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Quite a few phones worldwide support the simultaneous use of two physical SIM cards, but not many US models do. In fact, most otherwise dual-SIM-capable phones see the feature disabled in the US market. While US consumers don't often use dual SIMs, international travelers and small business owners use them to keep a primary phone number active, while providing connectivity to an additional phone line, or even anywhere around the globe.
Android 14 is finally getting smart about dual-SIM connectivity
Your phone will automatically connect to the best available network
Going dual-SIM with your smartphone can be a fast and easy to really upgrade its connectivity, letting you take advantage of the best rates and fastest data you can get your hands on. And with the rise of eSIM support on more and more phones, it's never been more convenient to run your phone on two different mobile networks. Now with today's release of the first Android 14 Developer Preview, we're getting an early look at the next big way Google is upgrading dual-SIM support.
Google Pixel 7 dual eSIM support has finally started to arrive
Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 and a server-side update seem to have flipped the switch
Dual SIM smartphones have been around forever, and combining that approach with eSIM technology is only the next logical step. Google has supported the dual use of one physical SIM and one eSIM in Pixel phones dating back to the Pixel 3a, but we've long been waiting for the day when we could ditch physical SIMs altogether. According to user reports that are just now starting to surface, Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2 — the test version that should ultimately hit the stable channel as the March 2023 Pixel Feature Drop — now allows you to easily switch between carriers with dual eSIM profiles on the Pixel 7 series.
Google added dual-SIM support on its Pixel phones way back in 2019 with the release of Android 10. However, it took the company two years to get around to announcing multiple SIM card support in Android Auto. A couple of months later, the feature finally seems to be rolling out to Android Auto users.
Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G dual SIM support has been improved in March update
You can now use 5G on both a physical SIM and eSIM at once
Monday's feature drop for the Pixel phones included a fun nugget that wasn't in the official changelog: it appears you can now use both a physical SIM card and an eSIM on 5G networks at the same time. Previously users who had both installed and operational were limited to LTE speeds, even if their carrier had 5G service in the area.
Get an unlocked OnePlus 8T with 256GB of storage for just $629 ($120 off), plus free OnePlus Buds ($80 value)
Double the online shopping endorphins
The OnePlus 8T is only a few weeks old, but a deal on the device has already popped up online. B&H Photo's deal of the day offers up an unlocked, 128GB OnePlus 8T plus a pair of OnePlus Buds — all for the price of $629. That's a great deal on a 5G-compatible device with dual-SIM capabilities and some high-quality Bluetooth buds.
The Galaxy S20 may be the most expensive "entry-level" flagship Samsung has ever launched, but as always with the company's handsets, the S20 can already be had at much lower prices than the $1000 MSRP. And just like that, we dug up the unlocked international dual-SIM variant of the phone on eBay, where it's currently sold for the all-time-low of $610 (which is $10 less than what we saw before).
Xiaomi rolls out Mexican firmware to global Mi A3 units, breaks dual-SIM functionality
That's a 'yikes' from us
Xiaomi is cautioning Mi A3 owners not to download a global firmware update because of "a serious bug" that prevents dual-SIM customers from utilizing both slots. The warning comes after an Indian user came into trouble with his OTA.
Samsung's dual-SIM Galaxy Note10+ is as low as $740 on eBay ($360 off MSRP)
It's the lowest it's been so far
The Galaxy Note10+ is an excellent handset, which unfortunately cost a whopping $1,100 when it came out. As its replacement might be around the corner, prices are continuing to drop. The dual-SIM international version is now down to $740 on eBay, which is $360 off the original price.
