3 Ways a dual-SIM phone can make your life better

Dual-SIM phones came into the global spotlight after Apple added dual SIM support to its iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later models. However, for over 18 years before that, they had already been widely popular in many countries across Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Wondering why? Read on to find out what is the point of a dual-SIM phone and how it can make your life better.

A dual-SIM phone is exactly what it sounds like - a phone that supports two SIM cards at the same time. Depending on the phone model, these can be two physical SIM cards, two eSIM cards, or a combination of both. The two SIM cards can belong to different networks or even countries, making you reachable wherever you are.

There are two main types of dual SIM phones - dual-standby SIM and dual-active SIM. Dual-standby SIM phones allow active use of one SIM at a time. So, if you’re on a call on one of your SIM cards, you can’t be reached on the other one. Most dual SIM phones out there are of this type. Dual-active SIM phones have two antennas - one for each SIM - allowing you to receive calls on both numbers at the same time. These types of phones are very rare.

If you’re new to the idea, you might struggle to imagine why you would need a dual-SIM phone. You already have a phone number that works fine for you, right? Well, there are some situations when having two SIM cards (and two phone numbers) in the same device can make your life so much easier.

1. A dual-SIM phone helps you separate work from private calls.

Using the same number for business and personal calls means you always have to give your number to clients or managers. And if you get a call from an unknown number, you always have to assume that it could be work-related and pick it up. With a dual SIM phone, it would be easier to guess what the call is about as soon as you see whether it’s coming to your personal or business number. Of course, you could keep work and private calls separate by having two phones. But do you really want to buy and carry two devices around all the time? Having a dual-SIM phone can give you a lot of flexibility and save you a lot of hassle.

2. A dual-SIM phone makes international travel easy.

If you often travel internationally or have family living abroad, you know how expensive making and receiving calls can be. A dual SIM can help. Next to the SIM card you use on a daily basis within the USA, you can get a prepaid SIM card with an International Plan that includes unlimited calls or texts to several countries. Examples of such plans are the Lycamobile International Plan and the Simple Mobile Plan.

If you’re a Mexican living in the US, a dual-SIM phone means not having to choose between your Mexican SIM and an American SIM anymore. You could keep both and simply recharge your Mexican phone online whenever you need more call credit or data to stay in touch with your family. Please keep in mind that in order to have two SIM cards from different operators or countries, you need to have an unlocked dual-SIM phone. Otherwise, the mobile operator who sells you the phone might limit you to using two SIM cards from their network.

3. A dual-SIM phone helps you make the most of mobile carrier deals.

Mobile carriers everywhere compete with each other on prices and deals. So, one carrier might have a better deal on data, while the other might have a better deal on calls or texts. With a dual-SIM phone, you don’t have to choose. You can have two SIM cards from different operators and enjoy all the benefits that come with them.

If you’re convinced about the convenience of a dual-SIM phone, you have a lot of choice in terms of devices. Most major mobile phone manufacturers have a dual SIM phone on the market nowadays. Some of the high-end options include the Oppo Find X3 Pro or OnePlus 9 Pro, but you can also get a great mid-range phone (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro) or budget-friendly phone (e.g. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro). One thing is certain - there’s a dual-SIM phone out there that fits your specific needs. And if you ever need to add minutes to your American, Mexican, or international prepaid SIM cards, you can recharge easily online.