How old do you think Dual Sim phones are? Dual Sim mobile phones were first invented and patented by Siemens AG in the 1990s. Feel old? Don’t be, because there is still a lot of potential and future development possible when it comes to maximising the use of Dual Sim. There are many benefits that single Sim Phones have, that have not been transferred over into the Dual Sim world, just yet. The future is wide open for Dual Sim phones.
People have become dependent on smartphones in recent years, and that has been emphasised by the apps and the innovation on the technology. To name a few, popular apps like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Shazam, Evernote, Spotify, YouTube, and Deliveroo you can see how much our lives are being affected by social media and by the smartphones that bring it into our lives at the touch of a button.
Today, there are 2.87 million apps available for download on the Google Play Store and 1.85 million apps available for Iphone users.
Despite the multitude of apps available, your phone and your apps all need one thing. You can not access Google Play, or Apple iStore from your mobile phone without the most important thing in a phone. The little card in the side keeps your phone active, and keeps you connected……. that is the importance of a SIM card. Why? Because mobile users need to connect their phone to a network so that it works. Ultimately, it is first and foremost, a phone!
SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module, which is a piece of plastic that slots into your smartphone (or mobile phone) that acts as your unique ID thus it holds your information so that you can connect to a mobile phone network. As technology advances, people see that there are limitations to just being on one network, and if you could work cross networks, there is more available for you. SIM cards come with free minutes, free texts, free add-ons, so surely having 2 SIM Cards will double the benefit.
If you work in the city, and live in the countryside, it is possible that the SIM that works in one place, can not connect in the other.
If you have your day job, and you have side gigs, you might need different numbers for different employers.
If you have a busy work life, and a busy personal life, and you try to compartmentalise both, into manageable pieces, it is very clear how a Dual Sim could benefit your life.
If you have family abroad, or are a regular traveller, having dual sim capabilities could mean cheaper phone conversations to your overseas friends and family.
If you find the idea of having a Dual SIM smartphone intriguing then it is also better to keep in mind that not all phones offer this kind of feature. Phones that do not support Dual SIM tend to have a longer battery life, tend to be a bit lighter, and tend to be a bit smaller. Here are some of the mobile phones that do not offer Dual SIM functionality:
What mobile phones do not offer Dual SIM
- Apple iPhone models 5s through to 9
- Nokia 9
- Nokia D1C
- Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy Note 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
- XiaoMi7
- Google Pixel 2
- Motorola Edge Plus
- Redmi Note 9
- HUAWEI nova 7i
With purchasing capacity and the potential for attracting new younger customers on a daily increase, more and more users from this age bracket are starting to hope for high-end devices. Their need for two phones will however persist. Which is why mobile manufacturers these days roll out mini or compact versions of their flagships with dual sim support. Young people like to be able to speak to their friends instantly, parents like to know where their children are. Having a dual sim phone could mean availability and connectivity for friends, as well as family being kept separate, but always present. Safety in numbers. 2 numbers, on 2 sims could be safer.
What mobile phones offer Dual SIM:
- Apple iPhone XR- is the first dual SIM phone from Apple. It uses nano-SIM and eSIM which does not require a physical card to activate a cellular plan.
- Google Pixel 3, 4a and 5 – is a Dual SIM Dual standby (DSDS) support phone and is said to be one of the best smartphones anyone can get. It also has nano-SIM and eSIM support.
- Motorola One Zoom – offers the ability to use multiple SIMs simultaneously, alongside Dual Standby and Dual VoLTE.
- Nokia 4.2 – aside from being budget friendly, Nokia 4.2 is the latest smartphone launched by HMD Global in the market that supports dual SIM cards and runs on the Android 9.0 Pie operating system.
- Vivo Nex 3 – is a proud provider of quality batteries in the market. They also provide Dual Sim Dual Standby (DSDS) standby mode and a choice of single SIM or Dual SIM/Standby Mode/SIM Slot.
