Forget eSIM, future Samsung phones to equip iSIM technology

We might not see a physical SIM card slot in the next year’s Galaxy phones as the company might ditch the slot in favor of eSIM. Meanwhile, Qualcomm just announced a more advanced technology called iSIM, which will replace eSIM in future Android phones including Samsung Galaxy.

At MWC 2023, Qualcomm announced that future Snapdragon chipsets will bring iSIM technology in order to increase usable space on phones as well as battery efficiency. The company showcased a modified version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, featuring iSIM, which received GSMA certification.

Similar to eSIM, the iSIM technology introduces the same level of security, so there’s no confusion about safety. Another interesting thing about iSIM is that it’s 100x smaller than Nano SIM and a lot more power-efficient.

Since a Nano SIM card measures 12.3 x 8.8mm, the iSIM is whopping 100x smaller and measures less than 1 square millimeter, and resides inside a processor. In addition to vacating the SIM try space, the iSIM tech will allow vendors to bring phones with better resistance against dust and water.

The world’s first security certification of an iSIM by the GSMA follows several years of intense development work by Qualcomm and Thales. The new iSIM gives vendors and operators even greater freedom to offer their customers effortless over-the-air connectivity, and more exciting and accessible product designs.

Qualcomm quotes that the emerging iSIM form factor complements existing SIM and eSIM designs, and research suggests the market share to grow to 300 million by 2027, representing 19% of all eSIM shipments, according to Kaleido Intelligence.