Guide
eSIM device compatibility
Buying an eSIM your phone cannot use is the most avoidable mistake in travel connectivity, and it happens constantly. This guide covers which handsets support eSIM, the two things that break compatibility even on a supported phone, a thirty-second check anyone can run, and what dual SIM really does to your calls and data.
The thirty-second check
Do this before reading anything else. Open your phone's dialler and type *#06#. A panel appears showing your IMEI. If an EID is listed alongside it - a long number, 32 digits - your phone has an eSIM chip. No EID means no eSIM, and no amount of software will add one.
Confirm it in settings too. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Service, and look for Add eSIM. On Android, look for SIM manager, SIMs or Add eSIM under network settings. If the option is absent on a phone that showed an EID, the cause is usually a carrier lock or a regional variant rather than the hardware.
Apple
eSIM support starts with iPhone XS, XS Max and XR. Every iPhone since supports it. Two active eSIMs at once arrived with iPhone SE third generation and iPhone 13, so anything from that generation onward can run two travel eSIMs simultaneously, or one travel eSIM alongside a carrier eSIM.
The regional catch matters. iPhone 14 and later sold in the United States have no SIM tray at all and can only be activated with an eSIM, per Apple support. That is excellent news for eSIM users and a genuine problem for anyone planning to buy a local SIM at their destination, because there is nowhere to put it.
Android
Android support is broader but far less uniform, because it depends on the model, the country it was sold in and sometimes the carrier that sold it.
- Google Pixel. eSIM is supported from Pixel 3 onwards with several exceptions on carrier and regional variants. Pixel 7 and later are reliably supported, and US Pixel 10 models are eSIM-only with no tray, per Google's Pixel help pages.
- Samsung Galaxy. Recent flagship S series, every foldable from Galaxy Fold onwards, and mid-range A series models such as the A35, A36, A54, A55 and A56 support eSIM. Samsung is explicit that support can differ by country of origin even for a listed model, so check your own handset in Samsung's compatibility list.
- Everyone else. Many Motorola, Oppo, Honor, Huawei, Sony and Xiaomi models support eSIM, and many do not. Regional variants of the same model number frequently differ. The EID check is more reliable than any published list.
The two things that break a supported phone
Carrier lock
A locked handset only authenticates on its own carrier's network. The travel eSIM profile will download and appear in settings, then fail to connect, which looks like a faulty eSIM and is not. Ask your carrier to unlock before you travel; it is normally free once the device is paid off, but it can take a few days, so it is not a departure-lounge job.
Regional variant
The same model sold in different markets can ship with eSIM disabled - historic examples include several Pixel variants sold in specific countries. If the EID check shows nothing on a phone that should support eSIM, this is usually why, and there is no fix short of a different handset.
What dual SIM actually does
Having two lines active does not mean both do everything. Your phone assigns roles, and the roles are where travellers get caught out.
- Mobile data uses one line at a time. Set this to your travel eSIM.
- Calls and texts can stay on your home line, so your usual number keeps working for verification codes and family.
- Data roaming is a per-line switch. Turn it off on your home line and on for the travel eSIM. Most travel eSIMs are technically roaming, so the switch has to be on for the line you want to use.
- Allow mobile data switching on iPhone lets your phone fall back to the other line automatically. Disable it before you travel, or your home line can quietly pick up data and bill you.
Almost all travel eSIMs are data-only with no phone number attached, which is exactly why this arrangement works so well - see eSIM safety and privacy for what a data-only line can and cannot do.
Tablets and watches
Cellular iPads support eSIM and can use most travel plans, which makes a single larger data bundle shared over hotspot an attractive option for a family. Cellular smartwatches generally cannot use travel eSIMs, because they depend on a number paired to a carrier line rather than a standalone data profile.
Once you have checked
If your phone passes, read buying an eSIM before you fly for timing, then compare real prices. If it fails, a local SIM on arrival is your route, and eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM sets out the trade-offs.
Common questions
How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?
On iPhone, open Settings, then Mobile Service or Cellular, and look for an option to add an eSIM. On Android, look for SIM manager or Add eSIM under network settings. On most phones you can also dial *#06# and check whether an EID number is listed alongside the IMEI - an EID means the phone has an eSIM chip.
Which iPhones support eSIM?
iPhone XS and later support eSIM alongside a physical SIM. iPhone SE third generation, iPhone 13 and later can run two eSIMs active at the same time. iPhone 14 and later bought in the United States have no SIM tray at all and are eSIM-only.
Will a locked phone work with a travel eSIM?
No. A carrier lock restricts the phone to that carrier's network regardless of whether the SIM is physical or embedded, so a travel eSIM profile will install but will not connect. Ask your carrier to unlock the handset before you travel - it is usually free once the contract or device plan is settled.
Can I have two eSIMs plus my normal SIM?
You can store several eSIM profiles but only a limited number can be active at once. On recent iPhones that means two active lines in total, in any combination of physical SIM and eSIM. Storing extra profiles is fine - they simply sit dormant until you switch one on.
Device support changes with every product generation and varies by region and carrier. The EID check on your own handset is more reliable than any published list, including this one. Confirm with the manufacturer if in doubt.