T-Mobile’s Test Drive program gets eSIM support for easy setup on iPhone

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T-Mobile Test Drive
No additional hardware required.
Photo: T-Mobile

The Test Drive program that allows smartphone users to try out T-Mobile’s network free for 30 days now supports iPhone’s built-in eSIM.

You previously needed to use a mobile hotspot and a physical T-Mobile SIM card to take advantage of the trial. Now, you simply need to download an app on iPhone XS or later.

Launched in 2014, the Test Drive program lets potential T-Mobile customers try out the company’s network for a limited time. It offers either 30 days or 30GB of access (whichever you reach first) for free.

Test Drive has been available in a number of forms over the years. In its most recent iteration, trial users are sent a free Wi-Fi hotspot that uses a physical T-Mobile SIM card that they can pair with their smartphone.

But Test Drive is now a lot easier to use if you have an iPhone XS or later running iOS 14.5 and up.

T-Mobile Test Drive embraces eSIM

Test Drive now plays nicely with the built-in eSIM on recent iPhone models, negating the need for additional hardware. You simply download the app, follow the prompts to sign up, and you’re good to go.

If you have an iPhone 12 series device, you can even try out T-Mobile’s super-speedy 5G network (assuming it’s available where you live). Though you will burn through that 30GB data allowance a lot faster.

At the end of the trial, T-Mobile’s eSIM profile can easily be removed from your iPhone and you can continue to use your current provider (which never gets removed from your device) as normal.

How to sign up

Detailed instructions on how to get started with the eSIM Test Drive are available on T-Mobile’s website. You can take advantage of the free trial once every six months, but existing T-Mobile customers are ineligible.

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