Samsung is about to make switching your eSIM from iPhone to Galaxy way easier — and this could revolutionize how people change phones. But here's where it gets controversial: is this move going to disrupt carrier business models or just make life simpler for users? Let’s dive in.
Traditionally, moving your eSIM phone number between devices running the same operating system—like from one Android phone to another or from one iPhone to another—has been relatively straightforward for quite a while. However, shifting your eSIM from an iPhone to an Android device, particularly a Samsung Galaxy phone, has been notably more complicated. Right now, it requires you to contact your mobile carrier to get the transfer done, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Apple and Google have recently collaborated to make the eSIM switching process smoother with iOS 16 and Android 13, but Samsung users are still stuck in that inconvenient loop with their carriers. That’s where the news gets interesting: leaked code from an upcoming One UI 8.5 build reveals Samsung is developing a dedicated tool that could let users transfer their eSIM directly from an iPhone to a Samsung phone without needing carrier intervention.
To put it simply: if Samsung pulls this off, switching from iPhone to Galaxy could become a seamless, carrier-free experience. This is huge because Samsung is the top Android device maker, and simplifying this step might attract more users who want to jump from iOS to Android without hassle.
We discovered a specific string in the leaked software saying "Transfer SIM from iPhone," which strongly hints at this feature. Alongside this, screenshots from the One UI 8.5 setup process show the current option to transfer an eSIM from "another phone" is being split into two distinct choices: one for Android devices and another specifically for iPhones. This makes the feature much clearer and user-friendly.
In the U.S., a similar functionality to transfer eSIMs from iPhones exists on Google Pixel phones but is officially limited to major carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Samsung’s new tool will likely start with the same carrier support, which means users on smaller carriers might still face some restrictions.
It’s important to note One UI 8.5 hasn’t been released yet; a beta version is expected to launch in November. We don’t know if this eSIM transfer feature will be included in the beta or rolled out later with the stable release, so patience is key.
A quick heads-up: this information comes from analyzing internal code (an APK teardown), so there’s always a chance that Samsung could change or scrap this feature before it officially launches.
And here's the part most people miss: could this move to simplify eSIM transfers without carrier involvement upset carriers who profit from keeping users locked into complicated activation processes? Is Samsung prioritizing user convenience or is this also a strategic play to lure more iPhone owners into their ecosystem?
What do you think about bypassing carriers in this process? Will it make it easier for you to switch to Samsung, or do you see potential drawbacks? Share your thoughts below — we want to hear your take on this potentially game-changing update.
