Physical eSIM Card Hardware Comparison

Objective comparison of mainstream writable chip hardware and management tools.

Physical eSIM Cards: Complete Analysis

A physical eSIM card is a writable eUICC chip in a standard removable SIM form factor. It is designed for mainland iPhones with native eSIM blocked and Android phones without native eSIM. You can download and store multiple carrier Profiles on one card, switch numbers, and keep one Profile active at a time. Dual-SIM phones can run physical eSIM + domestic physical SIM together.

ESTK (C / Plus+ / Max)

$8.40 - $23.80 USD

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💾 Storage: C: 512KiB | Plus+: 1024KiB | Max: 1600KiB
📂 Profile capacity: 13 - 60 Profiles (Unlimited)
📱 Management: STK Menu / Open-source lpac & OpenEUICC / Official App / PC Reader batch write
💎 Key advantages: iPhone perfect match, native experience；Supports latest 5G SA protocol；Richest open-source community ecosystem；Supports PC reader for batch fast profile writing
❌ Drawbacks / limits: No built-in Bluetooth, requires card reader or helper device to write profiles
🎯 Target audience: Mainland iPhone long-term multi-number users, hardcore geeks, power users keeping up to 60 accounts

9eSIM (V0 / V0 Max / V3)

$14.00 - $22.50 USD

⭐⭐⭐⭐

💾 Storage: V0: 480KB | V0 Max: 1.1MB | V3: 1.5MB (Kigen OS UK Chip)
📂 Profile capacity: V0: 15 | V0 Max: 30 | V3: 50 Profiles (Unlimited)
📱 Management: Open-source lpac & OpenEUICC / STK Menu / Official App / PC Reader
💎 Key advantages: Premium UK Kigen OS secure chip；V3 includes 1GB global roaming data；Fully open-source, no vendor lock-in；Unlimited profile writes
❌ Drawbacks / limits: iPhone direct write experience is average; reader or Android helper recommended
🎯 Target audience: Android power users, open-source/privacy-focused users needing 1GB global data backup

XeSIM (X1 / X2 / X2 Pro)

$13.60 - $32.50 USD

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💾 Storage: X1: 340KB | X2: 1.1MB | X2 Pro: 1.5MB + SeedLink BLE
📂 Profile capacity: X1: 5 writes | X2: 15 Profiles | X2 Pro: 30 Profiles
📱 Management: Official XeSIM App / X2 Pro standalone BLE write / STK Menu
💎 Key advantages: X2 Pro SeedLink BLE standalone iPhone setup；Out-of-box friendly app experience；X1 is highly affordable for trial
❌ Drawbacks / limits: X1 limited to 5 writes (cannot download new profiles after, switch only)
🎯 Target audience: Pure iPhone-only users, beginners seeking zero barriers and plug-and-play convenience

BeeSIM V1

$13.60 USD

⭐⭐⭐⭐

💾 Storage: 340 - 380KB high-security chip
📂 Profile capacity: 8 - 9 Profiles (approx. 40KB per profile)
📱 Management: WeChat Mini Program bluetooth connection / Dedicated App remote management
💎 Key advantages: Built-in ultra-low-power BLE chip, zero reader cost needed；Super simple WeChat Mini Program setup
❌ Drawbacks / limits: Storage is small; fills up fast if hosting multiple profiles
🎯 Target audience: Beginners needing 2-3 profiles, relying entirely on simple bluetooth controls

Top Physical eSIM Cards Compared

	ESTK (C / Plus+ / Max)	9eSIM (V0 / V0 Max / V3)	XeSIM (X1 / X2 / X2 Pro)	BeeSIM V1
Price range	$8.40 - $23.80 USD	$14.00 - $22.50 USD	$13.60 - $32.50 USD	$13.60 USD
Storage	C: 512KiB \| Plus+: 1024KiB \| Max: 1600KiB	V0: 480KB \| V0 Max: 1.1MB \| V3: 1.5MB (Kigen OS UK Chip)	X1: 340KB \| X2: 1.1MB \| X2 Pro: 1.5MB + SeedLink BLE	340 - 380KB high-security chip
Max profiles	13 - 60 Profiles (Unlimited)	V0: 15 \| V0 Max: 30 \| V3: 50 Profiles (Unlimited)	X1: 5 writes \| X2: 15 Profiles \| X2 Pro: 30 Profiles	8 - 9 Profiles (approx. 40KB per profile)
iPhone direct write	Best (STK direct switching)	Average (reader recommended)	X2 Pro best (standalone write)	Best (BLE WeChat Mini Program)
Key feature	60 profiles + open-source ecosystem	Kigen OS + 1GB global data	SeedLink standalone BLE setup on iOS	WeChat Mini Program BLE connection

Write & Activation Guide

1Insert the physical card into your phone SIM slot (secondary slot recommended).
2Install the matching manager: XeSIM official app, NekokoLPA/MiniLPA for 9eSIM & ESTK, or BeeSIM WeChat Mini Program.
3Prepare the carrier eSIM QR code or LPA:1$ activation string.
4Scan the QR code under Wi-Fi and write the profile to the card.
5Enable the profile and turn on Data Roaming on your phone.

FAQ

Can mainland China iPhones use physical eSIM cards?

Yes. Mainland iPhones only block built-in eSIM; the physical SIM slot still works.

Can one card run multiple active numbers at once?

Only one profile is active at a time, but you can store 15-60 profiles and switch instantly.

Why is storage shown as a range?

Carrier profiles range from about 30KB to 120KB, so total capacity determines the number of profiles.

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