One of the most frequently asked questions we get about 5G is on the sim card and whether you will need a new sim card to access 5G services.
Of course, many people also want to know if they need a new sim for the iPhone they just got. In this article, we’ve got answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about sim cards, including whether or not you need a new sim card to access 5G services. Let’s get right into it!
Do I Need A New Sim Card and Phone for 5G?
Yes, you will need a new SIM card to get the best out of 5G services on pretty much all mobile networks, from AT&T, Verizon to even T-Mobile.
We also believe that you might need to get a new device if your iPhone or Android phone doesn’t come with support for 5G out-of-the-box.
When it comes to 5G sim cards, there are two types; non-standalone and standalone. Non-standalone (NSA) connects to 5G and LTE simultaneously, while standalone (SA) connects to 5G only.
T-Mobile is the only nationwide U.S. carrier to offer standalone 5G compatible SIM cards.
On T-Mobile, you can use the non-standalone on a regular sim card, but if you want access to standalone, you need a new sim card that holds extra information for direct 5G access. Amidst other functionalities, 5G standalone offers lower latency and a better range than 5G non-standalone.
Do I Need A New Sim Card for iPhone 13?
No, you do not necessarily need a new sim card for iPhone 13 provided your former sim card can fit into the slot for a physical sim card in the iPhone, although, iPhone 13 supports two eSIMs (electronic sims) in addition to one physical nano sim card. So, you can use your old nano sim card alongside the eSIMS, which will be activated for you at the point of purchase.
How Do I Know If I Need A New SIM Card?
If your old SIM card is damaged or you’ve started seeing signs that it’s failing in its efficiency, then you need a new SIM card. You’d also likely need a new SIM card if you plan to use 4G or 5G and the SIM doesn’t come with support for these.
A faulty SIM card can prevent your smartphone from connecting to a mobile network. The surest way to know if your SIM card is bad or your smartphone is malfunctioning is for you to insert the sim card into a different phone.
Why would you need a new SIM card?
Here are some of the main reasons why you may need a new SIM card:
- Lost or stolen sim card or phone.
- Damaged or worn-out sim card.
- Blocked sim card PIN or PUK.
- Sim card error (phone shows “insert sim” or “invalid sim” when a sim is inserted in the phone)
- To upgrade to a new mobile network standard (3G, 4G, 5G)
Is My SIM Card Too Old?
SIM cards don’t generally get too old unless they are being poorly handled, leading to wear and tear. SIM cards can last for about 20 years, and you might not even need to change them unless you’d like to upgrade to a 4G or 5G network.
Should I Replace My SIM Card When I Get A New Phone?
No, you don’t need to replace your SIM card when you get a new phone unless the old sim card is damaged, you would like to upgrade the SIM to 4G or 5G, or if the SIM card has been locked to a specific carrier, hence you not being able to use it on a phone that is also locked to another carrier.
What is the lifespan of a SIM card?
A SIM card can last for up to 20 years, most people wouldn’t use their SIMs for this long though, as there has increasingly been a need to upgrade to better networks every few years. Most people had to upgrade to 4G a few years ago, and as we have seen in this article, most will still need to upgrade to 5G very soon. So, unless your SIM card gets damaged, you should be fine.
Can I just switch SIM cards?
Yes, you can switch your sim card to a different phone, provided the phone is not tied to a particular carrier and the card is the same size as the phone’s sim slot/tray. You cannot put a nano-sim into a micro-sim slot.
Read also: What Information Is Stored on A Sim Card?
When you change SIM cards do you lose everything?
No, you don’t lose any information when you change SIM cards unless the information is saved on the SIM card, in which case reinserting it into the phone brings back the info you need. If you want your sim card information to remain available after you change sim cards, simply copy your sim contents to your device memory before swapping your sim card.
What happens when you put a new SIM card in your phone?
When you put a new sim card in your phone, your phone will now be able to receive data from and work with your new carrier, on a new plan. Basically, whenever you make calls and send messages, receivers will be seeing numbers registered to a new carrier, and in most cases a new user account.
What happens to your old SIM card when you get a new one?
When you get a new sim card, your old sim card will be deactivated. You can also expect any information saved on the old SIM card to get lost as changing to a new SIM card doesn’t come with a transfer of data on the old one.
In conclusion, there are four basic requirements for you to use the 5G network: A 5G enabled cellular account, a 5G ready sim card, a 5G capable phone, and a 5G coverage area. If the other three requirements are not met, there may be no point in getting a new sim card for 5G until the other factors are resolved.
- iPhone Says No SIM Card Installed When There Is One? Best Fixes
- What Does SIM Failure Mean?
- Why Is My SIM Card Not Working?
- If I Put My SIM Card in another Phone What Will Happen?
- Can A SIM Card Go Bad?
John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email: john@tekpip.com Learn more about tekpip and the team here on our about us page.