Dual SIM smartphone features have become a standard segment for most smartphone users. Nowadays it’s a craze to use dual sim mobile phones with a separate SD card tray. Phones have a built-in feature that allows you to operate two SIM cards with two different numbers simultaneously on the same phone.
So, let’s see what are dual SIM phones, and why are they useful? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What are the types of dual SIM phones? and What are the best dual SIM phones with separate MicroSD card slots in 2022?
What is a Dual SIM Smartphone?
A dual SIM smartphone is a mobile phone with room to accommodate two separate SIM cards. Depending on the type of Dual SIM technology you use, you can use both SIM cards at the same time during a call.
Dual SIM smartphones have either two separate slots for each SIM card or a single slot with a tray that can hold two SIM cards.
Mobile service providers are known to oppose the dual-SIM smartphone idea because of the profit impact of the dual-SIM smartphone. Consumers with dual SIM smartphones can have one phone instead of two. Not only that, but you can also use competitors’ SIM cards on your phone.
How does a dual SIM mobile phone work?
Not all dual SIM smartphones work the same way. There are two common versions of this type of technology you see in smartphones: the standard Dual SIM version and the Hybrid Dual SIM version.
Not only that, but the actual way a phone works with two SIM cards differs from phone to phone. This depends on whether the smartphone uses passive or active dual SIM technology. Here is the explanation of all types of SIM versions.
Types of Dual SIM Phones
There are several types of dual SIM phones, each with its pros and cons. To use Dual SIM, you must unlock your phone with that technology.
1. Dual SIM Single Standby
The oldest kind of Dual SIM. This type of phone contains both SIM cards, but only one can be active at a time. You have to manually change what is used. This works great if you know you only need to contact them on certain days of the week, or if you frequently travel between countries. It’s rare on smartphones, but you can find it on other types of phones.
2. Dual SIM Dual Active
Phones with dual SIM dual active features keep both cards active at the same time. Even if you receive a call with one SIM, you will receive call waiting and data from the other SIM.
3. Dual SIM Dual Standby
You probably already noticed. This kind of smartphone can activate two cards with one transceiver. When both are on hold, you can use either one to answer a call. When you answer a call, an unused card is deactivated until you end the call.
This is just a limitation for phones that use 2G to make voice calls (3G and 4G do not have this limitation). This is probably the most popular form of dual sim technology in smartphones right now and is cheaper than dual sim dual active.
4. Dual SIM variants and non-identical connectors
When talking about dual SIM smartphones, you can imagine a phone with two identical slots for SIM cards. That image isn’t wrong, but there are other dual SIM variants you can find on other phones on the market.
The three most common variants of Dual SIM technology are:
1. Hybrid Dual SIM: Hybrid Dual SIM smartphones have two slots for two SIM cards. The first slot is dedicated to the main SIM card, but the second slot can accept either a SIM card or a memory card.
So, in essence, a hybrid dual-SIM phone can function as either a dual-SIM phone or a single-SIM phone with an external storage slot.
2. Multiple SIM sizes: If you are familiar with SIM cards, you will realize that they are not all the same size. Some cell phone manufacturers have considered this when designing Dual SIM technology. The result was a phone that could accommodate two SIM cards of different sizes.
A variation on the multi-SIM size technology includes an embedded SIM card, also known as an eSIM. As the name suggests, the eSIM is part of the phone and cannot be removed. So if your phone is a dual SIM smartphone with an eSIM, you can usually only remove and replace one SIM card (the “regular” card).
3. 4G+2G and Dual 4G: Some phones offer different connections in each SIM slot. It’s not uncommon to find dual SIM phones with a 4G connection in one slot and a 2G connection in the other. You can also get slots with dual 4G-like connectivity.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dual Sim Mobile Phones in 2022?
Dual SIM cell phones are gaining popularity recently. The reason is clear. No need to carry two phones everywhere. But we need to know inside and out about the cell phone you are investing in.
In all these cases and however, it is appropriate to know the pros and cons so that you can get the best value for the money invested in your smartphone.
Hopefully, you got it now let’s move to the pros and cons of Dual Sim card phones.
Advantages of Dual Sim mobile phones
1. Cost-Effectiveness
One of the biggest advantages of a phone with a Dual SIM feature is its cost-effectiveness. Call rates vary by mobile number service provider. This technology allows you to use two different SIM cards on your phone and takes advantage of the best rates offered by two separate service providers. There is no better way.
2. No blocking
Dual SIM smartphones aren’t locked to a specific network, so you don’t need to change your SIM while traveling to another country. You can sign up for any network provider for free. Some service providers offer free international credit that saves you up to 80% on roaming charges.
