Is eSIM only on Pixel 10 series a problem for GOS users?

pizzadequeso

I am planing on buying a Pixel 10 Pro in January when visiting the US because the same phone cost at least twice as much in my country. And i literally just found out that US pixel 10 models have removed SIM trays.

Personally, this might be a minor problem because not all carriers offer eSIM in where i live. But i will still get one for 750 usd in USA vs 1,650 usd in my country.

But I am curious, is there a downside for privacy when using eSIM vs sim card? For me, i just know that esim plans tend to be data only and more expensive than buying a local card from a 7/11.

de0u

pizzadequeso I am curious, is there a downside for privacy when using eSIM vs sim card?

I don't know about privacy exactly, but moving an eSIM from one device to another is mostly at the mercy of the carrier (and sometimes can require an app), whereas moving a physical SIM can most often be done in under minute without fuss. Personally I am not in a rush to get a phone without a physical SIM slot.

dawt

pizzadequeso But I am curious, is there a downside for privacy when using eSIM vs sim card? For me, i just know that esim plans tend to be data only and more expensive than buying a local card from a 7/11.

They're exactly the same as regular sim cards, aside from the provisioning process, which is done over the internet for esims.

The "data only" aspect is only because many "normal" carriers don't offer esims, or they make it a hassle to get one, so most peoples' experience of esims are for "travel esims", which tend to be data only. In the US where esims are commonplace, they're basically the same as regular sim cards, with voice + sms service in addition to data.

newbie24689

pizzadequeso and
de0u
FWIW, my (American) P10PF has a slot for a physical SIM.

wizoatk

newbie24689

Yes, USA Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a Nano-SIM like Rest Of World. USA P10, P10 Pro, P10 Pro XL do not.

DirtyDan

Physical sims make it significantly easier to get an anonymous burner number. Esim will require setting up some type of account with a service provider. This really only applies to a tiny subset of providers, especially in the US, since many places in Europe etc have strict know-your-customer laws anyway.

Granted, I do believe that if you're going for anonymity, you really should be getting a separate device for that purpose. There are many ways for your primary device to be fingerprinted from normal use, even with GrapheneOS.