Dual SIM and "Dual" SIM phones

[Dairyfarmer]

There have been a few questions lately about dual SIM phones. But not all phones advertised as dual SIM phones are actually dual SIM. Many of them allow you to use 2 SIM cards OR use the one SIM slot for a SD card and the other for a SIM.

The easiest way to check is to look at the phone specs. Either on the manufacturer's website or a place like gsmarena.

A true dual SIM phone will state something like:
"Dual SIM (Micro-SIM/Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)"
and "microSD, up to 256 GB (dedicated slot)".

A "dual" SIM phone will state something like:
"Dual SIM (Micro-SIM/Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)"
and "microSD, up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot)"

Another sure fire way of checking is physically check the phone has a dedicated SD slot and 2 SIM slots.

With phones having fairly large phone storage (32/64Gb) you may think that you will not need the SD card. That may be true, but the internal storage (where the apps are stored) is between 1 and 3Gb (normally) and this can fill up pretty quick. You can't move apps to the phone storage like you can to SD card, so you may find that you run out of internal storage.

 

[access]

yeah, what you want is dual active phones, otherwise you need to jump between the 2 sim cards because only 1 can be active at a time.

the phone needs 2 transceivers, not just 2 sim slots. uses more battery but what ever.

 

[Sinbad]

yeah, what you want is dual active phones, otherwise you need to jump between the 2 sim cards because only 1 can be active at a time.

the phone needs 2 transceivers, not just 2 sim slots. uses more battery but what ever.

Huawei p8 is dual active but slot 2 is either sim or SD.

 

[DA-LION-619]

I never understood the reason of having every single app even when its not needed.

My friend once said, excess storage makes you hoard crap you don't need.

 

[Dairyfarmer]

the phone needs 2 transceivers, not just 2 sim slots. uses more battery but what ever.

Dual standby means that both SIM's can be active.

I still get between 2 and 3 days out of my battery with both SIM's active. The biggest drain is when there is no network signal and even worse if you have data turned on and no signal.

As for apps, excluding the data stored in internal memory:
Google App = 138Mb
Google Play Services = 179Mb
Google Play Store = 38Mb
Google Text to Speech engine = 48Mb
Maps = 108Mb
GMail = 38Mb

You are already at 549Mb. These are the basic apps before adding a launcher, WhatsApp, themes, wallpaper, sms app, widgets, ......

 

[access]

Dual standby means that both SIM's can be active.

I still get between 2 and 3 days out of my battery with both SIM's active. The biggest drain is when there is no network signal and even worse if you have data turned on and no signal.

As for apps, excluding the data stored in internal memory:
Google App = 138Mb
Google Play Services = 179Mb
Google Play Store = 38Mb
Google Text to Speech engine = 48Mb
Maps = 108Mb
GMail = 38Mb

You are already at 549Mb. These are the basic apps before adding a launcher, WhatsApp, themes, wallpaper, sms app, widgets, ......

cool. can you receive a call on one sim while talking on another?

and what connectivity do you have on each of the 2 sims when active?

 

[Dairyfarmer]

I have MTN as my main SIM (voice+data) and Vodacom as my second SIM for backup. Normally I get 100% on both SIMs. Some areas I will only get one of the networks. That is why I have 2 SIM's. Vodacom signal jumps around like a yoyo.

If you are on a call and another comes in on the other SIM, it works just like call waiting. I haven't tried to conference across SIM's yet, but in theory you could have 4 open calls at once. I would hate to know what it would do to the battery though.