3. Differentiated Professional and Personal Calls
One SIM for professional use and one for personal use. When you get a call, they tell you if you are a professional or an individual. So, you are mentally prepared before you answer the call.
4. Unique Work and Play Invoice
SIMs designated as ‘Work’ will show a work bill and a playbill respectively. If you’re budget conscious, you can draw a line between the two. You don’t need a calculator or a highlighter to find out what is what. Your smartphone spending will be more cost-effective.
5. Great Text and Data Deals
If you’re getting great deals at different rates for calls, texts, and data, you have the option to allocate your budget spend more carefully. You can also streamline your data requirements and text and call.
6. Overcome the limitations of missing networks
Sometimes network coverage becomes erratic and leaves the network without prior notice. Consider a situation where you need to make an urgent call. A second SIM handles these emergencies. This is probably the biggest advantage of dual sim. There are special advantages. If you are traveling in an area where certain SIMs do not have good coverage.
7. Simultaneous calls
You are least likely to miss a call if you have a dual SIM. While talking on one line, you can answer the call on the other line. Instead of going to voicemail, you can put the first call on hold and answer another call you feel is more important.
8. Customizable storage
You can store data on dual SIM cards as needed. Up to 33 network identification codes can be stored on a SIM with 32KB storage. Now you can get 256 KB of SIM.
Disadvantages of dual sim mobile phones
1. Battery life
One of the biggest downsides is battery life. Having two SIM cards means that they consume more battery power. This is why these phones need to be charged almost regularly.
2. If Passive Dual SIM
Smartphones have two SIM cards, but only one can be active at any given time. So you can’t connect to the second SIM card. Manually activating the first will disable the second. Of course, these issues occurred in earlier versions.
3. Micro-SD slot
The second SIM is micro-SD, so you cannot use a micro-SD card to expand storage. So you have to get a Dual SIM phone with a separate MicroSD card slot to get more built-in storage.
4. Usage restrictions
Smartphones use a 4G + 2G standby implementation, so you can only use one SIM for calls and text messages, but not for data connections.
5. Electro-Magnetic Frequency
The EMF inherent in smartphones is doubled with Dual-SIM cards. However, due to the optimization of the technology, the EMF of Dual SIM has been lowered to 40-80% of single SIM smartphones. Also, the EMF is still lower in areas where the signal is low.
Best Dual-SIM Phones with Separate MicroSD Card Slot 2022
In this section, we take a closer look at the best dual SIM phones available on the market right now. Each of these phones offers many amazing features and can make your life much simpler.
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
The Redmi Note 10 Pro Dual-SIM card phone with a separate SD card slot has a 6.67-inch 120Hz panel that boasts AMOLED technology, which means an excellent contrast ratio and vivid colors. Meanwhile, the 108-megapixel reed camera comes with a pair of auxiliary snappers that exceed expectations.
Interesting extras like 33W fast charging, headphone jack, and IR blaster make the Redmi Note 10 Pro from a good budget product to a great budget one considering Xiaomi has integrated it here.
2. Samsung Galaxy A32
The Galaxy A32 5G is a dual-SIM model, but availability varies, so make sure to check out the dual-SIM variant before buying. These are all very affordable Samsung phones with a great modern design and solid battery life. The main camera records up to 4K 30fps.
One of the best things about this phone is that phone has a separate micro SD card slot. There is also a 5G support.
3. Samsung Galaxy A31
A large 6.4-inch display screen comparable to the flagship size built with a Super AMOLED panel that realizes a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels to see perfect images and graphics. The movie aspect ratio allows you to share your screen with many groups of friends and family who can get different viewing angles.
The quad lens setup has a large 48MP rear camera lens paired with 8MP, 5MP, and an additional 5MP that creates dynamic photos with depth and focus. Videos are shot at 1080p @30fps, allowing you to seamlessly capture fast-moving objects and landscapes with lots of detail. The selfie camera is excellent for a budget smartphone as it has a single powerful 20MP lens and can be further enhanced with intelligent AI beauty filters and customizations.
A dual SIM system allows you to save money and data usage by using two cellular networks on one phone. The Samsung Galaxy A31 has a large internal storage system in 64GB and 128GB variants, allowing users to experience more with a smartphone that can store thousands of data files.
You can also expand your phone’s memory up to 512GB. The large 4GB and 8GB RAM can handle intensive multitasking without crashes or interruptions, increasing the processor’s productivity and reliability.
