Optimal travel SIM cards for Europe (tested in 11 countries)

In the midst of January 2022, I embarked on an unconventional venture. Having abstained from travel since March 2021 due to COVID-related restrictions, I resolved to make up for lost time and embark on an extensive journey. This wouldn't be just any ordinary trip; my itinerary involved visiting 12/13 European countries to conduct a thorough reevaluation of the SIM cards offered by local mobile operators, the Airalo Eurolink Europe eSIM, Nomad Europe eSIM, and SimCorner travel SIM cards.

My destinations included Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy (including Vatican City), Malta, Greece, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia, all within the span of March. The objective was to gauge whether the local mobile operators had made significant improvements since my last visits to their countries, and to assess the effectiveness of SimCorner's travel SIM cards.

It might sound like a mundane holiday—simply testing SIM cards and eSIMs. However, for me (someone with a dedicated site on traveling with your phone), it was an exciting endeavor that yielded a wealth of valuable data, not only for SimCorner travel SIM cards but also for the 41 local SIM cards I put to the test. I can confidently state that I am thoroughly impressed with the performance of the SimCorner O2/3 Europe travel SIM cards.

This marked my first experience using travel SIM cards from SimCorner. Previous encounters with travel SIM cards from other providers were marred by exorbitant prices, sluggish connectivity (particularly the Orange Spain Mundo travel SIM cards), or unreliable coverage. Hence, it was high time to explore a new option.

Given the ease of crossing borders in Europe, especially within the European Union, and my intention to visit numerous countries in a month, it was an opportune moment to assess SimCorner's offerings. In this comprehensive review, I'll delve into everything you need to know about SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards—from plan details, prices, eligible countries, to my personal experiences using these cards in the countries I visited. Additionally, I'll provide speed comparisons between SimCorner's travel SIM cards and the local mobile operators on whose networks the SIM cards roamed.

I wasn't playing games on this trip—I aimed to provide you with a complete picture of what to expect from SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards. I can assure you that the performance won't disappoint!

Enough preamble—let's dive in. While SimCorner graciously provided me with the two travel SIM cards for testing, I want to clarify that I would have purchased them for this trip regardless. The fact that SimCorner sent me the SIM cards for testing purposes had no bearing on any aspect of this review.

Now, you might be wondering why one would opt for a travel SIM card when it's possible to roam for free with a SIM card purchased within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA). You've done your homework, I see. Since June 2017, those with EU/EEA SIM cards can indeed roam for free in other EU/EEA nations.

However, the data roaming allowances within the EU/EEA can be limited, depending on the country of purchase. Some mobile operators in specific countries restrict roaming to certain regions. SimCorner's Europe travel SIM cards offer a solution by allowing you to use your data allowance in all EU/EEA countries and a few more in Europe without dealing with bureaucratic hurdles.

Moving on to SimCorner Travel SIM Card Shipping Time & Costs, the delivery duration can range from one business day to nine business days in metro areas, depending on your location. Standard shipping with tracking is always free, but express shipping is available for up to 9.95 USD/5.10 EUR/6.10 GBP/6.10 AUD/19.99 CAD/6.50 NZD. SimCorner has strategically set up distribution centers worldwide since February 2022, reducing shipping times significantly.

I received my SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards in the Netherlands, where the European distribution center is located. Thanks to PostNL, the Dutch postal service, I received my order the next day, surprising even SimCorner due to it being their first shipment from that distribution center.

Regarding the cost of SimCorner Europe Travel SIM Cards, there are four options to choose from, each catering to different data needs and durations. The prices range from 21 USD to 50 USD, depending on the plan. It's worth noting that SimCorner often offers region-bound promotions, so the prices may vary.

In conclusion, SimCorner's Europe travel SIM cards offer a convenient and reliable solution for seamless connectivity across multiple European countries. The performance, pricing, and ease of use make them a commendable choice for travelers looking to stay connected without the hassle of dealing with individual local SIM cards.

Countries Compatible with SimCorner Europe Travel SIM Cards

The SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards offer broad compatibility, functioning seamlessly in a multitude of European countries, including all nations within the European Union (EU). From Iceland to Ukraine and Norway to Spain, these SIM cards facilitate connectivity across the European continent.

