Google Pixel 8: Maximising your dual-SIM experience with dual-eSIMs

Before the launch of the Google Pixel 8, there were multiple rumours up in the air about the possibility of it entirely removing its SIM tray — but not to worry, these turned out not to be true and the Pixel 8 still retains its SIM trays. As you consider making your switch or upgrade to the Pixel 8, on top of the technical specifications like camera resolutions, processor chips, and memory, another consideration you might have would probably be its SIM and/or eSIM capabilities.

What SIM does a Pixel 8 support?

The Pixel 8 is equipped with a Nano-SIM slot as well as support for eSIMs. This is not much different from past Pixel phones, with eSIM support being available since the Pixel 3A.

Dual eSIM Capability on Google Pixel 8

As with most modern mobile devices today, Google Pixel phones have long offered dual SIM capabilities. Traditionally, the dual SIM capability on Google Pixel phones required at least one of the SIM to be the nano-SIM, while the other would be an eSIM. In these cases, you could only have one eSIM active at any one point in time.

With the Google Pixel 8, dual-eSIM capability is now supported. This means that you can actually use two eSIMs at the same time, and it eliminates the need for a physical nano-SIM to be available. That said, if you have a nano-SIM, the option to use a nano-SIM is still available for you! You can make use of the dual-SIM capability by either having a nano-SIM and eSIM, or two active eSIMs.

In fact, multiple enabled profiles (MEP) has been available for Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro since the roll out of Android 13. The roll-out of MEP essentially enabled the Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro phones to already come with dual-eSIM capability as long as your device is on Android 13 and later.

Benefits of Dual-eSIM

Dual-SIMs are very useful in that it allows you to have multiple lines at the same time. Aside from allowing you to have multiple lines, one of the most common use cases for a dual-SIM is for travels. Dual-SIM capabilities allow travelers to stay connected using a travel SIM, while ensuring that they can still be contacted on their primary numbers.

The Pixel 8's support for dual-eSIM provides users with the benefits of a dual-SIM, but with increased flexibility. If you are already using an eSIM for your primary line, you no longer have to worry about getting a physical SIM card for your travels to make use of dual-SIM capabilities. Instead, you now also have the option of getting a travel eSIM without having to turn off your primary eSIM during your travels.

eSIMs are very beneficial in that it makes it convenient for users to switch between profiles in just a few taps. If you use multiple lines, having dual-eSIM support makes it much easier for you to switch between the different lines. Simply install your different eSIM profiles, and you can easily turn on/off the lines that you need, without having to switch out your SIM cards. At any one time, you can have two (e)SIMs active, which further reduces the need to turn on/off the different lines.

How to Use Dual-eSIM on Pixel 8?

It is fairly easy to use a dual-eSIM on Pixel 8. You will first have to install one eSIM profiles in your Pixel device and activate it, before installing the second eSIM profile. Once you have your eSIM profiles installed, you can easily switch between eSIMs by accessing your Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs Select the (e)SIM profiles that you want to use for each function.

Can I use Dual-eSIM as long as I have a Pixel 8?

The Pixel 8 (and Pixel 8 Pro) comes with dual-eSIM support. However, dual-eSIM support is also subject to operator support. Be sure to check and confirm with your operator that they have eSIM support for Pixel 8, and that they allow it to be used as a dual-eSIM.

What does this mean for Android phones?

With MEP now available in Android 13, we can expect dual-eSIM support to be a fixed feature in Google Pixel phones. It probably wouldn't be surprising to see other manufacturers of Android devices to start offering this feature in their phones. With Samsung's Galaxy S24 slated to be released next year, we will be very surprised if the Galaxy S24 series doesn't come with dual-eSIM support.

With the growing support for eSIMs and increasing take-up rate, it is probably a matter of time before we see SIM trays being removed from Android devices.

Leverage Dual-eSIM capabilities on your next trip with a Nomad Travel eSIM

Nomad offers data plans in over 165 countries, and you can be sure to find one that is suitable for your travel needs. And if you will be traveling across multiple countries, there are also regional plans available so you can stay seamlessly connected as you hop between countries. Data plans are available from as low as $1.50/GB.

If you are unsure about how much data you need for your trip, Nomad also has a Data Calculator that can help you find the plan that is most suitable for you. Also check out our blog post on data-saving tips when traveling to keep your data usage in check when traveling.