 devices would get a "Pixel Feature Drop" to show off splashy new features. That update has now arrived, and on top of expected changes like robocall screening and Duo call centering, there are a few welcome surprises, as spotted by XDA Developers and Android Police.
AT&T and Verizon agree to change their eSIM practices
Two years ago, the Department of Justice launched an investigation into whether AT&T, Verizon (Engadget's parent company) and the GSM Association (GSMA) worked together to limit eSIM technology. Today, The New York Times reports that the DOJ is closing the investigation and has found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Xiaomi’s first real smartwatch looks just like an Apple Watch
As Xiaomi gears up to launch its 108-megapixel phone at its November 5th event, the company has also unveiled details of its upcoming smartwatch -- and it looks awfully familiar. The device -- which will probably be called the Mi Watch -- bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch.
T-Mobile eSIMs are finally available for regular phone plans
You no longer have to settle for prepaid service if you're a T-Mobile customer hoping to use eSIM support. The carrier has expanded its eSIM support to allow use with postpaid (that is, regular) plans. You now don't have to be quite so picky when you're setting up a second line or freeing up your physical SIM slot for international cards.
Apple's updated iPad Air and Mini support eSIMs
The iPad mini and iPad Air Apple quietly announced ahead of its big March event will come with eSIM support. Cupertino's latest iPad Pros have eSIM support, as well, but these new entries are the first non-Pro models with the feature. While the Apple SIM works similarly -- and present in older non-Pro iPads -- it's only compatible with the tech giant's partner carriers. By giving these devices eSIM support, they'll be able to work even on the networks of non-partner carriers.
T-Mobile's eSIM support for new iPhones is limited to prepaid lines
Now that AT&T and Verizon have switched on their support for eSIMs in iPhones, it's T-Mobile's turn. The magenta network has released an eSIM app that adds a line to your iPhone XR, iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max without making you insert a little card. There's one big gotcha, though: it's currently limited to prepaid service. T-Mobile pitches this as an option for visitors to the US, existing customers who want a secondary line or would-be switchers who want to try the network without a deeper commitment. Support for regular subscriptions is coming, but you'll presently need to hold off if you wanted to reserve the physical slot for travel SIMs or (gasp) a rival provider.
AT&T is the first major US carrier to support eSIM on iPhone
eSIMs are finally getting a foot in the door in the US. Alongside the news that Apple has officially released iOS 12.1.1 to the public, which includes eSIM support, AT&T has become the first major US carrier to support eSIM for iPhone.
Verizon will reportedly roll out iPhone dual SIM support in December
With iOS 12.1, Apple brought dual SIM support to the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, allowing users of these newest models to utilize both a physical SIM and an eSIM. But due to a software issue that caused dual SIM activation to degrade its service, Verizon opted not to activate eSIMs when the update rolled out. However, according to an internal memo 9to5Mac got its hands on, Verizon will start supporting dual SIM activation come early December.
iPhone dual-SIM support doesn't play nicely with Verizon (for now)
Don't rush to try iOS 12.1's dual-SIM support if you're a customer of our parent company Verizon. PCMag has learned that the current software drops iPhone XS, XS Max and XR users down to CDMA (that is, the 2G network) if you activate another carrier on the eSIM and use your Verizon SIM card for the secondary line while in the US. This won't hurt if you're roaming abroad, but it's crippling for domestic use: You'll lose anything resembling fast data, and even basic coverage will shrink, given that 30 percent of Verizon's cell sites are LTE only. Accordingly, Verizon has decided it would rather decline to activate eSIMs for now than make users suffer when they rely on the company for a second line.