Grab a dual-SIM Galaxy Note10 at its lowest price yet of $630 ($120 off) right now
A good deal gets better
If you're the type to read Android Police (hello), you probably have seen this story before. Last we wrote about getting a dual-SIM Galaxy Note10 for less than retail price, it was in February. Prices have recently taken another dip, so if you're quick enough, you can snap a 256GB unit for just $630.If you're familiar with the Note series — here's our Note10+ review, just for a bit of asymmetric reference — you're probably well aware of its S Pen, huge display, and massive muscle. And if you tote two SIMs on the daily, you're probably aware of what kind of coverage you'll be able to get — pretty much all the main global LTE bands as well as the standard bands for certain super-regions and GSM, too. For redundancy's sake, that means it can't go on CDMA carriers such as Sprint and Verizon.
The Galaxy S20 series is quite expensive, with even the lowest-end model costing $1,000 in the United States. If you're not picky about cellular reception, the dual-SIM S20+ is just $800 on eBay, and now the dual-SIM S20 is down to $749.99.
Samsung's dual-SIM Galaxy Note10+ is just $770 on eBay ($330 off MSRP)
It's factory unlocked and works on AT&T and T-Mobile
If you're on the market for a Note10+ but don't want to spend a whopping $1,100 on one, you can grab the international version on eBay, which comes with two SIM trays and costs just $770.
Here are all the little changes in Android 11 Developer Preview 1
Opening links, compatibility testing, and even the Pixel Launcher all have improvements
The first developer preview of Android 11 is here, and even though it's just the first of many pre-release builds, there are still a ton of new features and changes. We've already written dedicated posts for most of the visible updates in Android 11 — you can see all of our coverage here — but there are also some smaller tweaks that aren't quite substantial enough for several paragraphs of explanations.
Back in February, preliminary data seemed to indicate the Pixel 4 would support dual-SIM dual-standby, which allows two separate lines to be provisioned simultaneously on the same device. The feature became fully available on the Pixel 3a thanks to the Android 10 upgrade, and it's only fair to expect Google's latest flagship would also support DSDS. Although the company hasn't officially confirmed this, some evidence indicates the handset should handle the functionality.
International versions of Samsung devices often pop up on eBay with significantly lower prices than the retail editions. The Galaxy Note10+ was no exception, as it was selling for $900 on the site last month. It dropped a little more, as the handset is now available for $874.
There's been a lot of noise around the Pixel 3's dual SIM feature, and until now Google seemed undecided as to whether it wanted to provide full support for Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS) on its latest flagship. However, the company just officialized the feature on the Pixel 3a and 3a XL, offering the ability to use two lines simultaneously.
If you, dear U.S. reader, are looking to purchase a Galaxy Note10 or Note10+, but don't want to be beholden to your carrier for a device payment contract or even to the power of Qualcomm processing, you'll likely be dredging the gray market for your Samsung phablet. Well, reputable eBay seller never-msrp will be happy to sell you a Note intended for Asian or European markets right now, and at a good discount, too. Just beware of the small details.
Google has embedded eSIM capability into its Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 handsets, so users could choose between using a physical chip or a virtual one. Unfortunately, the option was limited to registering one or the other on the network, but not both at the same time. With Android Q, the company is bringing (limited) dual-SIM support to its latest flagship, so you can simultaneously connect both the physical and eSIM to the cell towers.
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- If the S10+ is too big for you, the S10's price has also dropped, as the device is now selling for just $570. Unfortunately, only white handsets are still in stock, so you better hurry if you want one. Also, this is still the international dual-SIM version, so it'll only work with GSM carriers, and warranty coverage may not be reliable. If this is a dealbreaker for you, you're still in luck as the US variants are also on sale.
We recently wrote about how fast the Galaxy S10's prices are dropping, as they have lost about 30% since the device was released three months ago. The trend is continuing, as Samsung's most expensive flagship is now selling for less than $700 in its 128GB international dual-SIM variant.
Despite new flagships coming out, the Galaxy S10 is still one of the hottest phones around. Even though its price could have been a roadblock when it was announced back in February, you don't need to spend as much now. Indeed, thanks to a a promotion on the device's international version on eBay, you can pay as low as $596 for the S10, $675 for the S10, and $775 for the S10+ in their 128GB versions.