Comment by vader1
5 days ago
The lack of a physical SIM tray is just one more way to lock users in Google's walled garden. eSIM support is not implemented in Android itself (AOSP), but part of the proprietary GMS package. This means Google-free Android forks like LineageOS will be unusable on the Pixel 10 series :-(
>The lack of a physical SIM tray is just one more way to lock users in Google's walled garden.
Seems to be US only? iPhone also has the same thing, so it's probably something that US carriers are pushing, not something from OEMs.
>eSIM support is not implemented in Android itself (AOSP), but part of the proprietary GMS package. This means Google-free Android forks like LineageOS will be unusable on the Pixel 10 series :-(
OpenEUICC works fine
If this is real then it is very unfortunate as multiple countries use crypto SIM cards as national identity, a popular more ergonomic alternative to a separate identity card that need a USB reader and computer. They play themselves out of markets.
better than what they did with pixel[6-9] where they shipped a dual injection crap to save 0.00001c on production and if you traveled 5x and swapped local SIMs, the tray just crumbled and you had to buy another for $20 on ebay because they don't stock it or replace under warranty.
Similar experience with my Pixel 5 but different outcome. My SIM tray crumbled and they sent me a new phone under warranty.
does this mean no GrapheneOS either?
GrapheneOS found a way to provide eSIM support, but it depends on installing a patched version of Google's proprietary LPA app. I don't know how future-proof that is..
you don't even need google's proprietary esim app. OpenEUICC works fine if you grant it priv-app permissions.
[1] https://gitea.angry.im/PeterCxy/OpenEUICC/
GrapheneOS support eSim : https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support
Graphene supports eSIM https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support
It supports eSIM. Two months ago, I bought a Pixel 9a, immediately put GrapheneOS on it, and registered an eSIM.