In this article, I will be delving into the details of how Airalo Szia! eSIM functions in Hungary. Hungary is part of the European Union, so your personal phone plans may include data and calls. I was intrigued by Airalo’s offering and decided to seize the opportunity to test out the eSIM service provided by Airalo Szia eSIM for Hungary.
Disclaimer: Some links in this article contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase any service, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
If you want to compare Airalo Szia! eSIM with other eSIM I tried while in Hungary; you can find my reviews here:
Reviews: eSIM for use in Hungary
This article (Roaming eSIM Ultimate Guide) discusses eSIM technology and other companies in detail. This article (How to choose eSIM) offers advice on choosing a suitable product for a trip abroad. All eSIM reviews are available here.
Airalo Discount Code
If you use my Airalo code SANDRA4293 you can get $3 off or 15% discount (link to the discount here) on your first eSIM.
If you already have an existing account you can get 10% discount on eSIMs US$10+ using this link.
Airalo Applications
Airalo has apps where you can buy new plans or track the usage of your existing plans. Below are the links where you can download them:
For Google Play click here.
For Apple Store click here.
Airalo Offering for Hungary
Airalo offers three types of travel eSIMs for Hungary.
The first type is the local product Airalo Szia! eSIM. It is a data plan specifically for use in Hungary.
The second type is the regional product Airalo Eurolink eSIM, which can be used in 39 European countries. These include Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
The third type is the Airalo Discover eSIM, which offers two “Global eSIMs” types. One type consists of data packages ranging from 1 to 20 GB, usable in 124 countries.
“The other “Global eSIMs” type includes data, voice calls, and SMS. The plans offer 10 to 200 voice call minutes, 10 to 200 SMS, and 1GB to 20 GB of mobile data. These eSIM cards come with an Austrian phone number +43.”
Detailed instructions on creating an account and buying a data package can be found in this article.
Airalo Szia! eSIM Price
At the time of my trip, Airalo offered six Szia! eSIM packages. Each package provided a different amount of mobile data, ranging from 1GB for $4.50 (or £4) to 20GB for $36 (approximately £28.50). The validity of the packages ranged from 7 to 30 days.
What phones support eSIM?
With this technology’s growing popularity, more and more phones and tablets are on the market that support it. When buying a phone, you should ask the seller if the phone supports eSIM. Airalo regularly updates the list of supported devices, so it is better to check their official support page.
Mobile operators in Hungary and connection type
Hungary has three mobile operators: Telekom, Yettel, and Vodafone. It’s important to note that Airalo Szia! eSIM can only be used in Yettel networks (you should always check the description of the eSIM). To ensure there is coverage in your area, you can visit nperf.com and check before making the purchase.
Connection type
Airalo lists the LTE network on its website. However, you may also see the 5G icon.
eSIM Activation
The activation and validity period of Airalo Szia! eSIM starts when it connects to the supported network, Yettel.
My Airalo Szia! eSIM experience
My data plan
I purchased a data plan that included 1 gigabyte of data and was valid for 7 days. The package was priced at $4.50 (or £4). However, you can get this eSIM with my discount code for only $1.50.
Network registration
When I arrived at Budapest airport, I activated the Airalo Szia! eSIM on my phone. Surprisingly, it took nearly 10 minutes for the Airalo eSIM to connect to the Yettel network.
Once I turned on the mobile data, the 4G icon appeared, and before long, the arrows indicating data transfer started to blink. This signified that the data connection was established successfully.
Functionality
Usually, when I wait for my flight, I immerse myself in various activities to pass the time. One of my favourite pastimes is tracking other planes using the FlightRadar24 app, which allows me to observe the bustling activity of air traffic around me. As I was waiting in the lounge (Platinum Lounge review here), I checked flights all over the world.
Additionally, I enjoyed watching captivating YouTube videos, scrolling through intriguing Instagram posts from friends, seeking out interesting information on the internet, and enjoying a few rounds of games on my Nintendo Switch console, which I had conveniently tethered to my phone.
While engrossed in these activities, I noticed the appearance of the 5G icon on my phone. Unfortunately, the connection didn’t last long, as it swiftly reverted to the LTE network. Nonetheless, I was okay with it, as the transfer speeds remained impressive and allowed me to continue my online engagements seamlessly.
Speed
I tested the downlink and uplink speeds of Airalo Szia! eSIM before my flight, and I was amazed to see the download speed reach 136 Mbps. This test used around 250 MB of data.
Top-ups
Buying additional data is simple. Click on “My eSIM” and “TOP UP”. Purchased data will be used automatically when the original data runs out.
Conclusion
The article comprehensively reviews Airalo Szia! eSIM’s service in Hungary. The article covers the activation process and the user’s experience with the eSIM, including network registration, functionality, speed, and top-up options.
I found the Airalo eSIM to perform exceptionally well without any subsequent problems after encountering some initial issues with network registration, which took approximately 10 minutes to resolve. The download speed surpassed my expectations, reaching over 100 Mbps.
Based on my experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this product due to its reliable performance and seamless usage.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Different sizes of data offered – from 1GB to 20GB | No Unlimited Data bundle |
| Super fast transfer speeds – 136 Mbps | Long registration to the network |
| Different validity periods of data plans – from 7 to 30 days | Support of only one mobile network – Yettel |
| Simple process for top-up | |
What is your experience with eSIM in Hungary? Do you have a favourite one?
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very informative article