The backup archive of an Android device will soon include the SIM card, which will make it easier to change phones. A mention of this was found in one of the preview builds of Google Play Services, Android Authority reports.
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Modern backup tools for Android devices allow you to save lists of applications, contacts, SMS/MMS/RCS messages, call history and some device settings. Combined with Google Photos for backing up photos and videos, this makes it easy to replace smartphones, especially those that are lost, broken or stolen.
Google has decided to expand the capabilities of its backup tools — in the future, Google may also include a SIM card in the archive, which will be saved in the account and restored on a new device. A mention of this was found in the beta version of the Google Play Services application v25.16.33 — it includes a message that Google services will be able to “back up contacts, call history, device settings, applications and their data, SMS and MMS messages, and SIM cards.” Apparently, this refers to an eSIM, not a physical SIM card, but this option also seems useful.
Google is already working on making it easier to transfer eSIMs between devices, and the backup feature from a device that may be unavailable will make the process even more painless. The mechanics of how the feature works are not specified, nor is it known whether operators will need to be involved; the timing of its rollout is also unknown.