Local telecommunications company Smart Communications has silently rolled out the Philippines’ first-ever prepaid eSIM, allowing owners of eSIM-capable devices like Apple iPhones and the Samsung Galaxy S23 series to use an embedded or digital SIM while enjoying the perks of not being attached to a mobile plan.

If they already use a physical SIM card, they can add a virtual SIM to have two mobile numbers active at the same time on their device if a second SIM card slot is not present. This is particularly good news for prepaid iPhone owners who want to use their smartphone’s dual-SIM capabilities with a nano SIM and an eSIM.

The Smart prepaid eSIM is priced at P99 (roughly $1.78 converted) and comes with 21GB of data, plus free calls and texts to all networks for seven days. To activate the eSIM, simply scan the eSIM QR using your eSIM-capable device and register your new mobile number at smart.com.ph/simreg.

Unfortunately, there’s no option to transfer your existing prepaid number to the eSIM (yet), so you’ll receive a new one after purchasing the eSIM online or from one of Smart’s physical stores nationwide.

Smart telco rival Globe has yet to offer its prepaid user base the option to go the eSIM route. The same can be said about the country’s third telecom operator DITO Telecommunity. This could change soon, though, in light of Smart’s latest prepaid offering.

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Ramon Lopez

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Reviews Editor: Ramon "Monch" Lopez is an 18‑year media veteran who has helped shaped content for Yahoo and other top publications. He first dove into PR and marketing for an automobile brand, then ran the gadgets‑merchandising arm of a Philippine retail giant — proof he knows wheels and tech from the warehouse to the web. Now REVU's Reviews Editor, Monch balances his obsession with specs with a "quality over quantity" mindset, usually fueled by coffee, photography, videography, video games, basketball, and the occasional deadline chase.