eSIM 101 | The Complete Guide for International Travelers

In today's globalized world, staying connected while traveling internationally is essential. Aviro's eSIM 101 is a great start to understanding what an eSIM is, how it works, and why it's replacing traditional physical SIMs. With its outstanding benefits of flexibility, ease of use, and cost savings, eSIM for travelers is one of the options that's hard to resist.

What is eSIM? The evolution from physical SIM to digital connection

Source: Aviro

From the first SIMs that were the size of ATM cards to today's compact nano SIMs, physical SIMs have always played a role in connecting devices to network operators. However, having to manually remove and install them makes traditional SIMs less flexible and prone to problems when moving around a lot.

eSIM (Embedded SIM) was born as a more modern solution. It is integrated into the device, does not require a card, and can be activated remotely via the internet. Thanks to that, users can easily install eSIM on the device, switch carriers with just a few steps, without having to go to the store or buy a new SIM when traveling abroad.

In addition to convenience, eSIM also allows multiple carrier profiles to be saved on the same device – ideal for frequent business travelers, international travelers, or those who want to use multiple phone numbers in parallel.

Comparing eSIM and physical SIM

Although superior in flexibility and convenience, is there anything that makes eSIM unable to replace traditional SIM? Which is the most suitable solution for users' needs? Let's compare in detail to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type!

Criteria	Physical SIM	eSIM
Form	SIM card to be inserted into the device	Built-in machine
Setting	Time wasted waiting for SIM to be delivered and installed in the device	Activate instantly after scanning the QR code.
Flexible	Difficult to quickly switch between carriers	Easy to change or add multiple network profiles
Safety	May be lost or damaged	Fixed, no fear of falling
Parallel Capability	1 physical SIM + 1 eSIM (depending on device)	Can save multiple eSIMs and switch flexibly
Compatible devices	Most phones support it	Only works on eSIM enabled devices
Environmental Impact	Causes plastic waste and packaging	Environmentally friendly
Security	Stolen can be removed and used for other devices	Attached to the device, difficult to interfere with if the device is lost

What is mobile data? How much data do I need when using an eSIM?

Source: Canva

Most things you do on your phone, from browsing the web to using Google Maps to watching videos to messaging apps, require mobile data to connect to the internet. Each task uses a different amount of data. For example, browsing the web only uses about 50MB per hour, while watching 4K video can use up to 7GB per hour.

To put that into perspective: 1GB of data = 1024MB. Every time you download or upload something using mobile internet, you are “consuming” that MB/GB. The amount of data you need will depend on the apps you use most often and how much time you spend on them each day.

Here are estimates of data consumption by popular apps:

Google Maps : ~5MB/hour

Social media browsing (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok…): ~50MB/hour

Web browsing : ~50MB/hour

Play online games : ~70MB/hour or more

Listen to music online : ~100MB/hour

Watch video :

SD Quality: ~1GB/hour
HD: ~4GB/hour
4K: ~7GB/hour

You can refer to the table of estimated usage capacity for 1GB/day, 2GB/day, 3GB/day packages as below:

Source: Aviro

So if you only use your phone for maps, checking email, and texting, you may only need about 1–2GB per week of travel. But if you frequently watch videos or work remotely, consider a higher plan like 5GB or 10GB.

How to choose the right eSIM package when traveling

Once you have calculated your data consumption, choosing an international travel eSIM package becomes much simpler. At Aviro, you can easily choose the appropriate data package (by day or total data) and the validity period corresponding to your schedule.

For example, if you are planning to travel to Japan for 10 days and expect to need around 3GB of data per day, you can simply visit the Japan eSIM product page , select the 3GB/day plan with a 10-day validity, pay, and scan the code. When you arrive, your device will automatically connect to the domestic network – no need to buy a physical SIM, no waiting or queuing at the airport.

Once you have chosen the right eSIM package, you can refer to how to install eSIM on iPhone and Android to quickly connect to the network in just a few simple steps.

eSIM 101 has provided you with a clear, easy-to-understand overview of the new connectivity technology that is changing the way we use data when traveling abroad. Knowing what an eSIM is, how it works, how to set up an eSIM, and the benefits of traveling, you can be proactive in staying connected anywhere in the world, today!