Report: Apple plans to pass on eSIM to Android devices
When switching from iPhone to Android, the transfer of the electronic SIM card is annoying. Apparently Apple wants to help here soon.
eSIM activation (symbolic image): Currently, switching from device to device is often still annoying.
(Image: Linaimages / Shutterstock)
Electronic SIM cards are actually a practical thing: since their introduction, customers of many mobile phone providers no longer have to wait for the physical cards to be sent out. In addition to the physical SIM, iPhones can also store several eSIMs and switch between them, which is clever when using low-cost international tariffs, for example. The problem: switching from one device to another using an eSIM is still not easy. Although Apple has now built in appropriate methods for switching from iPhone to iPhone, in the worst-case scenario you first have to contact the network operator to issue a new eSIM QR code when leaving the ecosystem, which is sometimes only possible by letter. This will apparently change with the upcoming iOS 19 aka iOS 26: according to a report by the blog Android Authority, a new transfer option has been integrated.
iPhone generates QR code
Apple is apparently working with Google on this: The first hints of the feature are in a beta of Android 16, including in the SIM manager app it contains. Apparently there will be a new "Transfer to Android" page in iOS 26 in the system settings, where it is currently possible to transfer to a new iPhone. It will apparently be possible to start a manual eSIM transfer. The iPhone will then display the necessary QR code, which in turn can be scanned by the Android device to transfer the eSIM.
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Mention is also made of a “wireless” mode and the option to enter a session ID or passcode – exactly what for remains unclear. According to the Android 16 beta, iOS 19 (which will probably be called iOS 26) is always the minimum requirement. The new iPhone operating system can be expected in September if Apple sticks to its usual schedule.
EU wants more interoperability
It is unclear whether Apple wants to use the new function to pre-empt regulatory measures from the EU Commission, for example, which is currently working hard to force the company to achieve greater interoperability. Technically, eSIM transfers are not really a big problem, although they currently only work properly between device families – i.e., from iPhone to iPhone and Android to Android –.
It will be interesting to see whether there will also be a reverse method of transferring the eSIM, i.e., from Android to iPhone. Google could integrate this function into its SIM manager.
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