GigSky Announces eSIM Support for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR - MacRumors
Skip to Content

GigSky Announces eSIM Support for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR

by

GigSky, a company that offers pay-as-you-go cellular data plans in more than 190 countries around the world, today announced that it now supports the eSIM in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.

eSIM-based GigSky data plans are available on Apple's new devices through the latest version of the GigSky World Mobile Data app, which was updated today.

gigskyesim
Adding a GigSky data plan when traveling can be done by downloading the app on an iPhone XR, XS Max, or XS running iOS 12.1 or later. GigSky says that built-in data connectivity will activate the eSIM with a cellular data only plan with no need to acquire a GigSky physical SIM card.

GigSky offers data bundles from 300MB to 5GB, which span from one day to 30 days. Pricing in select regions in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean starts at $10 for 300MB of data. For other countries not included in these regional plans, pricing and data caps vary.

GigSky is one of the only ways for iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max customers to use the eSIM on the new iPhones at the current time.

Apple implemented eSIM support in the recent iOS 12.1 update, but no U.S. carriers support it at this time. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are working to implement support later this year.

In other countries, eSIM functionality is available from various carriers, with Apple providing a list of all the carriers around the world that support the eSIM at the current time.

Tags: eSIM, GigSky

Popular Stories

Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Apple Apparently Sees Camera Control as Key Foldable iPhone Feature

Monday April 20, 2026 7:40 am PDT by
Apple's first foldable iPhone will be eSIM only and feature a Camera Control despite its ultra-thin design, according to a known leaker. In a series of new posts, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that Apple has made deliberate engineering compromises to ensure that the first foldable iPhone features a Camera Control button, despite it being at least 1.1mm thinner than the iPhone...
Read Full Article • 41 comments
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Apple Card Promo to Offer Free AirPods Pro 3

Friday May 15, 2026 8:59 am PDT by
Starting as early as next week, customers who sign up for an Apple Card at Apple's retail stores in the U.S. will receive $249 cash back when they purchase AirPods Pro 3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The promotion has yet to be officially announced by Apple, so exact terms and conditions are not available at this time. AirPods Pro 3 are priced at $249 in the U.S., so customers who...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
Apple WWDC25 iOS 26 CarPlay Light mode 250609

Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based...
Read Full Article • 29 comments

Top Rated Comments

DrJohnnyN Avatar
DrJohnnyN
98 months ago
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile need to step up.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
name99
98 months ago
Since 98% of the calls I get in my cell now are robocalls, scams, etc, someone should just offer all data plans. But with more reasonable pricing that Gigsky.
GigSky and TruPhone are OBVIOUSLY services for travelers.
Stop complaining that they aren't doing the job they clearly are not set up to do of being full time US carriers.

I want to read how well they work as TRAVEL services, not yet another whine about how they aren't competitive with T-Mobile or Verizon or whatever.
[doublepost=1541680644][/doublepost]
Forgive me but I fail to see the value here.

I am in Europe on holiday and stepped into a Vodafone location. For €20 I received 10GB of data plus unlimited talk and text with coverage throughout the EU for 30 days.

Until I see a telco offer these kinds of prices I won’t be signing up.
The value is that
(a) the world is larger than Europe
(b) regardless of what Europe offers, many other countries make it a major pain for non-citizens to obtain a cheap short-duration SIM
(c) swapping a physical SIM is a hassle.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
egodspeed Avatar
egodspeed
98 months ago
I am not a native english speaker but this wording sounds kinda funny?? Shouldn't it say "the only way"?
No. It's written correctly.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
d00d
98 months ago
hm ok thx. :)
I'll contradict what others have told you. Only implies singular, so "one of" is nonsensical in this context.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
dave61
98 months ago
TruPhone also supports the ESIM.
Truphone's app launched a few days ago, but at the moment only offers data. Their support team told me that full voice service is expected before Xmas, at which point I can stop carrying two phones!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BearsFan34 Avatar
BearsFan34
98 months ago
This is very likely what I'll do next time I travel internationally. In a foreign country, tired from a long flight, and just needing data--buying a SIM at the airport is what I've done.

Yes. I know it's outrageously expensive that way. Sure, I can pre-load maps/navigation before landing. Then Uber/cab/hired car to the hotel & find a store on the way. Again, traveler fatigue.

Personally, I feel better knowing I can de-plane and instantly (after customs) put a local SIM in my phone and get data. I've not found an international cell carrier that I can contact from the 'States and arrange for them to send me a SIM I'll pay for ahead of time (if you know of one in the UK/Europe, @ me).

This option seems like the best. No physical SIM swapping; pay online for just the data I want, all electronically done. If it works as advertised, I'm in.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments