Demystifying "PE" and "PR" on Your iPhone – A Complete Guide

As an avid iPhone user and mobile tech specialist, I often get questions about the different status bar icons that can display on an iPhone. Two cryptic ones you may have noticed are "PE" and "PR." So what do they mean?

In short: PE and PR refer to your iPhone‘s two phone lines when using a dual SIM setup.

• PE = Personal
• PR = Primary

These indicators show which line is actively in use or set as the default. But there‘s more to it, so let‘s dive deeper…

Getting Started with Dual SIM

Dual SIM capabilities let you manage two separate phone numbers on a single iPhone. This is great for carrying personal and work lines without lugging multiple devices.

Here‘s a quick rundown of how it works:

• One physical nano-SIM card
• One eSIM (Digital SIM activated through your carrier)
• Assign each line as Primary or Personal during activation
• Features like iMessage, Visual Voicemail, FaceTime work per line

Choosing Primary vs. Personal

Your Primary line is set as the default for placing/receiving calls and texts when dual SIM is enabled.

The Personal line acts as a secondary number. You can still use it independently for calls/texts or set it as the default on demand.

My advice is making your most-used number the Primary. But you can swap these assignments at any time.

Dual SIM Usage Statistics

Dual SIM adoption continues rising globally, especially with remote work booming. Some stats:

• 78% of iPhone users report needing to juggle personal and work lines
• Over 50% of surveyed employees have adopted eSIM technology
• 66% prefer keeping separate numbers for work and personal contacts

And demand isn‘t slowing down…eSIM shipments are projected to hit nearly 1 billion by 2025 according to Counterpoint Research.

But as usage climbs, so do questions around those PE and PR indicators iPhones display. Well, let‘s get you answers!

Decoding Status Bar Icon Indicators

Alongside PE/PR alerts that your Personal or Primary line is active, your iPhone may showcase other icons. These provide transparency into device functionality.

Microphone/Camera Indicators

An orange dot means the microphone was recently used by an app. A green dot indicates the same for the camera.

But don‘t panic if you notice them! These are normal if using features like:

??? Video/voice calls
??? Voicemail
??? Recording voice memos
??? Live Photo mode

However, if the indicators persist for long periods without actively using those features, further investigation may be warranted…

SOS Icon

An "SOS" or "SOS only" alert means cellular connectivity is currently limited. You can still contact emergency services, but regular functions like calls/texts/data will not work.

This usually occurs temporarily when signal is weak. But if it persists, try these fixes:

??? Toggle Airplane mode
??? Enable/disable cellular data
??? Toggle iCloud Private Relay (iOS 15+) off/on
??? Reset network settings

Rebooting your device can also refresh connectivity.

Now let‘s compare some popular iPhone models and the SIM capabilities offered!

iPhone Lineup Comparison

Dual SIM functionality first arrived back on the iPhone XS/XR models with simultaneous support for one physical nano-SIM card and one eSIM.

And dual SIM has remained consistent across all newer models with further optimizations on cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth handling during calls.

The iPhone 14 Pro stands out currently as Apple‘s top-of-the-line device with an advanced 48MP camera system and the latest A16 processor chippowering incredible visuals on the Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion.

And if gaming is your thing, the iPhone 14 Pro is a touring de force with its 120Hz refresh rate, delivering buttery smooth framerates across graphics-intensive titles like Genshin Impact. That high refresh display combined with the processing chops makes mobile gaming incredibly immersive!

But if staying under budget is more vital, don‘t dismiss the still amazing iPhone 13 Pro either! It retains practically every other flagship feature at a discounted price now. Or go bigger for less cost with the iPhone 14 Plus. You still get that fast A15 CPU, great dual camera setup, and gorgeous Super Retina XDR display.

Ultimately any iPhone from the last 2-3 years will serve you well as a portable powerhouse and handle dual SIM without issues. But hopefully breaking down those PE and PR indicators shed some light! And if other weird icons ever show up, don‘t hesitate to ask!