US/Europe dual sim cell phone recommendations?

Posted by HankMarvinNot@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I'd appreciate any suggestions re dual sim card phone models for us intending to maintain a base in the US but travel/ stay in Europe (D, Fr, Esp) for a couple of years. Pixel, Iphone, buy in Europe or in US etc.? Thanks!!!

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firework434@reddit

I use an iPhone with esim compatibility. I have my US plan on an esim and a physical French sim card. I've found it extremely easy to have both plans active while having all data usage for my US plan off and only on for my French plan so I know I'm not running into charges on the US side. I can still receive SMS messages on my US number and use it with wi-fi calling. It has worked seamlessly.

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Insel6@reddit

Thank you, this is exactly what I want to do with my iPhone 13, and I would really like to know how to set it up. I still haven't been able to find simple and clear information with the exact steps to make in the Settings for each line/sim. For example do you set your US number to Wifi Calling ON and Cellular Data OFF and Roaming OFF? And the French number just to Cellular Data ON and Roaming ON? Which line is set to Primary/Secondary? Do you put Allow Cellular Data Switching to OFF or ON? Are there any other Settings that need to be changed? It would be a really big help if you could explain the steps you did since it is working well for you.

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firework434@reddit

US line: wifi calling on, roaming off

French line: cellular data on, roaming on

I am American so I kept my US number as the primary. Otherwise there were no other steps and I found it very easy to set up the esim.

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doubleindemnity22@reddit

Would love clarification on a couple points. If you have this setup, does that mean that when in France you can only get incoming calls/texts from your U.S. number over WiFi? Or is there any way to get those U.S. incomings using your French data plan? And then same questions re: outgoing texts/calls from your U.S. number.

My ultimate goal is to be able to use my U.S. number while abroad for calls/texts without having to be on WiFi and I’m not sure if that’s possible. I have an unlocked iPhone.

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firework434@reddit

The way you describe it sounds like it would theoretically make sense. I'm back in the US now so it's been a bit since I used my French plan but here's how it seemed to work for me. When I was on my French plan (i.e. out and about, using cellular data) I was able to use iMessage to message people in the US, using my US number, but while using my French data plan. I think this is because of the way Apple operates iMessage as its own type of messaging. I always kept my US esim on, because otherwise my phone would only receive messages at my French number, and I kept it on wifi calling.

I don't think, however, that I could send SMS green texts without being on wifi, and the same for making a phone call. However, I tended to receive green texts to my US number (things like 2 factor authentication confirmation) as I normally would. Overall I never got charged by my US plan for any international usage. If you're wanting to be able to use your US plan/number the same way you might need to opt into an international plan. Hope this helps. It seems like stuff like this is tricky to figure out in advance before you're there actually testing it.

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doubleindemnity22@reddit

Thanks this is very helpful. Most of my US contacts are on iPhones so seems like this setup could cover most of my use cases.

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Insel6@reddit

Thank you, that seems pretty straightforward! I had read comments on Cellular Data Switching and found it confusing. I have a US Mobile physical Sim and will get a French eSim and will probably keep my US number as Default.

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Different_List_8946@reddit

Thank you for all of the above. The issue I run into on this setup is the two-factor authentication that many U.S. companies require (banks, SocSec, etc). What was your solution or workaround?

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HankMarvinNot@reddit (OP)

2FA etc works normal as in US with T-Mobile/A1 Serbia as 2 carriers on a Nothing 2A phone. SSA, banks, log ons all function normal, but need to use vpn for some stuff, and advise cc that I am traveling every few months.

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elevenblade@reddit

We split our time between the US and Sweden. My wife has dual SIMs in her iPhone and is fairly content with it. I got frustrated with the fact that your AppleID is linked to a particular country’s App Store and credit card, which means there are apps I can’t access from the other country (without signing out and having to go through the hassle of logging in/reauthorizing lots of apps). I finally ended up with two iPhones and two separate AppleIDs.

In particular it is financial and government institutions that may not have apps on each others’ regional App Stores so your experience may differ.

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HankMarvinNot@reddit (OP)

thanks!