The 6+ Best Dual SIM Phones

Your airplane has just touched down in Spain, and you want to let your friends know you’ll be on your way for a pitcher of sangria shortly. But wait – you’re not on one of the best cell phone plans for international travel, and you don’t want to pay through the nose for data roaming. What can you do?

Luckily, you have a dual SIM phone, meaning your cell phone has a second SIM card slot. At the airport, you purchase a second SIM card, this one a local SIM for a Spanish carrier. Your cell phone connects to the Spanish mobile network, and you send them the text ASAP. Your friends promise to save you a glass.

If that kind of lifestyle sounds good to you, you should look into dual SIM phones. Dual SIM technology has been around for a while, but its popularity has grown in recent years. No longer a functionality just for business professionals and frequent travelers, more and more smartphone users are buying dual SIM phones because of the added convenience and ability to manage multiple mobile phone numbers or networks with one device.

We looked at the latest dual SIM card phones and compared their features and benefits, including camera quality, battery life, and processing power. Here are our selections for the best dual SIM phones available in 2024:

• Samsung Galaxy S24
• iPhone 15
• Google Pixel 8

What Is a Dual SIM Phone? 

A dual SIM phone can take two SIM cards at the same time. That means it’s equipped with either two physical SIM card slots, a physical nano SIM card slot, and an eSIM, or the ability to use two eSIMS.

What is a SIM card? Your phone’s SIM — subscriber identity module — card contains your unique mobile subscriber identity information and its related key. Basically, your SIM card(s) tell your network’s cell towers who you are and who your carrier is, allowing you to use the cellular signal to make calls, send messages, and access data services.

Having a dual SIM device is like the mobile phone equivalent of being a dual citizen. Your two SIM cards are like two passports containing your identification information, allowing you to use two separate mobile phone numbers and networks simultaneously with one device. 

Note that you must have an unlocked smartphone to be able to use dual SIM cards.

How We Picked Our Top Dual SIM Phones

Let’s take a closer look at our picks, our selection criteria, and the details everyone should know when shopping for a dual SIM phone. And if you’re looking for a great deal on a new dual SIM phone, use our free Phone Deal Finder below to find the best phone deals right now.

With many major phone brands now offering models with dual SIM capabilities, we wanted to ensure our recommendations have great specs all around. We also wanted to select options from various brands and operating systems, as we know many people are loyal to specific ecosystems. Apple lovers, Android loyalists, and Google fans — we see you.

Across our top picks, there’s something for everyone:

• Physical dual SIMs
• Dual eSIMs
• World-class cameras
• Exceptional battery life
• Powerful processors
• Impressive screen sizes and display resolution
• Up to 1TB storage

Let’s look at the details of our first dual SIM card phone recommendation.

Samsung Galaxy S24: Best Overall Dual SIM Phone

Our choice for the best Android dual SIM smartphone and the best overall dual SIM option is the Samsung Galaxy S24. The S24 is the first Samsung phone to offer dual eSIM support. An eSIM, or embedded SIM, functions like a physical SIM card but is pre-installed inside the phone during manufacturing and cannot be removed. An eSIM provides additional convenience and flexibility because it allows users to switch between networks or add new carriers without physically swapping out a nano SIM card.

Including a traditional, physical SIM card, the S24 offers multiple options for dual SIM configuration — physical + eSIM or two eSIMs. Other standout features of the Galaxy S24 are its impressive Galaxy AI capabilities, including Circle to Search, which lets you easily Google things by circling them in an image, and Live Translate, which can translate phone calls in real-time.

The Galaxy S24 runs on the latest Android OS, Android 14, known for its accessibility features and battery enhancements. The S24 boasts an impressive battery life of around 29 hours of video playback, quick charging speed, and a large 6.2-inch display with an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, making for a super-smooth video and gaming experience. Especially now that cell phones make only incremental improvements from generation to generation, it’s also notable that the S24 line uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the very latest chip with high performance specially geared towards powering AI functionality.

The basic, no-frills Galaxy S24 model retails for $799, while the Galaxy S24+, with its large 6.7-inch screen and slightly better battery life, retails for $999. For those interested in a premium device with an incredible 200MP camera, Samsung’s top-of-the-line Android phone option, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, retails for $1299.

iPhone 15: Best Camera Dual SIM Phone

The Apple iPhone 15 is another strong contender for the best dual SIM phone on the market, and it’s the obvious choice for devoted fans of the Apple ecosystem. The iPhone has had dual eSIM support since the iPhone 13 range, but it’s great to see Apple’s ongoing commitment to this feature.

We selected the iPhone 15 as a standout dual SIM phone because of its many great features, especially its famously fantastic camera. With a powerful 48MP main camera, this phone captures stunning details in your photos and videos in any lighting. The 12MP front-facing camera is also a winner, ranking among the best selfie cameras ever.

Other features that set the iPhone 15 apart include the ever-popular iOS interface and the powerful A16 Bionic processor. Also, the iPhone 15 is the first to ditch the lightning connector, opting for the more widely-used USB-C port. Not only that, but the iPhone 15 has a solid battery life, with around 20 hours of video playback according to Apple’s specs. 

