iPhone 12 Pro Dual SIM - eSIM for mobile data only and primary SIM for wi-fi only incl. iMessage/FT?

[karansaraf]

I'm thinking about getting an eSIM for my 5 week trip to Canada next week.

I will have wifi in the hotel only, but want use outside of wifi too.

I want the eSIM to be active for mobile data only.
I want my primary physical SIM to be the default one for wifi - specifically whatsapp/imessage/browsing/FaceTime.

Unfortunately it seems you can't just put one SIM in airplane mode, so is there a better way to do this? Can you toggle on/off one of the SIMs? ie. when I leave the hotel I toggle off my physical SIM and use only the eSIM? Then toggle off the eSIM when back in the hotel with wifi?

 

[now i see it]

The iPhone doesn’t need a SIM at all to connect to Wi-Fi and access the internet.

 

[dsusanj]

I'm thinking about getting an eSIM for my 5 week trip to Canada next week.

I will have wifi in the hotel only, but want use outside of wifi too.

I want the eSIM to be active for mobile data only.
I want my primary physical SIM to be the default one for wifi - specifically whatsapp/imessage/browsing/FaceTime.

Unfortunately it seems you can't just put one SIM in airplane mode, so is there a better way to do this? Can you toggle on/off one of the SIMs? ie. when I leave the hotel I toggle off my physical SIM and use only the eSIM? Then toggle off the eSIM when back in the hotel with wifi?

You will simply designate your Canadian eSIM as the one to be used for cellular data. (There’s an option to do that in Settings.) Your primary SIM will then not be used for data, but you will still be able to make calls on that number. Instant messaging apps will continue to work regardless as they just need the data connection and don’t particularly care which SIM (or WiFi) provides that. When you’re in WiFi range, WiFi will be used just as when you only have a single SIM in your phone.

 

[dsusanj]

I also suggest to have a look at this.

Using Dual SIM with an eSIM - Apple Support

Set up and use Dual SIM.

support.apple.com