At Eskimo, we’re always working to provide our customers with the best possible travel connectivity experience. We’re excited to announce that our travel eSIM is now 5G-ready in select countries, delivering lightning-fast internet speeds at no extra cost without you having to lift a finger.
5G Speed in Select Countries
You may have already heard the buzz around 5G data, the next generation of mobile internet that promises incredibly fast speeds, smoother connectivity, and improved experiences for everything from browsing to streaming. Now, thanks to Eski and Mo’s hard work behind the scenes, your Eskimo eSIM is ready to tap into 5G networks in select countries around the world.
It’s easy to get started: there’s no extra cost for 5G eSIM plans, and no special action is required on your end - just keep roaming as you normally would. If you're in one of the selected countries, your Eskimo eSIM will automatically connect to 5G networks when available. Your connection will be faster, smoother, and more reliable, so you can keep doing everything you love.
Mobile Phones' 5G Compatibility
5G feature was first launched in 2019 in South Korea, and a lot of devices come equipped to enjoy this high-speed feature. For example, a $100 phone like Samsung A14 can even use 5G. On the other hand, an eSIM compatible device tends to start at $300 (Xiaomi 12T Pro, Samsung Galaxy A53, Google Pixel 6A, etc.), and they naturally come with 5G features as well. In a way, if you're already using an eSIM or your device supports eSIM, your device definitely supports 5G.
Is 5G Faster Than LTE/4G?
With 5G internet, you’ll experience download speeds that are significantly faster than LTE/4G (around 1GB to 3GB vs 20MB to 100MB per second). In fact, the speed can go up to 20GB (that means 5G speed can be as fast as 20,000 Mbps). This means you’ll be able to:
- HD Video Streaming: Watch movies, YouTube videos, and livestreams in higher resolution without buffering, even while on the move.
- Uploading Content: Share photos, Instagram reels, and videos to social media much faster, ideal for travel bloggers, influencers, or anyone documenting their trips.
- Video Calling: Smoother, high-quality video calls with friends, family, or colleagues with less awkward lag.
- Navigation and Maps: Load large, detailed maps, search for nearby attractions, or reroute faster.
- Remote Work: Upload and download large files, join video conferences, or manage projects easily, even while traveling between cities or countries.
- Mobile Gaming: Enjoy lower latency and faster load times for mobile games that rely on real-time connectivity.
- Cloud Services: Use cloud storage apps (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud) efficiently. This is especially important if you’re backing up travel photos and documents.
In short, 5G means less waiting for your apps to load or videos to buffer. Everything just works better.
Which Countries Get 5G?
We’ve worked hard to bring you the best possible coverage, and we’re excited to announce that 5G is now live in over 70 countries. Here’s a list of the countries where your Eskimo eSIM is now 5G-ready:
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darusallam, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Slovak Republic, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam
We prioritise the top, famous destinations first and work behind the scenes to include more countries.
How Does This Affect My Current Eskimo Data Plan?
The great news is that nothing changes for you! If you’re already using an Eskimo eSIM, you don’t need to upgrade or make any changes. Our prices remain the same - it's a speed upgrade, free of charge! Once 5G becomes available in your current location, your eSIM will automatically switch to the 5G network, and you’ll benefit from the faster speeds.
Cautions in Using 5G
While we're delighted to share this major upgrade, it is also our responsibility to be transparent with 5G use cases. 5G is much faster than 4G/LTE, but this could lead to accidental, excessive data usage.
- Accidentally downloading or uploading large files. Say you notice an installation or an upload after 10 seconds. Due to its speed, 5G will download and consume more data per second.
- If you enable your personal hotspot, and the devices connected to your device also support 5G, they will also be connected to 5G WiFi speed. Devices tend to have downloads or uploads when connected to WiFi settings enabled - this will eat up your data balance very quickly.
- 5G could consume more battery.
Find out how to optimise data usage on iOS and conserve mobile data on Android.