In addition to their European coverage, some SimCorner travel SIM cards extend their usability to select countries in Asia, Central America, and South America. Before delving into the non-European countries, let's first outline the comprehensive list of European countries where SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards are operational:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Guadeloupe
• Guernsey
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Isle of Man
• Ireland
• Italy
• Jersey
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Martinique
• Mayotte
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Réunion
• Romania
• Saint Barthélemy
• Saint Martin
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Vatican City

Now, you might be curious about the inclusion of Guadeloupe, situated in the Caribbean, among the European countries. The reason lies in its status as an overseas department of France, making it an integral part of the French Republic and, consequently, subject to EU roaming rules. This applies not only to Guadeloupe but also to other French overseas departments, namely French Guiana, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin.

SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards also extend their usability to Israel, albeit with a restriction on call and text functions, limiting users to data usage only.

For those venturing beyond the European borders, here is a comprehensive list of non-European countries where SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards can be utilized:

• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Macau
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Peru
• Puerto Rico
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Uruguay
• Vietnam

In essence, SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards offer a versatile and expansive network, ensuring connectivity across diverse regions, both within Europe and beyond.

Activating Your SimCorner Europe Travel SIM Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide

So, your SimCorner Europe travel SIM card has finally arrived, and your departure is just around the corner. The question now is, how do you activate it? Unlike many European mobile operators that mandate SIM card registration with passport details, SimCorner simplifies the process.

While you won't need to register your passport details with SimCorner, the SIM cards do require activation. Fortunately, the activation instructions are clearly outlined on the envelope housing the SIM card:

1. Visit www.simcorner.com/activate
2. Input your order and serial number
3. Enter your activation date (the intended arrival date in Europe)

By completing these required fields, you'll receive an automated email. Subsequently, within a few hours or a business day, a member of SimCorner's support team will notify you that your SIM card has been successfully activated. It's a straightforward process, isn't it?

As indicated in the final email, you must enable data roaming for the SimCorner Europe travel SIM card. Not to worry, though – activating data roaming won't result in exorbitant charges (unlike using your main SIM card). If you own a dual-SIM phone, ensure that data roaming is exclusively enabled on the SimCorner SIM card, leaving your primary SIM card unaffected, especially if you plan to keep it in your phone during your trip. Also, make sure to turn on data for the SimCorner SIM card, not your primary one.

If all this seems a bit intricate, you can always opt for the simpler route: insert the SimCorner SIM card into your phone and remove your main SIM card. This eliminates the risk of making any errors during the process.

In some cases, you might need to manually enter the Access Point Name (APN), although this is a rare occurrence (99% of the time, it's not necessary). The instructions for doing so for the 3 travel SIM card and the O2 travel SIM card can be found below.

In addition, it's highly recommended to read the booklet provided by SimCorner. This booklet contains crucial information and is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring a smooth activation process for your Europe travel SIM cards.

My Encounter with SimCorner Europe Travel SIM Cards Across 11 Countries

During my recent travels, I utilized SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards, opting for both the O2 100 GB variant and the 3 12 GB version. The countries in which I employed these SIM cards included Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Vatican City), Malta, Greece, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia, in sequential order.

In my initial remarks, I mentioned a side visit to Andorra. However, the SimCorner travel SIM cards were not functional in Andorra, prompting me to resort to an Andorra Telecom SIM card instead (you can find my review on that experience here).

Now, let's delve into my experiences with the SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards across the 11 aforementioned countries, focusing on aspects such as coverage, speed, and comparisons with the roaming partner.

In Portugal, Spain, Italy (including Vatican City), Malta, Greece, Belgium, Austria, and Slovakia, I utilized the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card, equipped with 100 GB of data. Its validity spanned 30 days, with an option for online recharge if you possess a UK-issued debit or credit card. However, upon reaching Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia, where the O2 card had expired, I switched to the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card, offering 12 GB of data.

It's crucial to note that the SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards support only 4G/LTE across all applicable countries. Some local carriers, on the other hand, provide 5G NR to their prepaid clientele. Given that my primary aim was to compare mobile operators during my European tour, substantial speed variations were evident, especially if the roaming partner enabled 5G NR for prepaid customers.

Conducting six to eight speed tests across three different phones in various locations, I refrained from redundant tests on 4G/LTE where the roaming partner had 5G NR access. The exhaustive nature of these tests, not to mention the subsequent processing, made it an arduous undertaking.

The results reflected a download speed of 110 Mbps with the SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards, considerably lower than the roaming partner's impressive download speed of 620 Mbps or higher.

