Galaxy S21 Ultra finally gets eSIM support, but there’s a catch
- US owners of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can now use eSIM.
- However, you must be running the One UI 4.0 beta.
- Activation of the mobile operator requires scanning a QR code.
US owners of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra can now use eSIM support, but only if they have signed up for Samsung beta updates.
The option was introduced along with the first beta of One UI 4.0 for the US and Europe, says Android headquarters. With eSIM, users can activate the phone service without a physical SIM card, which can be particularly useful when traveling internationally. Samsung’s approach requires scanning a QR code from the carrier, which can block some prepaid plans.
See also: What is eSIM, who has it and why should you care?
eSIM has been mentioned in the official Galaxy S21 FAQ for some time. It’s not clear why Samsung has been slow to adopt it, and in fact, Google’s Pixel phones have had eSIMs since 2017.
A likely factor is cost – While eSIM support is relatively cheap to implement, it still adds to a phone’s bill of materials and most phone buyers can get away with a traditional SIM card. In fact, the first SIM cards date back to 1991, which means the technology is cheap and ubiquitous.