The phone is thin compared to other similar sets with a 5000 mAh large capacity battery inside. Premium colors look and feel high quality in classic shades. The latest Android OS can be downloaded to the A31, allowing users to benefit from quick access keys, management tools, and an intelligent power manager that regularly cleans the smartphone to save battery and memory.
4. Redmi Note 8 Pro
The Redmi Note 8 Pro runs Android Pie with an MIUI 10 skin on top and features a 6.53-inch Full HD+ with 1080 x 2340 pixel resolution and an HDR display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Beyond that, an 8-core MediaTek Helio G90T processor is paired with up to 8GB of RAM.
The phone has a 64MP primary sensor with an f/1.89 lens backed by an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. On the front is a 20MP camera with an f/2.0 lens for selfies and video calls.
The new low-budget dual SIM smartphone Redmi Note 8 Pro has 128GB of onboard UFS 2.1 storage, also the phone has a dedicated microSD card slot for storage expansion. It is equipped with a 4,500mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.
5. Samsung Galaxy A21
There are many reasons why this is one of Samsung’s best-selling phones and one of the best dual-SIM phones with a separate MicroSD card slot in 2022.
In fact, in addition to having a dual SIM variant, the Galaxy A12 has a nice, understated modern design, a quad camera, and a large battery that lasts a long time. It even has expandable storage via microSD and a 3.5mm headphone jack, making it one of the best value-for-money phones.
6. Motorola Moto G7 Plus
The Motorola Moto G7+ has a high-quality 1.8GHz octa-core processor. Its simple yet elegant design features a 6.20-inch display with 1080 x 2270 pixel resolution, covered with Gorilla Glass 3, and water-resistant. The unit has a dual rear camera with a 16MP (f/1.7) primary lens and a 5MP (f/2.2) secondary lens and a 12MP front camera.
It provides 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 256GB with a microSD card. This phone is powered by a removable Li-ion 3000mAh battery that should last for quite a while.
It has a face ID scanner, fingerprint scanner, proximity sensor, and a variety of connectivity options including Wi-Fi, GPS, USB, and Bluetooth.
7. LG Q6
The LG Q6 recently entered the smartphone market at 1 million won. The Dual Sim phone has a dedicated MicroSD card slot, allowing users to expand the 32GB onboard storage up to 2TB via a microSD card.
In addition to this, the 18:9 full-vision display stands out 5.5-inch IPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution, 442 PPI, and 78% screen-to-body ratio. If you’re someone who likes to consume media content on their phone, the LG Q6 is worth considering for under budget.
8. Lenovo K8 Note
Lenovo’s newest entrant, the K8 Note handset, is one of those handsets with a dedicated MicroSD slot that can be used to charge additional storage. The mid-range smartphone is also the first for the company to offer users a near-stock Android (in this case, Nougat 7.1.1) experience.
9. Motorola one power
Featuring a 16MP+5MP dual rear camera, the Motorola One Power boasts a 12MP front camera. The 6.2-inch display is a multi-touch capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. Motorola One Power has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, expandable up to 256GB.
This dual SIM (nano+nano) phone runs on the Android Oreo v8.1 operating system and has a 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor. This powerful smartphone runs on a 5000mAH lithium-polymer battery.
10. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
Asus has teamed up with Flipkart to launch a new affordable low-cost handset. The Zenfone Max Pro M1 handset has an 18:9 Full HD+ display, a large 5000mAh battery, uses the powerful Snapdragon 636 chipset, and is the first Asus phone to run near-native Android 8.1 software.
The phone has a separate microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 256GB of secondary storage. Zenfone Max Pro also has a Dual SIM card slot.
11. Samsung On7 Pro
Enjoy super-fast browsing at 4G speeds on the Galaxy On7 Pro. Ultra data saving mode combined with excellent options for an enhanced experience. Improved memory performance is one of the unique concepts that will make it a perfect device for a variety of gaming functions. S Bike mode allows you to enjoy a comfortable ride.
Camera smartphones will be one of the huge plus points for selfie lovers. One of the advantages of adding a quick-launch camera along with a palm gesture selfie mode. The 120-degree selfie mode is most helpful for group selfies.
12. Samsung Galaxy M30s
The Samsung Galaxy M30s is powered by a 1.7GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 9611 processor with 4 cores at 1.7GHz and 4 cores at 2.3GHz. It comes with 4GB of RAM. It runs Android 9 Pie with a 6,000mAh non-removable battery. The phone comes with a 6.40-inch display with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels.
Speaking of the camera, the Samsung Galaxy M30s has a 48-megapixel primary camera with an f/2.0 aperture. A second 5-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a third 8-megapixel The rear camera setup has autofocus. There is a 16-megapixel camera for selfies.
