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Comment by walterbell | Hacker News Reader

iPad Mini cellular is data-only. PSTN calls and SMS require a VOIP client or separate dumbphone. E2EE audio/video are available in several messaging apps, including FaceTime, making good use of the larger screen.

TouchID is good for fast and reliable unlock.

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I've been using data-only SIMs (and now eSIMS) since 2015. Bria voip client with voip.ms providing DIDs. Works wonderfully well and I can highly recommend going voip-only if you can.

The thing holding me back from going iPad Mini instead of iPhone was Apple Watch needs the iPhone (for some reason you can't use an iPad or Mac). Not an issue anymore. But now I rely on the amazing 16 Pro camera (with Halide shooting RAW) to mostly replace my mirrorless RX1, so yet another reason to stay iPhone.

Does voip.ms work with 2FA services e.g. those used by banks? I have heard it doesn't and that's a dealbreaker for me.

It works for most of them, but not all. And sometimes a service originally supports it, but then changes and doesn't, which means you need to get in touch with them to fix it.

I now have a Tello eSIM ($5/mo) that I use just for the 3-4 services that don't support voip.ms. And only turn it on when I need it.

Ok, thanks, as rumoured then.

I was trying to use Tello but despite supposedly activating the esim in my supposedly supported phone (6a), it reuses to do anything. I've just switched to tossble digits which a) works for me, and b) is much cheaper!

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