Switching phones has been a straightforward process for a while now, but moving your eSIM between Android and iPhone still requires contacting your carrier. Samsung is apparently working on a way to make that process easier with a new feature that was spotted in One UI 8.5.
Samsung may make moving an eSIM from an iPhone to a Galaxy much easier
While digging in a leaked One UI 8.5 build, Android Authority found code suggesting that Samsung is developing an option to transfer an eSIM from an iPhone to a Galaxy device. The new tool also popped up in a screenshot that reveals a new onboarding workflow on One UI 8.5.
When setting up a new device with One UI 8, users get only the option to transfer an eSIM from “another phone.” The same menu on One UI 8.5 has the same option split into two buttons for transfers from Android devices or iPhones.
Coming soon to a Galaxy near you
Samsung may have a beta program for One UI 8.5, which is rumored to start next month. It is unclear whether the company will make the eSIM transfer feature available during the beta or if it will make it part of the final release. That stable version is expected to premiere with the Galaxy S26 early next year.
Google already offers a similar feature for moving eSIM from iOS to Pixel phones. In the US, the feature only supports the three major carriers: Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Samsung hasn’t shared any official information about the feature or One UI 8.5, but it’s likely to follow Google’s lead and provide the same support.
That took a while
Ever since eSIM was introduced, it has promised it would make managing your plan easier, but that’s not the case. As annoying as moving a physical SIM could be, it doesn’t require calling your carrier. I’m glad that Samsung and Google are working on making eSIM better, and I hope more carriers and devices join them.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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