The future of eSIM: iSIM, SGP.32, and what disappears for travelers
iSIM moves the chip onto the modem die. SGP.32 unlocks M2M devices. Neither is a marketing slide — both are shipping. Here's what changes for you.
Two shifts are reshaping the eSIM landscape in 2026–2027:
iSIM: the chip merges with the modem
iSIM is the next step after eSIM — instead of a separate eUICC chip on the phone's motherboard, the secure element lives inside the modem SoC. Qualcomm started shipping iSIM-capable modems with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (2023). Most phones launched in 2025–2026 have iSIM-ready silicon even if they're not using it yet.
For travelers, iSIM doesn't change the UX. You still scan a QR, you still install a profile. What changes:
- Cost to manufacturers drops by ~$1/device (no separate chip, no socket).
- Power drops marginally — important for IoT, not your phone.
- Tamper resistance improves — the secure element is now inside a much harder package to physically attack.
SGP.32: eSIMs for things, not phones
SGP.32 is the GSMA spec for "M2M and IoT eSIM provisioning." Where SGP.22 (the consumer spec) expects a human with a phone to scan QR codes, SGP.32 lets the device fetch profiles on its own from a "subscription manager" server.
For travelers this matters because:
- In-car connectivity — your rental will pick up the local carrier on the device side, no app or scan.
- Wearables and trackers — Apple Watch, AirTag, Tile etc. roam better when the watch itself can request the right profile.
- Travel routers — get a 5G dongle and it'll connect over the airline's wholesale partner without you doing anything.
What 9eSIM does in this world
Physical programmable cards stay relevant for two reasons:
- The world's installed base of phones still has SIM trays — billions. Many don't have eSIM at all, and the ones that do have only one slot.
- You can move the card between devices. Phone died? Pop the card into a backup. Most embedded eSIMs aren't transferable; physical ones always are.
iSIM doesn't kill physical cards; it makes embedded eSIMs cheaper. Both formats keep existing for the next decade — and a programmable physical card running SGP.22 will load profiles from any provider supporting either consumer or M2M flows.