The Verdict
For 95% of travelers, eSIMs are superior to physical SIM cards. Here's why:
Convenience
eSIM: Buy online before departure, install at home, activate on landing.
Physical SIM: Find store, queue, show passport, hope they speak English, install tiny chip.
Cost
eSIM: Transparent pricing, no hidden fees. Pay A$15-30 for a week.
Physical SIM: Tourist SIMs often overpriced at airports. Risk of buying wrong size (nano vs micro).
Keep Your Number
eSIM: Dual SIM capability means keep your home number for WhatsApp and 2FA texts.
Physical SIM: Must swap cards = miss important texts unless you carry two phones.