Additionally, I assessed whether the SimCorner Europe travel SIM card passed the 4k video streaming and live streaming tests. For the former, a download speed exceeding 25 Mbps is sufficient, while the latter requires an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps. Thus, if the average download speed in Portugal with the SimCorner card was 50 Mbps, it successfully passed the video streaming test. Conversely, if the average upload speed was a mere 3.5 Mbps, it failed the live stream test.

Throughout my analysis, I've underlined all 5G NR speed test results. Any figure presented in bold denotes the fastest speed test result at that particular location among all the local mobile operators, Airalo Europe eSIM, and Nomad Europe eSIM.

For a detailed account of my experiences in specific countries, you can click on the respective links for Portugal, Spain, Italy & Vatican City, Malta, Greece, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, and Slovenia. If you're interested in Malta, for instance, simply click on the corresponding link in the sentence above.

Exploring SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Portugal (Against MEO PT)

Embarking on my journey, Portugal was my initial destination, with a brief stay in Porto due to its unexplored charm. However, an unexpected birthday celebration unfolded in the rain on a Ryanair flight to Madrid from Lisbon – a testament to my rather uneventful travel style.

Portugal offers three major mobile operators – MEO Portugal, NOS Portugal, and Vodafone Portugal. For those seeking more insights into local Portuguese SIM cards, I recommend referring to my Portugal SIM card buying guide.

Opting for the SimCorner O2 travel SIM card, which operates on the MEO Portugal network, I anticipated robust performance, considering MEO's reputation for being the top-tier mobile network in Portugal in terms of both speed and coverage.

My optimism, however, encountered a hurdle when I discovered that prepaid customers could enjoy free access to 5G NR until May 2022, with MEO Portugal leading the investment charge in its 5G NR network. This raised the question of how the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card would fare against such advancements.

Surprisingly, the results unfolded in a different manner than expected. The speed test outcomes for the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and its roaming partner, MEO Portugal, revealed an average slowdown of 71.8% for the SimCorner card compared to MEO Portugal. Despite this, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card successfully passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 62.52 Mbps, exceeding the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 25.97 Mbps, surpassing the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Portugal.

A noteworthy moment occurred during a speed test at Porto Alameda mall, where I experienced an unprecedented download speed of 568 Mbps – a new personal record, surpassing my previous achievement at Taipei-Taoyuan Airport in Taiwan. Despite appearances suggesting the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card as slow, it's essential to note that such high download speeds are rarely necessary for routine tasks like web browsing.

The results indicated that, although the SimCorner SIM card operates on 4G/LTE and not 5G NR (yet), the speeds were capped at 100 Mbps, which, for the average user, is more than sufficient. An interesting observation was made at Porto Bem Bom Grupo Boca Doce, where MEO Portugal had no reception, yet the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card-maintained usability.

In summary, while the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card didn't yield 500 Mbps+ speed test results due to its reliance on 4G/LTE, the capped speeds of 100 Mbps proved more than satisfactory for regular usage. Throughout my explorations in Lisbon and various test locations, the travel SIM card consistently delivered reliable reception, aligning with the performance of a local SIM card.

Navigating Spain with SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card

Spain marked the initial leg of my journey, mirroring my approach in Portugal by primarily exploring Madrid, a city I hadn't ventured into before. While my stay was mostly centered in Madrid, I conducted a few tests in Barcelona en route to Andorra and later flying to Italy (Rome).

In Spain, the mobile landscape boasts four major operators – Movistar Spain, Orange Spain, Vodafone Spain, and Yoigo. To delve deeper into the nuances of local Spanish SIM cards, I recommend referring to my comprehensive Spain SIM card buying guide.

Regrettably, I overlooked documenting the specific network utilized by the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card. Consequently, the roaming partner of the SimCorner Europe travel SIM card remains a mystery.

Despite this information gap, I present the download speeds recorded for each Spanish mobile operator and the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card:

The results illustrate remarkable speed outcomes with Movistar Spain, Orange Spain, and Vodafone Spain. Both Movistar Spain and Vodafone Spain extended 5G NR capabilities to prepaid customers, with widespread 5G NR reception at numerous test locations. While Orange Spain had yet to introduce 5G NR for prepaid customers, it distinguished itself as the mobile operator with the fastest 4G/LTE speeds, according to Opensignal and Speedtest.

The SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card delivered commendable performance, albeit falling short of the exceptional 606 Mbps benchmark set by Movistar Spain. It struggled to compete with the impressive 5G NR speed test results of Movistar Spain and Vodafone Spain. Based on the proximity of the speed test results in Barcelona Airport, Madrid Estación Madrid – Puerta de Atocha, and Madrid McDonald's Gran Vía, it is plausible that the SimCorner O2 card operated on the Movistar Spain network. However, conclusive verification may require a return visit.

Throughout my exploration of Barcelona and Madrid, the travel SIM card consistently maintained reception, aligning with the reliability of a local SIM card at all test locations and during casual wanderings.

Exploring Italy & Vatican City with SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card (Against TIM IT)

Italy marked my fourth destination on this journey, although it was the third for my Eurolink eSIM testing due to the eSIM's non-functionality in Andorra during my earlier visit.

In Italy, I ventured into Rome and Catania and had the opportunity to explore Vatican City, where the Italian mobile operators extend coverage throughout the entire city, which is tiny by comparison.

Italy offers four major mobile operators, each with its own characteristics – TIM Italy, Wind Tre (formerly Wind and Tre), Vodafone Italy, and Iliad. For a more in-depth exploration of local Italian SIM cards, I invite you to peruse my comprehensive Italy SIM card buying guide.

The SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card operates on the TIM Italy network, renowned for its extensive coverage in Italy. Interestingly, TIM Italy, despite its dominance in coverage, registers the slowest 4G/LTE speeds. However, it leads the 5G NR race.

Wind Tre merits a special mention for boasting the fastest 4G/LTE network. Yet, it was not without its peculiarities. While in the city center of Rome, I experienced reception dropouts seemingly out of nowhere, which left me bemused. This issue did not afflict me when using TIM Italy, ensuring a smoother experience.

Notably, a TIM Italy employee who sold me my TIM Italy SIM card discouraged opting for a 5G NR-enabled plan. His rationale? According to him, 5G NR reception in Rome leaves much to be desired. Further insights into this can be found in my TIM Italy review, which might pique your interest.

Finally, we arrive at a comparison where both the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and its roaming partner employ 4G/LTE for all tests. The speed test results of the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and TIM Italy unfold as follows:

On average, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card emerged as 29.1% faster than TIM Italy – its roaming partner. Impressively, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card comfortably passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 57.34 Mbps, surpassing the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 18.03 Mbps, exceeding the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Italy.

Taken as a whole, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card outperformed the TIM Italy SIM card, a rather unusual outcome. Additionally, it's worth noting that Italy boasts the lowest average cost of 1 GB of data within the European Union. However, the initial SIM card and plan activation fees can be steep, ranging from 20 EUR to 35 EUR in the first month. In such circumstances, opting for a travel SIM card like the ones offered by SimCorner can prove significantly more economical.

Throughout my adventures in Catania and Rome, I consistently maintained reception with both the travel SIM card and the local SIM card, ensuring seamless connectivity at all test locations and during leisurely explorations.

Testing SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Malta (Against GO MT)

Testing SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Malta (Against GO MT)

Malta's mobile landscape features three primary operators – Epic Malta (formerly Vodafone Malta), GO Malta, and Melita. For an in-depth exploration of local Maltese SIM cards, I invite you to delve into my Malta SIM card buying guide.

My Eurolink eSIM functioned on the GO Malta network, acknowledged as the speed champion in Malta, although slightly trailing Epic Malta in coverage.

Despite claims from all Maltese operators about 5G NR availability for prepaid users in Sliema and St Julian's, my experience failed to manifest 5G NR connectivity in these areas, even with GO Malta.

This brings us to another scenario where both the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and its roaming partner utilize 4G/LTE for all tests. The speed test results of the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and GO Malta unfold as follows:

On average, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card lagged behind GO Malta, its roaming partner, by 42.4%. Nevertheless, both SIM cards performed admirably, with the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card successfully passing both the video streaming test (averaging a download speed of 29.2 Mbps, exceeding the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 16.02 Mbps, surpassing the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Malta.

These results showcase the competence of both SIM cards, with instances of close speed results at certain test locations and more noticeable differences at others.

Throughout my exploration of Malta's main island (excluding Gozo due to time constraints), reliable reception was consistently maintained with both the travel SIM card and the local SIM card at all test locations and during casual wanderings.

