I agree. Thankfully in my country (Australia) eSIMs are handled pretty well, no charges for updates/changes and can be done without interacting with a customer service rep. You can also switch back from eSIM to a new physical SIM (say if preparing to travel).

This is a place where I really think Apple, Google, etc could throw their weight around for good.

If Apple just said to carriers: "You can't sell any iPhone's unless eSIM activations, changes, and updates are free for everyone, and take less than one hour." I think many would follow suit.

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Gigachad 10 hours ago | parent [-]

The iPhone transfer process actually tries to transfer the eSIM automatically, but it seems to require the carrier to support it.

I suspect Apple is still in the process of forcing every carrier to just support eSIM in the first place, before trying to push making it work well. The second part might end up being implemented through law though.

	▲	sherry-sherry 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That's true. I think carriers always need to be pushed via law. Australia mandated carriers to support number portability (including transfer time-frames) in 2001-ish. It suddenly became so easy to shop around, keeping your number was super easy. Some started charging 'port out' fees, but that was squashed too.