Everything you need to know about Optus eSIM

Physical SIM cards come in a few different sizes, but the best SIM card size is the one you don’t have to think about. Cue the entry of the eSIM. If you’ve bought a 2018-or-newer smartphone, chances are good you’re rocking an eSIM-capable mobile phone. And Optus is one of several mobile providers in Australia to provide the digital tech.

Before we get into everything you need to know about Optus eSIM, check out this list of popular mobile plans from our database.

Whether you’re with Optus or one of the other dozen-plus mobile providers that support the newish tech, eSIM means the same thing. It’s effectively a digital replacement for a physical SIM card. Instead of having to crack open a SIM tray, you follow a few digital activation steps and you can be using your new mobile plan in minutes. That’s right: no physical SIM card required with no extra cost for setup, plus an eSIM has the same functionality as a physical SIM, including international roaming.

Using an eSIM frees up the physical SIM card slot for another plan, either another Australian mobile plan or perhaps an overseas alternative if you’re a frequent traveller. You’ll have to switch between the two in your phone’s settings if you go for this option, but it saves having to lug around two handsets. With the right mobile phone, you can even access multiple eSIMs on the same phone, cycling between them as required. Unlike Telstra, you can shift from an existing eSIM plan to an Optus eSIM SIM-only or prepaid plan.

Optus supports eSIM for postpaid SIM-only and prepaid plans. Check out this list of popular Optus eSIM SIM-only plans from our comparison engine.

If you want to compare SIM-only plans from eSIM mobile providers, the ones below are the most popular picks from our database.

Optus prepaid plans support eSIM-compatible devices, and you’ll find the most popular picks below.

Compare those Optus picks above with the most popular prepaid plans below from eSIM-supporting mobile providers.

If you’re interested in seeing a selection of eSIM plans on the Optus network, from Optus and Optus MVNOs, check out the popular picks below.

Optus provides different activation steps based on whether you’re using a SIM-only or prepaid plan. For Optus SIM-only plans, Optus advises having a stable WiFi connection on the device you’re using the eSIM on, with the latest software updates installed alongside the up-to-date My Optus app.

Log in to the My Optus app with your account details, then tap on ‘Account’. In Account, tap the ‘eSIM’ option and follow the prompts to download and activate your eSIM. Optus estimates it may take between 15 minutes to four hours for your eSIM to activate (it’s the same timeframe for Optus prepaid). Alternatively, grab an eSIM QR code from an Optus store or request that one is sent to your home address. Use your eSIM-capable device’s camera to scan the QR code and follow the prompts.

Optus also notes some different activation steps for people who’ve bought an iPhone or iPad with their mobile plan. Apple has its own carrier activation, which should kick in after you’ve selected the eSIM option during plan activation and connected to WiFi. Follow the prompts to complete the eSIM activation process.

For prepaid users, if you have an Optus Flex Plus plan, you can activate it in the My Optus app. If you don’t have one of those Optus prepaid plans, activate eSIM in store or by calling Optus. Flex Plus users can connect to WiFi and download the My Optus app. Go to the ‘More’ tab, then select ‘Get new service’. Tap the ‘Get connected now’ option followed by ‘Connect digital eSIM’. Follow the activation steps and subsequent eSIM prompts to get connected.

As long as you have an eSIM-compatible device and an active Optus mobile plan, you can transfer from a physical SIM card to an eSIM. Connect to a stable WiFi internet connection with your eSIM-compatible device and download the latest version of the My Optus app. In the app, go to the ‘Account’ tab, then ‘SIM Management’ and tap on ‘Transfer or Restore eSIM’.

Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the transfer. When you see a ‘Success’ pop-up, turn your device off and then back on again. It’ll take between 15 minutes to four hours for your eSIM to work. You’re then able to remove the physical SIM card from your device as it’s now operating via eSIM. Note that Optus prepaid users may have to perform a physical SIM card to eSIM transfer over the phone or in-store.

Optus provides a periodically updated list of phones and tablets that are compatible with Optus eSIM. Here’s the latest list of Optus-supported eSIM devices at the time of writing:

• Apple: iPhone 11–15 (including Pro, Mini, Plus and Pro Max), iPhone XR, iPhone XS (including Max) and iPhone SE (3rd gen). iPad (7th gen or newer), iPad Pro (11-inch 1st gen or newer; 12.9-inch 3rd gen or newer), iPad Air (3rd gen or newer) and iPad Mini (5–6th gen).
• Samsung: Galaxy S20–24 (including Plus and Ultra); Galaxy S23 FE; Galaxy A55; Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Flip 5; and Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G, Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 5. Galaxy Tab S9 (including Plus and Ultra), Galaxy Tab S9 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, and Galaxy Tab A9 Plus.
• Google: Pixel 4–8 (including a, XL and Pro).
• Oppo: Find X3 Pro 5G, Reno 5A, Find X5 (including Pro).
• Huawei: P40, P40 Pro and Mate 40 Pro.
• Motorola: Razr, Razr 5G and Moto G54.

Optus notes that the following devices are not compatible with eSIM in Australia:

• Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (4G and 5G).
• US versions of the Samsung S20 and S21.
• US versions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
• US and Hong Kong versions of the Samsung Note 20 Ultra.
• US and Hong Kong versions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.
• Oppo Find X5 Lite