Samsung's all-new Galaxy S23 lineup ships with a plethora of features, but does that also include dual-SIM support? Picking the right smartphone can be a difficult task at the best of times, thanks to the many choices available at all price points. While some people need their phone to be great at multitasking, others want the very best cameras that money can buy. Gamers need a top-end processor and great cooling, while others may prefer a long-lasting battery or great display. For some people, features like microSD card support, a 3.5mm audio socket, and dual-SIM functionality are also super important.
Thankfully, all three devices in the Galaxy S23 lineup come with dual SIM support. That means whether someone buys the base Galaxy S23, the mid-tier S23+ or the top-end S23 Ultra, they will be able to connect to two cellular networks at the same time. While not everyone has two cell phone numbers to take advantage of the dual-SIM functionality, the feature could be of paramount importance for people who do. That includes people who keep separate personal and work numbers, or folks who add a temporary number to their device while traveling abroad to avoid paying exorbitant roaming fees.
How Dual-SIM Works On The Galaxy S23
While some devices, like the iPhone 14, have gotten rid of the physical SIM tray, Samsung is still providing one with the Galaxy S23 models. However, the primary SIM is still an e-SIM, meaning people with just one mobile number can use the built-in hardware to connect to their service provider's network. Folks wanting to use a second number can simply take out the SIM tray and insert the physical SIM card from their carrier as usual to get the second number up and running on their phone.
For folks upgrading from an older device without the eSIM functionality, this new feature will need a little know-how to activate for the first time. To do that, open the phone's Settings app, go to 'Connections,' and then select 'SIM card manager.' Finally, tap 'Add mobile plan' under the 'eSIM' section to get the process rolling. The device will now automatically search for an eSIM plan, if one's already activated by a carrier. If not, users can scan a QR code from their carrier to connect to their network and set up their device.
Keep Both Active, Or Choose A Preferred SIM
Like most modern smartphones, all Galaxy S23 devices offer the dual-SIM, dual standby functionality, meaning both SIMs will be able to make and receive calls seamlessly without having to switch between them every time. To do that, go to phone Settings, tap on 'Connections' and then select 'SIM card manager.' From there, users will see the option, ‘Dual SIM always on.’ Select that and users can operate both at the same time. However, users can still mark either one as the preferred SIM for voice calls, texts, and data. In that same menu, go to 'Preferred SIM card' and select the preferred SIM for calls, messages and mobile data.
Samsung also allows users to store multiple eSIM profiles on a single device, though they can’t be used simultaneously as one could with a physical SIM and an eSIM, and they can’t both be from the same carrier. If a user loads multiple eSIM profiles from separate carriers, they’ll have to choose one to be active at a time. To do that, users just need to follow the steps above to set their preference for the Galaxy S23 series smartphone.
Source: Samsung