eSIM technology being more widely available has opened up a new connectivity option for travelers. Frequent or otherwise. That’s where Advanced eSIM saw an opportunity.

Advanced eSIM says their mission is “to enable companies to deliver better connectivity solutions to telecommunications subscribers” 

Right now, how their service works is you go to their website, select your country of destination, and purchase the eSIM plan that fits your needs. The plans range from 1GB for 7 days all the way up to 50GB for 30 days. Costs vary per plan, per country. 

You can view the countries and plans here. 

After purchasing your preferred eSIM bundle, you simply have to download the QR Code and scan it on the smartphone you’ll be using on your trip. Next step is installation.

Here is a quick guide on how to install Advanced eSIM: 

Access eSIM Settings

On most smartphones, go to “Settings” > “Cellular” or “Mobile Data” > “Add Cellular Plan.” 

Scan QR Code

Scan/upload the QR code provided with your eSIM information. Alternatively, you may need to enter the eSIM activation code manually. 

Follow On-Screen Instructions

Depending on your device and carrier, you may need to follow on-screen instructions to complete the activation process. This typically involves confirming your plan and agreeing to terms and conditions. 

Restart Your Device

After successfully adding the eSIM, restart your device to activate it. 

Our experience 

Two members of the GadgetMatch team were fortunate enough to have been provided with bundles during our work trips in March and April. 

Below we detail our experience using Advanced eSIM.

Rodneil’s Bangkok Business Trip

Lenovo Innovate 2024

I initially wanted to use the Advanced eSIM on an Android Foldable. Specifically, the OPPO Find N3. However, I had issues installing and kept getting an error message saying that the phone is unable to detect the eSIM. 

Don’t let that discourage you though, if you’re an Android user. I know of peers in the industry who have successfully used eSIMs on their Android smartphones. My issue may have been device specific. 

With that initial install failing, I instead moved the eSIM to my iPhone 14 Pro Max. My iPhone has up to eight (8) eSIM slots but only one can be active at a time. That means I had to deactivate the one I use in my home country. 

That said, getting the eSIM to work wasn’t instantaneous. It took the bus ride from the airport to the hotel before it started working. That’s roughly around two hours if memory serves right. 

So, to get it to work you have to make sure that: 

1. The eSIM is active. 
2. It is the default SIM for Cellular Data. 

Once it was active and working, everything was incredibly breezy. I used the eSIM like I would a tourist SIM card purchased at the airport. 

Throughout the nearly week-long work trip, I went about my days like usual. I continued liaising with members of the GadgetMatch team to make sure things are running smoothly. With it, I also kept in touch with our partners and clients as much as I could while handling the coverage for the brand the flew us to Bangkok, Thailand. 

I even resorted to using the eSIM instead of the provided Wi-Fi connection to upload photos and videos for post processing by our team. It was a quick turnaround that we were able to post the reel immediately. 

@gadgetmatch

AI, Yoga, and Legion. Everything was in full display at #LenovoInnovate24 #Innovate24 #Lenovo @Lenovo @Lenovo Legion

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch – GadgetMatch

The advantage 

One thing I didn’t have to worry about is that I could use the eSIM as the hotspot. There are other existing eSIM services which have this limitations. With Advanced eSIM, the data allocation is for you to use and abuse. 

Just make sure you keep an eye on your consumption so you don’t exceed your limit. It’s best to keep tabs on what you usually use the data for when on the go so you have a good ballpark of how much data you use when out and about. 

MJ’s Shenzen and Hong Kong Adventure

 

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Even with the eSIM technology being around for over five years now, I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around its concept when traveling.

I still like the feeling of heading to a booth inside the airport to buy or pick-up my local SIM which I’ll use for the country I’m visiting.

There’s an exuberant joy in removing the SIM card tray from my smartphone, knowing that I’ll be connected to the Internet and then I’ll be able to share the sights I see to the world, err, folks who follow my social media accounts.

But when you’re in a country where you don’t know the language spoken, it’s best to come prepared.

Easy set up

Equipping my iPhone its first eSIM, I thought it would’ve been daunting compared to when I do it on an Android smartphone. But Advanced eSIM made it easy for someone with only three functioning brain cells.

When traveling, I don’t have enough bandwidth to think of other details since I’m already preoccupied with the itinerary. It was kind of a gift from the universe to have the connectivity part of my travel handled easily.

 

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I was traveling to Shenzhen, China via Bus from Hong Kong, so when I departed Manila, I didn’t have any Internet connectivity. When I reached the border of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, that was when I automatically connected to the Internet since the Advanced eSIM coverage I have was only meant for China.

With 10GB of Data, I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to cover my one-week stay. The WiFi connection in China was extremely slow (for me, personally) to upload my social media content, especially when using VPN.

Using Advanced eSIM’s 5G connectivity, however, helped me upload real-time for my followers to see.

 

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A welcome surprise

Five days later, I was exiting China through a Bus once more while heading to Hong Kong. I have prepared another eSim through my HONOR Magic6 Pro, since I know the coverage for my Advanced eSIM is only within China.

To my surprise, I had trouble connecting my eSIM on the Android smartphone and the Advanced eSIM still worked while in Hong Kong. This allowed me to enjoy being connected for two more days while exploring Ngong Ping Village and Hong Kong Disneyland.

 

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The next day, I suddenly lost connectivity while on the way to the airport. Luckily, the airport has WiFi and my plane was departing in an hour, so I didn’t have to worry about connecting to the Internet.

I realized later on that I actually consumed the 10GB of mobile data. Still in disbelief that constantly watching on TikTok and Instagram Reels, and uploading videos for my stories took at least a week to fully consume the mobile data plan.

Nevertheless, the experience with Advanced eSIM was so convenient. I think I found the data plan that will help me with my travels, and I’m excited to use it when I travel across Southeast Asia soon.

Should you use Advanced eSIM?

Although both our members had trouble using an Android smartphone with the eSIM, we’re fairly confident these were device-specific things more than Advanced eSIM thing. That said, we will certainly test it and the future and update this article as needed to see if any more issues with Android smartphones persist. 

All things considered, using Advanced eSIM was relatively easy and convenient. The cost varies per country, amount of data, and number of days covered. There are plenty to choose from so we’re confident you’ll find a plan that fits your trip’s needs. It’s so reliable that we’ve gone out of our way to recommend it to some of our clients and partners who frequently host overseas trips.