Does my phone support eSIM? How to check iPhone and Android, and whether it is unlocked
Does your phone support eSIM? A 60-second check for iPhone and Android that works without a SIM card, a 2026 phone list, older phones and carrier locks.
Your phone supports eSIM if dialling *#06# shows an EID, and it can use a travel eSIM if it is also unlocked. Almost every phone sold since 2019 has eSIM, but “almost” is the problem: some regional models leave the chip out, and a phone that is locked to a carrier shows an eSIM menu and still refuses a travel eSIM. Here is how to check both in under a minute, with or without a SIM card in the phone, and what your options are if your phone is too old.
The 60-second check: dial *#06#
Open the phone app and dial *#06#. The phone shows its identifiers straight away, no call is placed.
- If the list contains an EID (a 32-digit number), the phone has an eSIM chip.
- If you only see IMEI numbers and no EID, the phone has no eSIM. That is common on older devices and on some models made for mainland China.
No SIM card needed. The check works with an empty SIM tray, without mobile service and in flight mode, so you can also check a second-hand phone or one you are about to buy. The same goes for the settings checks below.
iPhone: where the eSIM settings are
- Settings → General → About. Scroll down: an EID line means eSIM hardware is present. iPhone XS, XR and every later model have it.
- Same screen, look for Carrier Lock. It should say No SIM restrictions. If it names a carrier, the phone is locked and a travel eSIM will not connect until the carrier unlocks it.
- Settings → Cellular (Mobile Data outside the US). If you see Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan, you can install a travel eSIM by QR code or from the provider's app.
iPhone 13 and newer can keep two eSIMs active at the same time, so your home number stays reachable while the travel eSIM handles data. iPhone XS to iPhone 12 run one eSIM plus the physical SIM. US models of the iPhone 14 and later have no SIM tray at all and work with eSIM only.
Android: Samsung, Pixel and the rest
Android menus differ by brand, but the eSIM option is always inside the SIM settings:
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. Available on Galaxy S20 and newer, Note 20, Z Flip and Z Fold, and on recent A-series models such as the A54 and A55, but not on every regional variant.
- Google Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Download a SIM instead. Pixel 3 and newer support eSIM (Pixel 3 and 3a bought from some carriers are the exception).
- Other brands: Settings → Mobile network or Connections → SIM management. Look for “Add eSIM”, “Download SIM” or “Virtual SIM”. Motorola (Razr 2019 and later, Edge series), Sony Xperia 10 IV and newer, OnePlus 11 and newer in most regions, Xiaomi 12T Pro and newer in Europe, Fairphone 4 and 5, and Nothing Phone (2) and later all have it.
To check the lock on Android, insert a SIM from another carrier or ask your carrier directly; there is no universal settings line like on the iPhone. Phones bought on a contract in the US, Canada or Japan are often locked for a period after purchase.
eSIM-compatible phones as of 2026
The list covers the models travellers ask about most. Regional variants can differ, especially for phones sold in mainland China and Hong Kong, so treat the *#06# check as the final word.
| Brand | eSIM from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone | XS, XR (2018) and all later models; SE 2nd gen and later | Dual eSIM from iPhone 13; US iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only; in mainland China only iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have eSIM |
| Apple iPad | iPad Pro 2018, iPad Air 3, iPad mini 5, iPad 7 and later (cellular models) | Data only, which is all a travel eSIM needs |
| Google Pixel | Pixel 3 and later | Pixel 3 and 3a from some carriers lack eSIM; Pixel 7 and later support dual eSIM |
| Samsung Galaxy | S20, Note 20, Z Flip, Z Fold and later; A54, A55 and newer A-series | Some US carrier and Chinese variants ship without eSIM |
| Motorola | Razr 2019 and later; Edge 40, 50 and later; Moto G53, G54 and newer in Europe | Regional |
| Sony | Xperia 10 IV, 1 IV, 5 IV and later | — |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 11, 12, 13 and Nord 3 in most regions | Check the variant; early global models were physical-SIM only |
| Xiaomi | 12T Pro, 13, 14 and later global models | Chinese-market models usually have no eSIM |
| Huawei | P40, P50, Mate 40 and later | No Google services; provider apps may not install, QR install still works |
| Fairphone | Fairphone 4 and 5 | — |
| Nothing | Phone (2), (2a), (3) and later | — |
The two things that block travel eSIMs most often
1. A carrier lock
A locked phone accepts only SIMs and eSIMs from the carrier that sold it. The eSIM installs, then shows “No service” or an activation error. Carriers must unlock phones on request once the contract terms are met; in the UK, phones sold since December 2021 are unlocked by law, and EU carriers unlock on request. Ask for the unlock before the trip, it can take a few days.
2. A regional model without eSIM
The same phone name can hide different hardware. Most iPhones sold in mainland China (all except iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max), most Xiaomi and OnePlus phones sold in China, and some carrier-branded Samsung models come without an eSIM chip. If *#06# shows no EID, no setting will change that.
