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In developing countries, dual SIM phones are preferred and they were made popular by Chinese manufacturers. The Chinese even went as far as giving you up to 3 SIM slots on a single phone. These kinds of phones keep you connected since relying on a single network provider in this part of the world doesn’t just work.
We don’t use dual-SIM phones because we like it, we do because we have to. It’s the norm and that’s how it is.
The issue of hybrid SIM slots
For the sake of clarification, I think I need to explain what a hybrid SIM slot is. When your dual SIM phone lets you choose between using 2 SIM cards at a time or using a single SIM card and a microSD card, what you have is a hybrid SIM slot.
Everyone knows 16GB phones need to die already but why should OEMs make you choose between expanding your storage or using a second SIM? There are possible reasons but the question is if it’s really worth it.
OEMs may be trying to discourage dual-SIM phones
Unknown to many, dual-SIM phones do consume more battery than devices with single SIM card slots. This is because both networks are simultaneously active and in a case where network signal is unstable, battery drains a lot faster.
If is also said that the radiation from a dual-SIM phone is a bit higher. The higher the SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), the higher the health risk, but there are regulations in place to keep this in check.
The need to make devices slimmer
From a design standpoint, one might speculate OEMs are probably trying to make devices slimmer by streamlining whatever they can.
But a hybrid SIM slot is a major deal breaker
There are devices I chose not to use just because they came with hybrid SIM slots. Most people don’t like it in this part of the world. A user should never have to go through the dilemma of choosing between using a second SIM card or expanding the memory. In markets like Nigeria, a fully functional dual-SIM slot is preferred.
It makes absolutely no sense putting a hybrid SIM slot on a phone with 16GB internal memory. The insanity really needs to stop.