eSIMs are some of the most useful but often confusing tools a traveler has at their disposal. We’ve talked about eSIMs before and the video above addresses all of the main questions many of you had. Watch it here first before checking out the quick answers below.

Do You Get A Phone Number?

This depends on the eSIM service provider locally, not the eSIM technology itself. For travel eSIMs, generally the answer is no since most online stores like Airalo, BNEsim, and Holyfly don’t have the proper permits for phone number (and SMS) so they only come with data.

Same With SMS?

Yes, that’s correct.

How Do I Make Calls?

You can use Facetime, Whatsapp, Signal, or any other Internet-based calling service. Otherwise you won’t be able to make a call with the travel eSIM if it doesn’t come with a phone number. You can go to a local shop or kiosk at the airport and set up a short-term mobile account (which will likely still use an eSIM) but probably get a phone number instead of data only. Alternatively, you can set up your home mobile service to include international roaming and use it when traveling.

Can I Use More Than One eSIM At A Time?

Almost all eSIM capable phones will let you use two eSIMs at the same time. (You can install many more.) This would let you use your home eSIM/service to make calls and the local eSIM for data. Just be sure you’re using the right eSIM for both. To be safe, deactivate your home eSIM when it’s not in use.

What Happens To Your Home eSIM?

Nothing. Any new eSIMs act independently, just like physical SIM cards would.

eSIM Summary

In short, eSIMs can make staying connected while traveling so much easier. They can be purchased in advance and activated later if needed and give you data all around the world. There are also regional eSIMs and all can be purchased right from you phone. For travelers to Turkey though, you’ll need to do this first.

The Ridge Magnetic Power Bank is a really solid start on being a versatile, all-in-one, small charger that looks good and can do a lot. And depending on the phone you’ll be charging it’s just right or just short of ideal.

You can watch the video above for the full review and read the summary below.

Colors And Capacity

Ridge’s Magnetic Power Bank is a small charger with a capacity of 10,000 Milliampere hours (mAh) . That’s enough to charge most smartphones up full about twice over. The Magnetic Power Bank has 15 watt MagSafe wireless charging and a built in lightening cable and USB-C cable, plus a USB-C port that has 20 watt charging. All of those watts means your devices will charge quickly but if you don’t have an iPhone that has a lightening port, it’s one useless cable for you.

It comes in three colors, Matte Black, Matte Olive, or my personal favorite the Basecamp Orange. Lighter and more compact, ever so slightly than most chargers of this capacity, the Magnetic Power Bank can even lend some electricity to your laptop if needed.

Digital Design

On the bottom of the Ridge Magnetic Power Bank there’s a small display showing you whether or not the power bank is charging devices, being charged, and how what percentage the battery has left. One area of confusion is though when you plug it into a laptop, sometimes the Power Bank wants to charge your laptop when you might want it to be charged by the laptop.

Some clicks of the bottom on the button often resolves the issue but it’s something to keep an eye on if you’re someone who uses your laptop as an electrical outlet.

I do appreciate the swings Ridge took with the design and it’s one I think a lot of you will be happy with. If you’ve already got a charger around the 10,000 mAh capacity I don’t think the Ridge Magnetic Power Bank offers something revolutionary enough to replace it with. I’d suggest waiting for the next version, maybe one with 2 USB-C cables built in or with faster wireless charging. But if you don’t currently have a portable charger and want something small, versatile, and light, that costs about 10-20% more than some competing products, the Ridge Magnetic Power Bank is a powerful option.