The travel SIM card is not dead — it just got harder to find.
eSIM is fast, convenient, and often the easiest way to buy mobile data before a trip. We use it too, and we like it.
But physical SIM still does a few things better. You can find both formats on mtxc.eu, so this isn’t a case for one against the other, but an honest look at where the older format still earns its place.
Here are five things a physical SIM still does better than eSIM.
1. Pop in and connect
A physical SIM only needs a phone and mobile coverage. No Wi-Fi, no app, no profile download. Insert it, turn on mobile data, and you’re connected.
eSIM needs an internet connection just to get started. That means Wi-Fi or an existing mobile data session to download and activate the profile. Not ideal when you’ve just landed in a new country and have nothing to connect to. Not great in rural areas either.
2. Works with more devices
eSIM requires a compatible device, and that rules out a large part of the global phone market.
Budget Android phones, basic phones, tablets, GPS trackers — none of these support eSIM. Even some modern iPhones don’t: models sold in Hong Kong, China, and Macau still use a physical nano-SIM slot instead of a second eSIM. Some travellers specifically seek out these dual-SIM models.
A physical SIM card doesn’t need compatibility lists, it just needs a slot.
3. Easier to move between devices
If your phone breaks, freezes after an update, runs out of battery, or you simply switch to another phone — pull the SIM out, put it into any unlocked device, and you’re back online. No app needed, no internet connection, no carrier approval.
With eSIM, transferring a profile depends on the device, operating system, and operator support. Apple notes that transfer options vary by carrier, and the process almost always requires an internet connection, which may be exactly the thing you’ve lost.
4. Better for portable routers
Not everyone needs mobile data on just one phone. Families, small teams, film crews, field workers — many travellers use a portable Wi-Fi router to share one connection across several devices.
Most portable routers still run on a physical SIM. For group travel scenarios, that’s often the most practical setup: one SIM, one data plan, internet for everyone.
5. The backup plan that waits in your wallet
A physical SIM can sit unused for months. It doesn’t need to stay installed in a device, doesn’t depend on cloud backup, and doesn’t require re-activation. When you need it, put it in any device and connect.
A small, quiet, boring safety net, and it really works!
SIM or eSIM? With MTX Connect, both.
We don’t make you choose one format.
You can keep up to 10 physical SIMs and eSIMs on one account and one balance. Manage several devices, and use whichever format works best for each situation.
The travel SIM card didn’t disappear because it lost its value. eSIM is simply easier to resell and distribute, so most went eSIM-only. MTX Connect still gives you the choice.
If it makes sense, get your physical SIM or eSIM at mtxc.eu.