The setup procedure for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by Google facilitates a smooth transfer of the SIM card from the user’s previous smartphone.
Google has reportedly rolled out a functionality that supports the transfer of eSIMs, the embedded digital SIM cards used to activate mobile plans, among various Android smartphones. Initially observed with Pixel devices, this capability has now extended to the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, indicating a broader integration beyond the Pixel lineup.
In the setup process for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, users are prompted with a message asking if they wish to transfer their existing eSIM from another device. Following this, users are instructed to unlock their current device and position it alongside the new phone. Subsequently, a popup appears on the old device’s screen, initiating the eSIM transfer.
Similar to the process of setting up a new eSIM, users are required to scan a QR code to seamlessly migrate their existing digital SIM card from the previous phone to the new Android device. This innovative feature not only streamlines the setup procedure but also eliminates the necessity of visiting a physical outlet, offering the convenience of transitioning from one device to another without the need for a physical SIM card swap.
In the preceding year, Google made an announcement at the Mobile World Congress 2023 (MWC) revealing its plans to introduce a capability enabling the transfer of eSIMs across different devices. Additionally, users would have the convenience of converting their current physical SIM cards into eSIMs. Although this functionality initially surfaced when Pixel 8 users were upgrading from older Pixel models, its recent appearance on the Galaxy S24 Ultra suggests that Google is extending this feature to other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
As of now, the widespread availability of the option to transfer existing eSIMs to another phone remains limited. According to a report from Android Police, the feature is currently compatible with T-Mobile eSIM profiles. For users residing in regions outside this scope, such as India, access to the feature will be contingent upon their telecom operator adopting and supporting Google’s transfer feature, enabling the migration of existing eSIMs to alternative Android smartphones.