Before buying a travel eSIM, spend 30 seconds confirming your phone can actually use one. The dial-code check below settles it for any brand, and the rest of this guide covers the full compatibility picture for 2026.
The 30-second check: dial *#06#Open your phone's dialer and enter
. A panel pops up with your device's identifiers:
- EID present (a 32-digit number) means your phone has eSIM hardware
- No EID means no eSIM support
Two more confirmations worth doing:
- iPhone: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data). An "Add eSIM" button means you are good
- Android: type "eSIM" into the Settings search bar. An add/manage eSIM option means you are good
The full compatibility checklistHardware support is only half the story. A travel eSIM needs:
1.
eSIM hardware (the EID check above)
2.
An unlocked phone. Carrier-locked phones reject third-party eSIMs. iPhone: Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock must read
"No SIM restrictions." Android: ask your carrier, or test with a SIM from another carrier.
3.
Current software. Very old iOS/Android versions had buggy eSIM stacks. Update before your trip.
iPhone eSIM modelsEvery iPhone from the
XS/XR generation (2018) onward: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 series, and iPhone SE (2nd gen+). US-market iPhones since the 14 are
eSIM-only, so those are guaranteed compatible.
Regional exceptions: most iPhones sold in
mainland China lack eSIM. The exceptions are the iPhone Air (eSIM-only) and iPhone 17e, which support eSIM there through in-store carrier activation, though China-market models cannot install foreign travel eSIMs while inside mainland China. Hong Kong and Macau iPhones use dual physical SIMs instead of eSIM on most models.
Android eSIM models- Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and newer (excluding some carrier-sold variants of the 3); all Pixel 4-9 and Pixel Fold models
- Samsung: Galaxy S20 and newer (S/Note/Z series), Z Flip and Z Fold all generations, many Galaxy A5x models
- Others: recent Motorola Razr and Edge, Oppo Find series, Xiaomi 12+ flagships, Honor Magic, Sony Xperia 1/5 recent models
Regional exceptions to watch: many
US carrier variants of mid-range Androids ship with eSIM disabled in firmware, and most
mainland China Androids lack eSIM. When in doubt, dial
and trust what it shows.
Quick decision tree- EID shown + "No SIM restrictions" → buy any eSIM plan, install at home, travel connected
- EID shown but phone is locked → request the carrier unlock (usually free once the phone is paid off)
- No EID → your phone cannot use eSIM; a pocket Wi-Fi or local physical SIM is the fallback
Dual SIM while travelingAll the phones above keep your home SIM working alongside the travel eSIM: home SIM for calls and SMS (banking codes still arrive), eSIM for data. Set it up once and both lines just work. See our setup walkthroughs for
iPhone and
Android.
FAQHow do I know if my phone supports eSIM?Dial *#06#. If the list that appears includes an EID number (a 32-digit identifier), your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means no eSIM support. On iPhone you can also check Settings > Cellular for an 'Add eSIM' button.
Which iPhones support eSIM?iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and every model after them: iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 series, plus iPhone SE (2nd gen and later). Exception: most iPhones sold in mainland China lack eSIM (only the iPhone Air and iPhone 17e support it there, with in-store carrier activation), and Hong Kong/Macau models have dual physical SIM instead.
Which Samsung phones support eSIM?Galaxy S20 and newer S-series, Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold (all generations), Galaxy Note 20, and Galaxy A-series models like the A54/A55 in many regions. US carrier variants of some mid-range Samsungs lack eSIM, so check with *#06# to be sure.
Does a carrier-locked phone work with a travel eSIM?No. A carrier-locked phone rejects eSIM profiles from other providers. On iPhone, check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock, which must say 'No SIM restrictions.' On Android, contact your carrier to confirm the device is unlocked before buying a travel eSIM.
Why does my phone have eSIM but no 'Add eSIM' option?Usually one of three reasons: the phone is carrier-locked, the software needs an update, or you have a regional variant without eSIM firmware (common with some Chinese-market and US carrier models). Update the OS, check the lock status, and dial *#06# to confirm an EID exists.
Do tablets and laptops support travel eSIMs?Cellular iPads (iPad Pro, Air and mini with cellular, 2018 onward) and Windows laptops with eSIM hardware (Surface Pro, many business laptops) can use data eSIMs. The same rule applies: the device must be unlocked and show an EID.
