Google’s Pixel 10 series grabbed attention this year as the first US Pixel lineup to go eSIM-only, ditching the traditional SIM tray altogether. But now, some users who sent their phones back for defects are reporting a surprise: their replacement units showed up with a physical SIM slot.
According to posts on social media platforms like Reddit, customers who returned their Pixel 10, 10 Pro, or 10 Pro XL for issues like scratched frames or display problems ended up receiving global variants of the phone. Unlike the US models, these versions include a nano-SIM slot alongside eSIM support, giving users more flexibility when swapping carriers or using local SIMs while traveling.
At first glance, that sounds like a free upgrade. But there’s a catch. According to Android Authority, these global models don’t support mmWave 5G, which US carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile still rely on in many areas. They’re also missing a few 5G bands (n29, n48, n70) used mostly by smaller MVNOs. For many people, the difference may not matter much, but anyone who depends on mmWave speeds could run into limitations. In those cases, Google support may need to step in with another option.
The bigger question is why this is happening. Is Google deliberately sending out global stock as replacements, or is it just a supply shuffle behind the scenes? Either way, it’s an odd twist for a phone that was meant to mark the US move toward an eSIM-only future.
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