Testing SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Greece

After my visit to Malta, my journey brought me to Greece, marking the final country in the initial phase of my travels. To make the weekend more special, a friend from Watchatter flew over to spend time with me in Athens. In an unexpected display of camaraderie, he even bought a WIND Greece SIM card on my behalf since I arrived late at night.

Greece boasts three major mobile operators – COSMOTE, Vodafone Greece, and WIND Greece. For a detailed exploration of local Greek SIM cards, I recommend perusing my comprehensive Greece SIM card buying guide.

Regrettably, I neglected to jot down the specific network used by the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card, leaving the identity of its roaming partner shrouded in mystery.

Here are the download speeds recorded for each Greek mobile operator and the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card:

Surprisingly, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card emerged as the best-performing SIM card in this comparison. However, it's worth noting that almost all speed test results with Vodafone Greece were on 3G, indicated by numbers in italics. This was due to a frustrating restriction to 3G throughout the entire weekend. A situation that left me feeling betrayed, especially given my previous experiences with Vodafone Greece.

Interestingly, as I departed for the Netherlands, I received a text message notifying me that 4G/LTE had been enabled, evidenced by the 174 Mbps speed test result at the airport. This raised questions about the manual activation of 4G/LTE by Vodafone Greece HQ, as I had no means to seek clarification during the weekend.

COSMOTE Greece, acknowledged as the fastest mobile operator in Greece, did not match the download speed results of the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card, leading to doubts about the SimCorner card utilizing their network.

Despite the challenges with Vodafone Greece and the uncertainties surrounding network usage, both the travel SIM card and local SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations and during leisurely strolls around Athens. It's worth noting, though, that reception on the Athens metro was notably limited.

Despite the challenges with Vodafone Greece and the uncertainties surrounding network usage, both the travel SIM card and local SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations and during leisurely strolls around Athens. It's worth noting, though, that reception on the Athens metro was notably limited.

Testing SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Belgium

Following my sojourn in Greece, I returned to the Netherlands for a week's respite before embarking on the second phase of my journey. However, a spontaneous decision led me to Belgium for a day, capitalizing on my proximity to the border and my quest for more data.

Belgium boasts three primary mobile operators – Proximus, Orange Belgium, and BASE Belgium. To delve deeper into the intricacies of local Belgian SIM cards, I recommend consulting my Belgium SIM card buying guide.

Once again, I overlooked noting the specific network utilized by the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card, leaving the roaming partner's identity in obscurity.

Here are the download speeds recorded for each Belgian mobile operator and the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card:

The SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card demonstrated commendable performance in Belgium. However, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment with the overall network performance of Belgian mobile operators, potentially influenced by the staggering 5G NR speeds experienced in Southern Europe.

While there may not be much more to expound upon regarding the results in Belgium, it's noteworthy that the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations and during my leisurely exploration of Antwerp. However, the train journey in Belgium posed a challenge, with frequent disconnections occurring. Even at stations in rural Belgium, such as Essen, reception may be nonexistent with BASE Belgium or exhibit erratic speeds.

SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Austria (Against Drei AT)

Formally commencing the second phase of my trip, Austria became the first country on this leg (following Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, Malta & Greece in phase one, and followed by Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia & Slovenia in phase two). Although my landing in Vienna was brief, I soon proceeded to Bratislava, Slovakia.

Austria's mobile landscape features three major operators – A1 Austria, Magenta Telekom, and Drei (3) Austria. To delve deeper into the nuances of local Austrian SIM cards, I recommend exploring my Austria SIM card buying guide.

Operating on the Drei (3) Austria network, the SimCorner O2 travel SIM card typically falls in the middle in terms of speeds (behind A1 Austria and ahead of Magenta Telekom). However, during my trip, Drei Austria emerged as the fastest local mobile operator, surpassing Magenta Telekom and outpacing A1 Austria by more than double.

A noteworthy aspect of prepaid SIM cards in Austria is the apparent reluctance of mobile operators to favor prepaid customers. While the speed offered depends on the plan's cost (with speeds potentially reaching up to 150 Mbps/50 Mbps), actual speeds may not consistently match the advertised figures. The Drei Austria SIM card, despite having a specified 50 Mbps/20 Mbps speed restriction, occasionally delivered faster speeds, up to 101 Mbps, a phenomenon not replicated by other Austrian operators.

