Can You Use an eSIM and Physical SIM at the Same Time?
Yes — most modern smartphones support Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS), meaning you can have a physical SIM and an eSIM active at the same time. This is one of the most practical features for travellers who want foreign data without losing their home number.
How dual SIM with eSIM works
Your phone treats the physical SIM and the eSIM as two separate lines. You choose which SIM handles calls and texts, and which handles mobile data. For travel, the typical setup is: physical SIM for your home number (calls, texts, two-factor authentication), eSIM for cheap local data.
Phones that support eSIM + physical SIM simultaneously
- iPhone XS, XR and all later models (including the dual-SIM models)
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23, and S24 series
- Google Pixel 3 and later
- Most recent Motorola and Sony flagship devices
- Some OnePlus and Xiaomi models (check your specific model)
What you can set independently
On most phones you can configure: which line handles calls and SMS (keep it on your home SIM), which line handles mobile data (use the eSIM), and whether you want to be asked each time you make a call. You can switch at any point in your phone's SIM settings.
One thing to watch out for
Some older plans and carriers lock the mobile data line to the physical SIM. If you find your eSIM isn't getting data even when enabled, check the 'Mobile Data' setting in your phone's SIM management section. Make sure it's assigned to the eSIM line.
The bottom line
Using an eSIM alongside your physical SIM is the travel setup most frequent travellers swear by. Your UK, US, or Australian number stays reachable — your bank texts go to the right place, your family can call you — while your foreign data runs cheaply on the eSIM.