Knowing the models and companies that offer Dual SIM there will always be products that would stand out among the competition. Then there is always the next model and the newest version to try to get before everyone else. Below are the top 10 best Dual SIM phones that you can consider testing and buying if you want to switch.
Top 10 Dual SIM Phones
- Display: 6.76-inch, 2,772 x 1,344
- SoC: Kirin 9000 5G
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256/512GB
- Cameras: 50, 20, 12MP
- Front camera: 13MP + TOF
- Battery: 4,400mAh
- Software: Android 10
- Huawei Mate 40 Pro Plus specs:
- Display: 6.55-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: Snapdragon 865
- RAM: 8/12GB
- Storage: 128/256GB
- Cameras: 48, 16, 5, and 2MP
- Front camera: 16MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 11
- Display: 6.9-inch, WQHD+
- SoC: SD 865 Plus or Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/256/512GB
- Cameras: 108, 12, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
- Display: 6.2-inch, Full HD+
- SoC: SD 865 or Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Cameras: 12, 64, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,00mAh
- Software: Android 10
- Display: 6.7-inch, QHD+
- Chipset: SD 865 or Exynos 990
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128/512GB
- Cameras: 12, 64, and 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh
- Software: Android 10
- Display: 5.8-inch, 2436 x 1125 pixels
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB not expandable
- Cameras: 12MP (Triple Camera), 12MP Front
- Battery: 3046 mAh
- Hardware: Apple A13 Bionic
- Software: iOS .14x
- iPhone 11 Pro Max:
- Display: 6.5-inch, 2688 x 1242 pixels
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB not expandable
- Cameras: 12MP (Triple Camera), 12MP Front
- Battery: 3969 mAh
- Hardware: Apple A13 Bionic
- Software: iOS .14x
- Display: 6.5-inch, 2340 x 1080 pixels
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB Nano Memory
- Cameras: 40MP (Quad Camera), 32MP Front
- Battery: 4200 mAh
- Hardware: HiSilicon Kirin 980
- Software: Android 10, Huawei Emotion UI
- Display: 6.59-inch, 1080 x 2340 pixels
- RAM: 8/12 RAM
- Storage: 64GB not expandable
- Cameras: 48MP (Dual), 24MP Front
- Battery: 6000 mAh
- Software: Android 9.0 (Pie), ROG UI
- Display: 6.4-inch, 2340 x 1080 pixels
- RAM: 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128MB MicroSDXC
- Cameras: 12MP (Dual), 32MP Front
- Battery: 4000 mAh
- Software: Android 10
What makes Dual SIM and their Models and Prices
To simply explain it, a Dual SIM provides you two SIM cards in one mobile phone. It holds two identities in one physical body. Not all Dual SIMS are the same in fact, there are fundamental differences between DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) smartphones like the new iPhone XS and DSFA (Dual SIM Full Active) smartphones like the Galaxy Note 9.
DSDS model is known as Dual SIM Dual Standby meaning, if there are two cards installed inside the smartphone, it cannot work simultaneously.
On the other hand…
DSFA models are rare to find since they are only integrated in high-end devices (they are pricey!). The acronym for DSFA stands for Dual SIM Full Active which is a more complete but also a more energy consuming technology. Smartphones with this type of Dual SIM can receive calls on both cards at the same time which is the exact opposite of DSDS.
Another model of Dual SIM was popularized by Apple which is called eSIM or embedded SIM. Rather than using a physical, removable SIM card, eSIMs are built into the phone and configured via software. Only a small number of carriers can support the technology which is why most phones with eSIM also include a separate physical SIM slot.
You might think that Dual SIM rocks because they actually do, however the world of smartphones is not always rainbows and butterflies because there is still an exception for everything.
Problems with Dual SIM
- Battery draining – unless you have a power bank wherever you go, you will need to continually check your battery levels, since Dual Sim phones can lose power quickly.