Here are the speed test results for the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and Drei (3) Austria:

On average, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card outperformed Drei (3) Austria, its roaming partner, by a substantial 91.1%. Despite Drei Austria's effective throttling, it did not seem to impose the same restrictions on roaming partners like the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card. This variance contributed to the impressive performance of the SimCorner card against Drei Austria itself.

The SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card successfully passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 76.54 Mbps, surpassing the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 26.05 Mbps, exceeding the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Austria.

Throughout my time in Vienna, the travel SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations and during casual strolls around the city.

SimCorner's O2 Travel SIM Card in Slovakia (Against O2 SK)

After arriving in Vienna, Austria, I made my way to Bratislava, Slovakia, marking the final destination where I could utilize my SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card before its expiration.

Slovakia's mobile landscape features four major operators – Slovak Telekom, Orange Slovakia, O2 Slovakia, and 4ka by Swan Mobile. To delve deeper into the intricacies of local Slovak SIM cards, I recommend consulting my Slovakia SIM card buying guide.

Operating on the O2 Slovakia network (an ironic twist), the SimCorner O2 travel SIM card typically falls behind Orange Slovakia and Slovak Telekom in average speeds, but edges out 4ka by Swan Mobile.

During my visit, the scenario shifted, with Slovak Telekom emerging as the clear winner, O2 Slovakia performing well (especially considering its 5G NR offering to prepaid customers), and Orange Slovakia exhibiting slower speeds, never surpassing 30.02 Mbps. This led to a suspicion of speed throttling by Orange Slovakia for prepaid users.

Here are the speed test results for the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card and O2 Slovakia:

On average, the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card lagged behind O2 Slovakia, its roaming partner, by 49.8%. Although the travel SIM card successfully passed the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 48.66 Mbps, surpassing the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming), it fell short in the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 9.37 Mbps, below the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Slovakia.

While these results may seem standard, analyzing the median reveals a more favorable performance by the SimCorner O2 Europe travel SIM card compared to O2 Slovakia. Interestingly, the speeds with O2 Slovakia displayed significant fluctuations, even at the same test location and with the same testing phone.

Throughout my exploration of Bratislava and on the buses to and from Vienna on the highway, both the travel SIM card and local SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations.

SimCorner's 3 Europe Travel SIM Card in Hungary (Against Yettel HU)

After my stops in Austria and Slovakia, I boarded a bus bound for Budapest, Hungary, with a minor hiccup of leaving one of my testing phones at the Airbnb in Bratislava. Thankfully, I had enough available SIM card slots on my other three testing phones to continue my evaluations in the remaining three countries, each featuring only three mobile operators. This spared me from the inconvenience of constantly swapping SIM cards.

Hungary marked the transition to my SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card, necessitated by the expiration of the O2 SIM card. As a quick reminder, the O2 travel SIM card provides 100 GB for 30 days, while the 3 travel SIM card offers 12 GB for the same duration.

Hungary boasts three major mobile operators – Magyar Telekom, Yettel Hungary (formerly Telenor Hungary), and Vodafone Hungary. To explore the intricacies of local Hungarian SIM cards, I recommend consulting my Hungary SIM card buying guide.

Operating on the Yettel Hungary network, the SimCorner 3 travel SIM card generally registers speeds slightly slower than Magyar Telekom but notably faster than Vodafone Hungary.

Surprisingly, Yettel Hungary allowed prepaid customers access to 5G NR, even though it wasn't explicitly advertised. This could be a result of the transition from Telenor Hungary to Yettel Hungary, which expanded features for prepaid customers, including eSIMs. Despite this, my experience predominantly involved 4G/LTE with Yettel Hungary.

Here are the speed test results for the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card and Yettel Hungary:

On average, the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card lagged behind Yettel Hungary, its roaming partner, by 31.4%. While the travel SIM card successfully passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 69.08 Mbps, exceeding the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 20.02 Mbps, surpassing the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Hungary.

It's worth noting that, had it not been for Yettel Hungary's remarkable 692 Mbps speed test result at Budapest Fővám Square, the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card would have secured the best overall performance. Notably, when the SimCorner card was faster, it outperformed Yettel significantly, while Yettel Hungary's marginal speed advantage was less pronounced.

Throughout my exploration of Budapest, both the travel SIM card and local SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations.

SimCorner's 3 Europe Travel SIM Card in Croatia (Against Telemach HR)

Embarking on the next leg of my journey, I headed to Croatia. The Flixbus ride to Zagreb was marked by an amusing encounter with Dutch students on a student trip. However, the less amusing aspect was the 1.5-hour border crossing delay, as Croatia is not yet part of the Schengen area.

