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

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

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
iphone 17 cyber

iPhone 17 Demand Is Breaking Apple's Sales Records

Tuesday December 2, 2025 9:44 am PST by
Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is selling well enough that Apple is on track to ship more than 247.4 million total iPhones in 2025, according to a new report from IDC. Total 2025 shipments are forecast to grow 6.1 percent year over year due to iPhone 17 demand and increased sales in China, a major market for Apple. Overall worldwide smartphone shipments across Android and iOS are forecast to...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...
chatgpt logo

Sam Altman Declares 'Code Red' for ChatGPT, Delays OpenAI Advertising Plans

Tuesday December 2, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
OpenAI is deprioritizing work on advertising as it focuses on improving the quality of ChatGPT, reports The Information. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" on Monday, and told employees that the company needs to improve ChatGPT so it doesn't fall behind competitors like Google and Anthropic. Altman said that OpenAI needs to work on personalization for each user, image generation,...

Top Rated Comments

DrJohnnyN Avatar
92 months ago
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile need to step up.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
name99 Avatar
92 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
92 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)
Khedron Avatar
92 months ago
Pricing in select regions in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean starts at $10 for 300MB

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Those prices are ridiculous. Even Apple is put to shame by those margins.
[doublepost=1541625019][/doublepost]
When I go to Europe, this is what I'll use from now on. Spent 2 weeks in Bermuda and Verizon charged me $5 per day to use the data I already paid for. They charge $2 a day in Canada and I think $3 in Europe.
If you had a proper dual SIM phone just buy a local SIM and get data for 10 times cheaper
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adamjackson Avatar
92 months ago
When I go to Europe, this is what I'll use from now on. Spent 2 weeks in Bermuda and Verizon charged me $5 per day to use the data I already paid for. They charge $2 a day in Canada and I think $3 in Europe.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
egodspeed Avatar
92 months ago
TruPhone also supports the ESIM. TruPhone and GigSky seem like small timers in comparison and even use the US carrier networks as a MVNO. So, the MVNOs know how to "ESIM" and the big timers don't? I don't get it. It's almost embarrassing how slow the US carriers are moving to get their support out there.

Verizon/Sprint/AT&T/T-Mobile? Hello? Are you there?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)