Less common: management profiles and old software
Company phones with a device-management profile may block eSIM installation. Very old software can also be a problem: eSIM installation needs iOS 12.1 or later and Android 9 or later, and provider apps often require newer versions.
Will a travel eSIM work with my carrier?
A travel eSIM does not depend on your home carrier. It runs on the partner networks of the eSIM provider at your destination, and you need neither your carrier's permission nor a special contract to install it. What matters is the phone itself:
- The phone must be unlocked. A carrier lock is the only thing on your carrier's side that can block a travel eSIM. On iPhone, Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock shows it; on Android, ask your carrier or try a SIM card from another network: a locked phone usually asks for a network unlock code.
- Your home SIM can stay. Keep your physical SIM or home eSIM in the phone for calls and SMS and use the travel eSIM for data. Our guide Dual SIM with a travel eSIM shows the settings.
- Networks abroad: a phone made for one market may not support every LTE or 5G band used elsewhere. This rarely prevents a connection but can affect speed or 5G. If a specific network matters to you, the plans on our destination pages list the networks they use, for example for Japan or the USA.
An eSIM from your own carrier is something different: it replaces your home SIM card and is set up by the carrier. A travel eSIM is an additional profile next to it.
My phone is too old for eSIM: what are my options?
eSIM is a chip in the phone, so a software update cannot add it. If *#06# shows no EID, for example on an iPhone 8, iPhone X or older, or on many Android phones from before 2020, you still have these options for mobile data abroad:
- A local prepaid SIM card bought at your destination. The phone must be unlocked for this as well, and many countries require your passport to register the card.
- Your home carrier's roaming or a roaming day pass. It needs no setup but is often more expensive; see eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM.
- A pocket WiFi rented for the trip, which works with any phone that has WiFi; see eSIM vs pocket WiFi.
- Another device as a hotspot: if someone in your group has an eSIM phone, or you have a cellular iPad, put the travel eSIM there and share the connection.
If you travel often, a newer phone with eSIM pays off over time; refurbished models from the last few years almost all have it. Use the table above to check a model before you buy.
Checklist before you buy a travel eSIM
- *#06# shows an EID, and the phone is unlocked (iPhone: “No SIM restrictions”).
- You know which slot the eSIM will use and that your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and SMS, with data roaming switched off on it.
- You have Wi-Fi for the installation: the QR code or app install needs a connection, so set it up at home or in the hotel, not at the border.
- You have picked a plan that covers every country of the trip. Regional plans for Europe or Asia are usually cheaper than several country plans.
- You know whether you need a phone number. Most travel eSIMs are data-only; calls run over WhatsApp or similar.
Then compare prices: our destination pages list every plan we track for a country, updated daily, with the data amount, validity and effective price per gigabyte side by side. Popular starting points are Japan, USA, Turkey, Thailand and Europe.
Questions travellers ask
Does *#06# always show the EID?+
On iPhones and most Android phones, yes. A few Android models show the EID only under Settings → About phone → SIM status, so check there before concluding that the phone has no eSIM.
Can I use a travel eSIM on a carrier-locked phone?+
No. A locked phone rejects eSIMs from other carriers even though the eSIM menu is there. Ask your carrier for an unlock before the trip; once unlocked, the phone stays unlocked.
Can I move an eSIM to a new phone?+
Usually not by yourself. Most travel eSIMs are tied to the first device they were installed on. Some providers reissue the QR code on request, so contact support before deleting the eSIM from the old phone.
Do I need to remove my physical SIM?+
No. Keep your home SIM in the phone for calls and SMS and switch its data roaming off. Set the travel eSIM as the data line. On iPhone 13 and later two eSIMs can be active at once, so a home eSIM and a travel eSIM work together as well.
How many eSIMs can a phone store?+
iPhones store eight or more eSIMs and use one or two at a time. Android phones vary from around five to more than ten stored profiles. Installed travel eSIMs can stay on the phone and be reactivated on the next trip if the provider allows top-ups.
Which iPhones do not support eSIM?+
iPhone 8, iPhone X and everything older have no eSIM. In mainland China, only iPhone 17e, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max support eSIM; all other models sold there use two nano-SIM cards instead. Several models sold in Hong Kong and Macao are also dual nano-SIM versions without eSIM. All other iPhones from the XS and XR onwards support it.
Can I check if my phone supports eSIM without a SIM card?+
Yes. Dialling *#06# and the eSIM menus in the settings work without a SIM card, without mobile service and in flight mode. If the *#06# screen shows an EID, the phone has eSIM hardware.
Can a software update add eSIM to an older phone?+
No. eSIM needs a dedicated chip in the phone. If your phone shows no EID, an update will not change that; use a local SIM card, roaming or a pocket WiFi instead, or switch to a newer phone.
Do I need my carrier's permission to use a travel eSIM?+
No. A travel eSIM runs on the provider's partner networks and works independently of your home carrier. The only requirement on your carrier's side is that the phone is unlocked.
Written by the eSIM Rankings editorial team. Device lists are checked against manufacturer specifications and updated when new models appear; regional variants can differ, so the *#06# check on your own phone is always the final word.
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