The best dual SIM phones

What is the best dual SIM phone in 2021? Phones that can maintain two carrier network connections at once have been around for a while, lurking on the outskirts of mass adoption anywhere but in emerging markets, where those are very, very popular. If you want to take advantage of two good carrier plans at once, or use one number for the family and friends and another for work, you need a modern dual SIM phone.

Below we’ve rounded up best dual SIM phones money can buy right now, for the times when one Subscriber Identity Module just won’t cut it. We now also include Android phones and Apple‘s iPhones that sport eSIM modules, which allow you to switch between providers and can be counted as multi-SIM phones.

Best flagship dual SIM phones

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra

Samsung‘s latest S-series flagships all support eSIM, come with 5G support, and in some regions have dual SIM also. They’re all sporting super-smooth 120Hz displays, pack impressive cameras and the Galaxy S21 Ultra even has S Pen stylus support, which was once limited to the Note series.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra

Like the S series, Samsung’s Note series support either eSIM or dual SIM depending on your country and carrier. So either variants can easily be used as dual SIM phones. What makes the Note series special is their dedicated stylus and productivity features. Both the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra come with a slot-in S Pen stylus, meaning it’s easily stored inside the phone itself and can be quickly popped out when needed.

Android power users will also be happy to know that the Note series also come with DeX support, a feature that can change your phone’s interface to one that resembles a computer, with multi windows and a taskbar, as soon as you connect the phone to a larger screen. The Note 20 Ultra has a smooth 120Hz display like the S series, although the Note 20 only refreshes at the more standard 60Hz.

If you’re interested in getting to know these two phones better, feel free to check out our Galaxy Note 20 review and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review, where we’ve shared our experiences using these phones and have camera samples, benchmarks and more to show you.

Apple iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

While we’re waiting for the iPhone 13 to be announced, we can recommend Apple‘s current iPhone 12 series, as all four phones have dual SIM support with nano-SIM and eSIM. You can also use 5G with dual SIM on all of them easily. Of course, as with the other eSIM choices on this list, you’ll need a carrier that actually supports eSIM, so make sure to check with your chosen one.

In the US, the carriers that support eSIM are AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Truphone, Ubigi, Verizon Wireless and Visible. In the UK those are EE, O2, Truphone and Ubigi. If you’re in another country, you can check for eSIM support for your iPhone at Apple’s eSIM service page.

Sony Xperia 1 III

Sony‘s flagship Xperia 1 III supports dual Nano SIM cards. We also found it to be quite the enthusiast dream phone, with its 4K display, expandable storage, manual camera controls, headphone jack – all features we don’t often see in 2021 flagships.

However, even though this beast of a smartphone is definitely one of the best dual SIM Android phones to get right now, it’s also very expensive. Thus, you may want to check out our Sony Xperia 1 III review to make sure this is the right phone for you, and what it delivers is satisfactory, before committing to purchasing it.

Asus ROG Phone 5

The Asus ROG Phone 5 and its flagship variant – the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate are some of the most powerful enthusiast Android phones to pick up in 2021. Add to that – some of the best dual SIM phones too, as both have slots for two SIM cards.

In our ROG Phone 5 and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate reviews, we were particularly impressed with their speakers, which are possibly the best on an Android phone to date. On top of that, the ROG Phone 5 series deliver great performance, have super-smooth OLED displays, long battery life, and of course, as they’re gaming-oriented – plenty of gamer features. Those include a stylish design with a light-up logo on the back, AirTriggers and support for gaming accessories, such as gamepads. Check our reviews for those two phones to see how all of this looks and feels hand-on.

Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a

You can use two SIMs on your Google Pixel 5 – one physical SIM card and one eSIM. Both the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a can also connect to 5G while in dual SIM mode.

In our Google Pixel 5 review we found Google‘s flagship to be very light and clean in design, with strong battery life, a bright display and of course – excellent camera performance. And since this is a Google phone, you can expect to be one of the first to get the latest Android updates, such as the upcoming Android 12.

Asus Zenfone 8

This Asus flagship has two SIM slots for dual Nano SIM cards. It also has 5G support, like most other 2021 Android flagships, making it one of the best dual SIM phones right now. During our Asus Zenfone 8 review, we were happy to point out that it has a headphone jack, fantastic performance and a very comfortable design. It’s also water and dust resistant, plus its dual cameras aren’t too shabby. Considering its price, this is a well-rounded flagship with dual SIM support.

OnePlus 9

This “flagship killer” by OnePlus also sports dual SIM slots for using two SIM cards simultaneously. It sports a nice, albeit somewhat average 2021 design, it’s a great performer and has a beautiful 6.5-inch OLED screen. And as we pointed out in our OnePlus 9 review, its camera performance should please most users.

Best budget dual SIM phones

If you’re on the lookout for the best dual SIM phones on a budget, you’ve come to the right place. Below are the best affordable dual SIM phones to buy right now.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G or A72

The Galaxy A32 5G and A72 both have dual SIM models, but their availability varies, so make sure you’re looking at a dual SIM variant before purchasing. These are both very well priced budget Samsung phones with respectable modern designs and solid battery life. Check out our Galaxy A32 5G review and Galaxy A72 review if interested to learn more about them.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G

This is one of OnePlus’ most well-rounded, well-priced smartphones which is also among the best budget dual SIM phones to pick up right now. Aside from dual SIM and 5G support, the Nord CE impresses with its good performance and bright, smooth (90Hz) 6.4-inch OLED display. Check out our full OnePlus Nord CE 5G review if you’d like to familiarize yourself with this budget dual SIM phone better.

Samsung Galaxy A21

There are plenty of reasons why this is one of Samsung’s best selling phones and one of the best dual SIM phones right now. Indeed, aside from having dual SIM variants, the Galaxy A12 has a nice, understated modern design, quad cameras and a large battery for long-lasting usage. It even has expandable storage via microSD and a 3.5mm headphone jack, so it’s arguably among the best budget phones, period.

Those are the best dual SIM smartphones and the best eSIM phones to buy right now, in 2021. If you’re about to continue your search for the best phone for your needs, you may also find helpful the following picks:

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