5G Settings on iOS
To check your 5G settings on your iOS
- Go to Settings
- Select Mobile Data, Mobile Service or Cellular
- Tap Mobile Data Options or Cellular Data Options
- Choose Voice & Data
- Pick 5G Auto (uses 5G only when needed wihle optimising battery life) or 5G On (always uses 5G, regardless of battery consumption or device performance), depending on your preference
5G Settings on Samsung
- Go to Settings
- Select Connections
- Tap Mobile Networks
- Choose Network Mode
- Choose 5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect). This will prompt your device to connect to the fastest speed available.
- If you'd like to exclude 5G, select the LTE/3G/2GB (auto connect) instead. This way, you'll be capped at LTE until further changes.
5G Settings on Google Pixel
- Go to Settings
- Open Network & Internet
- Tap SIMs, then select Eskimo
- Click on Preferred network type
- Choose 5G (recommended)
- Select LTE if you'd like to exclude 5G
5G Settings on Oppo
- Go to Settings
- Open Mobile Network
- Tap Eskimo eSIM
- Click on Preferred network type
- Select 5G/4G/3G/2G (Auto). Your device will now connect to the fastest available speed.
- Select 4G/3G/2G (Auto) if you'd like to exclude 5G
5G Settings on Xiaomi
- Go to Settings
- Open Mobile Network
- Tap Eskimo eSIM
- Click on Preferred network type
- Select Prefer 5G
- If you'd like to exclude 5G, click Prefer 4G
5G Settings on Vivo
- Go to Settings
- Open SIM cards & mobile networks
- Tap Preferred network type
- Select 5G (preferred)/4G/3G/2G. Your device will now connect to the fastest available speed.
- Select 4G (preferred)/3G/2G if you'd like to exclude 5G.
Try Eskimo 5G Global eSIM for Free
Eskimo’s 5G-ready eSIM is here, offering you an upgraded travel experience like never before. With no extra cost and no action required from you, your device will automatically connect to 5G networks where available. Even better, we are currently running a promo where each new sign up user with an eSIM-compatible device can get a 500MB Global eSIM for free. Hurry before the promo ends!
5G eSIM FAQs: Everything You Need to Know
How do I get access to 5G with Eskimo eSIM?
Access to 5G is automatic for users in countries where it’s available. As long as your device supports 5G, you have your 5G settings enabled on your device, and you're in a 5G-enabled country, you’ll experience the faster speeds without needing to do anything extra.
Is there an additional cost for 5G service?
Nope! There’s no extra cost for 5G service. You’ll enjoy 5G speeds at the same price you already pay for your Eskimo eSIM plan.
Do I need to reinstall my Eskimo eSIM for 5G?
Not at all! The upgrade is done on our backend, and the changes will be reflected on your current Eskimo eSIM. Enjoy the upgrade without any hassle!
How do I know if I’m in a 5G-enabled area?
Your Eskimo eSIM will automatically connect to the fastest network available, including 5G, if your device and location support it. You can also check with your local carrier to confirm whether 5G coverage is available in your area.
Can I still use my Eskimo eSIM in 4G or 3G areas?
Yes! Eskimo eSIM is designed to give you the best available network in any given location. If 5G isn’t available in your area, your eSIM will connect to the next best available network.
Do I need a special device for 5G?
Yes, your device needs to be 5G-compatible. Most newer smartphones and devices support 5G, but you’ll want to verify with your device manufacturer that your model supports the network. Not to worry - if your device only supports 4G/LTE, our data plan will still connect to our partner telcos' 4G/LTE network.
Will I notice a significant speed difference?
Absolutely! With 5G, you can expect faster speeds for browsing, streaming, downloading, and more. This means quicker access to apps, more responsive navigation, and an overall better experience.
Will 5G use more data?
Not at all. The data usage is independent of your internet speed. For example, if you're trying to download a 5MB file, it'll consume the same amount of data regardless of your connectivity speed.
Will my personal hotspot also be in 5G?
Yes, but with a caveat. The more devices connected to your personal hotspot simultaneously, the slower the speed, even if you have 5G hotspot.