The Samsung Galaxy M30s runs One UI based on Android 9 Pie and offers 64GB of internal storage expandable via a microSD card (up to 512GB) with a dedicated slot. The Samsung Galaxy M30s is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that can use a Nano SIM card.
13. Redmi 5A
Xiaomi is now adding a dedicated card slot to all its new cheap phones. In addition, the recently launched Redmi 5A comes with dual SIMS and also includes a separate SD card slot.
The affordable comes in three colors, is powered by the Snapdragon 425 quad-core chipset, and comes in two options: 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, and 4GB RAM/64GB storage.
14. Xiaomi Redmi Y2
The Redmi Y2 is Xiaomi’s second selfie-focused phone. The USP on this device is a selfie camera that boasts an AI-enabled 16MP sensor with a soft LED flash. It is also one of the rare Xiaomi devices to offer a dedicated microSD card slot that can expand the 32GB/64GB internal storage up to 256GB.
Other specs include a Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 5.99-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ display, a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 12MP+5MP rear camera, and a 3000mAh battery.
15. Redmi Y1
The phone has a 5.50-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The Redmi Y1 is powered by a 1.4GHz octa-core processor and comes with 3GB of RAM. The phone has 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card.
Redmi Y1 runs Android 7.0. It has a powerful 3080mAh non-removable battery. When it comes to cameras, the Redmi Y1 has a 13-megapixel primary camera on the back and a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies.
16. Vivo V11
The smartphone has a 6.26-inch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2280 pixels. It is powered by an Octa-core processor running at 1.8 GHz and a Kryo 260 GPU. This Vivo phone has two slots for SIM and contains a 3180mAh removable Li-ion battery. For photography, the smartphone has a 16MP camera on the back and a 24MP camera on the front.
The V11 smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and is fully expandable. The smartphone’s connectivity options include hotspot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and 2G, 3G, and 4G network types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dual SIM phones be on different networks?
Mobile phones with dual SIM cards allow you to stand by on two separate mobile networks. You can also use mobile data on two different networks, but only one network can use the internet at a time.
What is the difference between dual sim and single sim?
Dual-SIM phones support inserting and using two SIM cards in a single device. This is different from a single SIM device, which only has a slot for one SIM card. A dual SIM phone can support two active SIMs at the same time without the need to remove and replace the SIM to change the phone number.
Are Dual SIM phones allowed in the UK?
Dual-SIM phones were only common in other parts of the world, but now there are many phones available in the UK and more and more are being launched, including many high-end and popular handsets. Having a dual SIM card slot in your phone has several potential benefits.
Does Dual SIM affect performance?
So, in theory, a dual SIM phone radiates twice as much energy as a single SIM device. Dual-SIM phones not only use radiation but also drain the battery faster because the battery is used to power both circuits at the same time, resulting in increased usage and higher power consumption.
Does Dual SIM affect the signal?
No, Dual SIM does not affect the signal. Some older models have experienced network speeds, but newer dual SIM phones don’t have these issues.
Do dual SIM phones work in the US?
Yes, you can use dual SIM card phones in the USA as long as you have an active SIM card and a phone that is available with your carrier.
What is the difference between dual standby and dual active?
Dual-SIM Standby (DSS) requires the user to select the SIM being used at the time, whereas Dual-SIM Active (DSA) allows both SIM cards to be used simultaneously. All of the new dual SIM phones have DSM capabilities.
Does Verizon support dual SIM iPhones?
Verizon only supports the Dual SIM option on unlocked phones. Their iPhone phone is unlocked. However, until a few days after purchase, iPhones in the US only offer an eSIM as a second SIM.
Are Dual SIM Phones Harmful?
No. In theory, two signals coming into your phone would produce twice as much radiation, but in practice, only a noticeable amount of radiation is detected when you make or receive a call. The same is true for single or dual SIM phones.
Does your iPhone have a dual SIM card slot?
Yes, but not in the US market. However, there are places (especially online) where you can buy an iPhone with dual slots that work in the US.
Find out about Dual SIM iPhones
Conclusion Best Dual-SIM Phones with Separate MicroSD Card Slot
Dual SIM smartphones are very useful, especially if you travel a lot to different countries or if you need to use two numbers but don’t want to carry two phones with you.
However, if you’re thinking of buying a new smartphone and having two SIM cards is important to you, get a smartphone with the right technology so you won’t be disappointed.
You probably don’t want to have a hybrid dual SIM smartphone while you have two SIM cards with a memory card you use often.