The iPhone 15 base model retails for $829, making it just slightly more expensive than the Galaxy S24. If the 6.1-inch screen isn’t big enough, you might opt for the iPhone 15 Plus, which boasts a 6.7-inch screen and a $899 price tag. If better processing power, better cameras, and a titanium body are what you’re after, you could get the iPhone 15 Pro for $999. And finally, if you want the best iPhone money can buy, plus the larger screen size, you can purchase the iPhone 15 Pro Max for $1199.

Google Pixel 8: Best Value Dual SIM Phone

Rounding out our dual SIM phone recommendations is Google’s newest offering, the Google Pixel 8. Like the other phones in this post, the Pixel 8 offers dual eSIM support, so users can use two eSIMs, or a single eSIM and and one physical SIM card. The Google Pixel 8 is the second Google mobile phone to support dual eSIMs, as it initially rolled out with the release of Android 13 on the Google Pixel 7.

The Google Pixel 8 runs on Android 14 and offers a clean and minimal user experience. Fans of the Google suite enjoy the Pixel series’ seamless integration with their favorite apps, including Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

The camera on the Pixel 8 is excellent, especially in low-light scenarios where other phone cameras struggle. It also has an exceptional battery life, thanks to its 4,575mAh battery. While Google doesn’t measure its phone battery specs in hours of video playback as Apple and Samsung do, they do claim that the Pixel 8 can handle 24+ hours of normal use by an everyday person. 

The Google Pixel 8 is the most affordable of our dual SIM card phone selections, with a retail price of $749. For a bigger screen and a few additional features, including a unique, contactless temperature sensor, you can buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro for $999.

Other Great Dual Sim Phones 

Finally, we’d like to share some runners-up in the dual SIM phone category. Since dual SIM support has been around for a while now, there are many options to choose from, including:

• iPhone XS and beyond: While dual eSIM support started with the iPhone 13 range, all iPhone models since the XS offer dual SIM functionality. Consider buying a slightly older iPhone model to get many of the same great Apple features with a smaller price tag – for example, when we reviewed the iPhone 12 Pro Max vs the iPhone 13 Pro Max, we found some improvements, but nothing that ruled out the iPhone 12 as a suitable phone for some.
• Other Samsung phones: Samsung offers a wide range of phones with dual SIM support, including their versatile flip and fold phones: the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip5. Even value-priced phones like the Galaxy A series and older S series models, including the Galaxy S23, support dual SIM.
• Google Pixel 3A and beyond: Google’s first dual SIM capable phone was the Google Pixel 3A, released in 2019. All Google phones released since then have dual SIM support, and anything after the Pixel 7 will support dual eSIMs.

What Are Dual SIM Card Technology Options?

As we've explained, dual SIM cards enable a phone to support two separate phone numbers and service plans at once. This is useful for separating personal and business lines without needing two phones. However, you have two further options beyond that. You might opt for a DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) dual SIM phone, or one equipped with DSA (Dual SIM active) technology

What's the difference between these two kinds of dual SIM card systems?

1. DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby): In this mode, the phone can keep both SIMs on standby for calls and texts but can only use one for calls or data at a time. If you're using one SIM for a call, the other SIM cannot receive calls until the first call ends.
2. DSA (Dual SIM Active): This allows the phone to use both SIMs actively at the same time. You can receive calls on both numbers simultaneously. If you are on a call with one SIM and a call comes in on the other, you can manage both calls together.

Typically, DSA cell phones are more expensive, and that kind of ability is more advanced than most regular phone shoppers are looking for. In the majority of cases, DSDS SIM card technology is suitable.

The Bottom Line 

Is it time to upgrade to a dual SIM phone? Dual SIM support makes travel and work easier and more convenient, allowing you to use two separate phone numbers on one device, as well as two data plans and two networks. Dual SIM phones are the perfect solution for people tired of carrying around a work phone in addition to their personal phone. Dual SIM capability, especially dual eSIM capability, is also a great benefit for frequent travelers trying to stay connected abroad.

Navi’s Phone Deal Finder is an excellent resource for anyone shopping for a new phone. Our recommendations are customized based on your location and the features you’re looking for in a phone, and we offer options from top carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dual SIM phones good?

Dual SIM phones are great if you travel between areas with different carriers or experience spotty coverage. They let you switch between networks on the fly, so you can always use the one with the best signal, data plan, or service.

What are the disadvantages of having a dual SIM phone?

One disadvantage of a dual SIM phone is that they tend to offer less battery life than traditional single SIM phones. Maintaining multiple network connections requires more power, meaning you’ll likely need to charge more often. Some models also come with software restrictions, limiting certain features or functionality when both SIMs are active.

Do dual SIM phones have two numbers?

Yes, dual SIM phones come with two separate SIM cards, meaning you get two phone numbers and two network connections in one device. This lets you call, text, and manage contacts from both numbers, keeping things organized by using each line however you like.