Not only are phones cross network compatible, with eSIM support, you can provision new service within minutes on any supported carrier, no physical SIM required.
I just activated a new phone with T-Mobile and they basically insisted on a physical SIM card. When I asked why they said they can do an eSIM but then I wouldn't get 5G.
Is that true? If not, then why are they pushing physical SIM cards so hard?
I can confirm that an eSIM should work with 5G without issue on Tmobile.
I can first-hand confirm it actually works on their network.
I wonder why are they so insistent on installing a SIM card?
TMO customer service is hit or miss. Most TMO customer service is not aware of how eSIM works.
Except that at least some spectrum owners won't let MVNOs provision eSIMs.