In Croatia, three major mobile operators dominate the landscape – Hrvatski Telekom, A1 Croatia, and Telemach Croatia. For more detailed insights into local Croatian SIM cards, I recommend consulting my Croatia SIM card buying guide.

The SimCorner 3 travel SIM card operates on the Telemach Croatia network, which, on average, proves to be the slowest among the local options. Adding to the challenge, Telemach Croatia throttles prepaid speeds to 75 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload, as stipulated in its terms and conditions.

While I had 5G NR reception at all test locations (with the exception of one) using Telemach Croatia, the inability to test its network to its fullest potential was a disappointment, especially when compared to other mobile operators not offering 5G NR to prepaid customers.

Here are the speed test results for the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card and Telemach Croatia:

On average, the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card outpaced Telemach Croatia, its roaming partner, by 89.1%. The travel SIM card successfully passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 130.65 Mbps, surpassing the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 47.88 Mbps, exceeding the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Croatia.

Notably, Telemach Croatia's practice of capping download speeds at 76.73 Mbps doesn't provide much room for varied results. At least, it doesn't throttle the speeds of its roaming partners.

Throughout my exploration of Zagreb and surroundings, the travel SIM card and local SIM card consistently maintained reception at all test locations, although some reception issues were experienced around the Croatia-Hungary border.

SimCorner's 3 Europe Travel SIM Card in Slovenia (Against Telemach SI)

As my journey neared its conclusion, Ljubljana, Slovenia, marked the last destination on my travel map. Frankly, I was relieved, as visiting numerous countries can be quite exhausting.

In Slovenia, three major mobile operators shape the communication landscape: Telekom Slovenia, A1 Slovenia, and Telemach Slovenia. For a more detailed exploration of local Slovenian SIM cards, I encourage you to consult my Slovenia SIM card buying guide.

The SimCorner 3 travel SIM card operates on the Telemach Slovenia network, which, on average, proves to be the slowest among the local options. However, Telemach Slovenia boasts the fastest 5G NR speeds, exceeding the median download speed of its competitors by more than threefold. Unfortunately, 5G NR remains inaccessible to prepaid customers (as of my last visit).

Here are the speed test results for the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card and Telemach Slovenia:

On average, the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card outpaced Telemach Slovenia, its roaming partner, by 7.2%. The travel SIM card successfully passed both the video streaming test (with an average download speed of 89.17 Mbps, surpassing the 25 Mbps minimum for 4k streaming) and the live streaming test (with an average upload speed of 19.03 Mbps, exceeding the 10 Mbps minimum for HD live streaming) in Slovenia.

Finally, we have results that closely align. On average, the SimCorner 3 Europe travel SIM card performed better than Telemach Slovenia. One can only imagine the performance potential if the 5G NR network were accessible to prepaid customers.

Throughout my exploration of Ljubljana, consistent reception was maintained with both the travel SIM card and local SIM card at all test locations.

Concluding Thoughts on SimCorner's Europe Travel SIM Cards

Summing up my experience with SimCorner's Europe travel SIM cards, I found them to be reliable, especially considering they were, on average, 21.1% faster than their roaming partners. Admittedly, this positive outcome is influenced by the oversight of not noting the roaming partner in some countries, potentially altering the final result.

In terms of user experience, the process of obtaining and activating the SIM cards was swift, often completed on the next business day. Reception was almost always consistent with both the SimCorner SIM cards and their respective roaming partners. Speeds were commendable, occasionally even surpassing the performance of the roaming partner.

In essence, I recommend SimCorner's travel SIM cards, particularly the European ones. However, it's crucial to note that the difference in speed between the SimCorner SIM cards and the local SIM cards of roaming partners should not be a major concern for the average user. The practical impact on regular activities like video streaming, social media browsing, and live streaming is minimal even when the SimCorner SIM card's download speed is slower than that of the roaming partner.

This conclusion is reached considering the average and median speed test results of the SimCorner Europe travel SIM cards. Had the speeds hovered around 5 Mbps, a smooth browsing experience would have been compromised, and that would have been highlighted. However, SimCorner's Europe travel SIM cards consistently provide good performance, making them a cost-effective choice for staying connected across the European Union, Europe, and select countries in the Americas and Asia.