- Storage – since some smartphones support microSD SIM, the problem arises when you have to choose whether maximizing your phone’s storage or maintaining the slot for your second SIM.
- If you are an iPhone Dual SIM user, you might encounter problems about saving your contacts from two different carriers as Apple ID only supports the primary one.
However daunting the problems may seem, it is still a good thing to consider the advantages of having a Dual SIM smartphone.
Advantages of Dual SIM
- Get the most of everything – each SIM carrier markets their best feature to their customers. If you own a Dual SIM mobile phone, you have the chance to hit two birds with one stone by getting different deals from different service providers for your smartphone.
- Travel Benefits – since you are not restricted to a specific network, Dual SIM phones mean you are free to sign up to any network provider you want. Meaning, as you travel internationally, you have the luxury to use a travel SIM or local SIM without removing your personal SIM. How? Because some Dual SIM smartphones are free from blockage. This saves you money as you go to a foreign land.
- Segregation of personal and business life – when you have a SIM card dedicated for business and a separate SIM for personal use you can actually enhance your privacy. In fact, there are smartphones that let you know which line a call or text is coming through even if you have two different SIM cards inserted.
As much as we want you to head to the nearest tech shop to switch your single SIM to a Dual SIM. We want you first to know the disadvantages to help you better prepare for the changes you might face when you opt to get a Dual SIM smartphone.
Disadvantages of Dual SIM
- Low support of application developers – as stated earlier, there are many applications being developed and brought to the digital market for usage however one sad truth is for those applications in the communication sector. Such that,many apps still do not have a feature to support dual SIM mobile phones. An example is Whatsapp which is tied to one phone number. This could be uncomfortable for individuals who use mobile applications for business.
- Leads to confusion – if you can memorize and distinguish things quicker, then good for you but for those who struggle, using dual SIM may be a pain. A lot of new users or even old subscribers of Dual SIM smartphones still get confused in distinguishing which is which especially when an unknown caller is coming in. Another is that you may encounter mistakes of replying using your personal SIM to a business message or vice versa especially if there is no way to see which number is set as default except from the Settings like in iOS 13
- Physical Hazards – yes, you’ve read it right. Although having a Dual SIM provides ease, it is always good to remember that all smartphones are made from a combination of receiver and transmitter, and have the maximum power output of 3 Watts. Which is why health professionals tell us not to sleep with our smartphones near us due to the microwave radiation that may cause insomnia, fatigue, depression, heart disease, Parkinson’s, and even brain tumors
If you think that all that is written above can be managed, then what is stopping you from getting a Dual SIM? If the only reason is cash then don’t worry since there is another solution to get the Dual SIM benefits without ditching your functional smartphone at hand.
How? A challenger TelCo called, ConXhub brings the amazing feature of Dual SIM in triple. Their technology is light years ahead than any network provider.
Why ConXhub?
- Create UNLIMITED numbers – all on one phone which saves you the cost of buying another phone or a Dual SIM phone just to access the advantages of Dual SIM.
- Call globally with one mobile phone at local rates – yes, you can create virtual offices in any country or city around the world. This will help you boost sales with a ‘LOCAL’ presence to your foreign market. As it enables you to make & receive calls from multiple numbers (Call from London, display as New York).
If that does not sound enticing enough for you, then do not worry because ConXhub provides more than that. Like they said, it is only the tip of the iceberg. ConXhub offers no installation or maintenance fee. Whether for simply adding your work numbers to your mobile phone, or completely replacing your company’s telephone switchboard system, their innovation gives you the ideal solution for your needs.
Having a Dual SIM phone is a smart move. If you are open to exploring all the possibilities, and even the cheaper options that can reduce costs, geniuses look at ConxHub. Why purchase another phone and sign up for two different SIM plans when you can retain your personal smartphone and change your network provider to the one that offers more than a Dual SIM can give?
That is what entrepreneurs call practicality without compromising quality of service, which is an integral part of any businesses.
