Ever since Apple released iPhones with dual SIM support, an eSIM and a physical nanoSIM, I have switched one of my postpaid SIMs to eSIM. Globe Telecoms was quick to embrace this new SIM technology and provided eSIM for their postpaid subscribers, with Smart nowhere to be found. Whilst Smart is my main number, I had no choice but to convert my Globe postpaid subscription to eSIM to make both work on the iPhone. So I have been rocking a Globe eSIM + Smart nanoSIM combo ever since.
As I have said, Smart is my main number, which makes it a no-brainer to have international roaming enabled on it when I travel. Globe, as a secondary number (only used for mobile data, thanks to a grandfathered plan), can be replaced with another eSIM from the country I'm visiting. Easy, right? Well, frankly, I'd rather that I use Smart eSIM and Globe eSIM when I am in the Philippines, and have the flexibility of getting a local physical SIM or an eSIM when overseas (and turn off the Globe eSIM hehe). Unfortunately, my Smart subscription, an Enterprise Extension, still does not have eSIM support. Last I asked, Smart provides eSIM to their Signature subscribers (and was told by the SmartEE account rep before that it was not stable, so not recommended).
One issue with Globe's postpaid eSIM is that every year, when I upgrade my iPhone, I had to physically go to a Globe store and have an eSIM re-issued. Globe's eSIM is locked to the first phone it gets activated on, I guess this for security reasons. You can factory-reset your phone and just re-scan the QR code and it will work. However, transferring it to another phone is not possible. Last year, Apple released eSIM transfer support during iPhone setup, but Globe does not support it (I hope that they get to support it this year!). This implementation makes an eSIM an inconvenience to folks like me. Globe should do something about this - to make it easier to securely re-issue eSIMs without the hassle of physically going to their stores!
Smart recently launched the Philippines' first prepaid eSIM, and I tried to order from their online stores (even on Lazada and Shopee) as soon as it was announced, but they ran out of stock quickly. I waited for stocks to be replenished, but up to this writing, it is still out of stock on their online channels. Fortunately, I was able to secure an eSIM from one of their stores - when I came in to have a defective physical SIM replaced. Bingo!
Putting Smart's prepaid eSIM on my test device, a Google Pixel phone running a deGoogled GrapheneOS, was uneventful - scan the QR code, wait for activation and that's it (I registered it, of course). To test if Smart has solved my Globe postpaid eSIM pet-peeve, I deleted the eSIM off of the Pixel, and scanned the QR code using an iPhone SE. A few seconds is all it took (to save and activate) and I'm off with a Smart prepaid eSIM working on the iPhone SE (along with Globe prepaid physical nanoSIM). Well done, Smart! Now please work on eSIM support for SmartEE subscribers, please! And Globe, please learn from this experience and make eSIM transfers easier, too.
Selecting an eSIM over a physical SIM is a personal preference - each has its own advantages and disadvantages. To me, it is a limitation by the device I use - only one physical SIM slot with support for multiple eSIMs (but only two SIMs can be active at a time). And yeah, also a limitation of the telcos (Smart, c'mon, SmartEE eSIM support, please). I prefer to have my physical SIM slot freed up, though.
Globe was first to have eSIM support for its postpaid subscribers. Smart is first to have prepaid eSIM. Globe is preparing to launch its own prepaid eSIM soon. Smart needs to support eSIMs across all their plans soon, too. So, until then, I'm stuck with a Globe eSIM and Smart physical nanoSIM on my iPhone.