Google is officially ditching support for a physical SIM card slot on its core Pixel 10 series, but only in the US market.
Just like Apple did starting with the iPhone 14 series, Google is no longer supporting a physical SIM card tray in the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, or Pixel 10 Pro XL in the United States. These three devices will still offer a SIM tray in every other country where they’re sold, while Pixel 10 Pro Fold retains a physical SIM tray in all regions, including the US.
Google will instead rely fully on eSIM for Pixel 10, with the US versions now supporting two active eSIMs at once and storage for “8 or more” eSIMs.
This comes as Google has been building out better eSIM support in Android. Where things were pretty messy back in 2022 when we last took a closer look at the situation, Google has since built out better transfer tools for Android, especially on Pixel phones. Google isn’t announcing any major advancements in regards to eSIM at this time, though.
For most users, the difference between eSIM and physical SIM is minor. There can be headaches when switching between devices or carriers, but Apple’s move to go all-in on eSIM in 2022 has pushed the tech forward considerably on the carrier side. And, as for travel, there are numerous eSIM providers that offer international service, often at a lower cost compared to what you’d get from a physical SIM at the airport or from your carrier’s travel/roaming plans.
More on Pixel:
- The Pixel 10 is a colorful, Qi2-packed crowd pleaser starting at $799 [Hands-on]
- Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold officially launches for $1,799
- Pixel Watch 4 hides Google’s biggest upgrade behind classic design & same price [Hands-on]
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