You're planning a trip abroad and you've heard an eSIM is the easy way to get data the moment you land — no hunting for a SIM shop, no swapping tiny cards at the airport. Then the obvious question hits: does your phone even support one? Before you buy any plan, it's worth confirming your device is on the list of eSIM compatible phones and that it's unlocked. The check takes under a minute, and this guide walks you through every way to do it.
The Fastest Way to Check
Here's the quickest method, and it works on almost any phone. Open your dialer and type *#06#. A screen pops up with your device identifiers. If you see a 32-digit EID number listed alongside the IMEI, your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means no eSIM.
That single code is the most reliable shortcut because it doesn't depend on which menu your manufacturer buried the setting in. But there are a couple of other checks worth knowing, since the wording differs between iPhone and Android.
How to Check eSIM Compatibility on iPhone
On an iPhone, you have two easy paths:
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Settings check: Open Settings, tap General, then About, and scroll down. If you see an EID number near the bottom, your iPhone supports eSIM.
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Add eSIM option: Open Settings, tap Cellular (or Mobile Service), and look for "Add eSIM" or "Add Data Plan." If it's there, you're set.
The good news for Apple users is that the timeline is simple. Every iPhone from the iPhone XS and XR (2018) onward supports eSIM. That covers nearly every iPhone still in everyday use. A few generation details are worth knowing: the iPhone 13 series and later can run two eSIM profiles at the same time, and the iPhone 14, 15, 16, and 17 series support dual eSIM with room to store several profiles.
One important regional note: US models of the iPhone 14, 15, 16, and 17 series are eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray at all. International models of those phones keep a nano-SIM slot. And iPhones bought in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao have historically shipped without eSIM, with only a few exceptions, so check your exact model if you bought your phone in those regions.
How to Check eSIM Compatibility on Android
Android is broader but more fragmented, since hundreds of manufacturers build it differently. The general path is Settings, then Network & Internet, then SIMs — or on Samsung, Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager. If you see an option to "Add eSIM" or "Add mobile plan," your phone supports it. The *#06# dial code works here too and is often faster.
Here's where the major Android brands stand among eSIM supported devices:
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Samsung: eSIM support began with the Galaxy S20 series in 2020 and now runs across the S20 through S25 lines, the Note 20 range, and the Z Fold and Z Flip foldables. Most "Fan Edition" (FE) models and some regional variants are exceptions, so confirm yours.
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Google Pixel: Pixel phones have supported eSIM since the Pixel 3, and the Pixel 7 and later handle dual eSIM. Pixel's implementation is one of the cleanest on Android.
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Others: Motorola's Razr and Edge lines, recent Xiaomi and OnePlus flagships, and a growing set of mid-range and budget phones now include eSIM. Support varies by exact model and region.
If your phone doesn't show an EID or an "Add eSIM" option, three things are usually behind it: the model genuinely lacks eSIM hardware, it's a China-market regional variant with the feature stripped out, or the software is out of date. Updating to a current OS version sometimes brings the option back on borderline models.
Because eSIM activation is digital and handled by your carrier rather than a plastic card that can be lost or swapped, plenty of travelers ask whether the technology is trustworthy before switching — this look at whether are eSIMs safe covers the privacy and security side in more detail.
Being Compatible Isn't Enough — Check the Lock
A phone can have perfectly good eSIM hardware and still refuse a travel plan if it's carrier-locked. This trips up more travelers than hardware compatibility does.
A carrier-locked phone rejects eSIM profiles from other providers, even when the hardware supports eSIM. Phones sold outright or SIM-free are usually unlocked already. Phones bought on a carrier installment plan are often locked until the device is paid off. If you're not sure, contact your home carrier and ask them to unlock it — most do this for free once your contract is complete or the phone is paid off.
It's worth checking the lock status well before your trip rather than the night before, since an unlock request can take a day or two to process.
A Quick Compatibility Reference
|
Brand |
eSIM support starts at |
Notes |
|
Apple iPhone |
iPhone XS / XR (2018) |
US models of iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only; China/Hong Kong variants often excluded |
|
Samsung Galaxy |
Galaxy S20 series (2020) |
Most FE models and some regional variants excluded |
|
Google Pixel |
Pixel 3 |
Pixel 7 and later support dual eSIM |
|
Other Android |
Varies by model |
Recent Motorola, Xiaomi, OnePlus flagships and many mid-range phones included |
When compatibility varies this much by model, region, and carrier, the safest move is to run the *#06# check on your actual device rather than trusting a general list.
Why This Check Matters for Your Trip
Confirming compatibility before you fly is what lets an eSIM do its job. Install a plan at home, and you land with working data instead of standing in an arrivals hall searching for Wi-Fi. That data is what gets you airport directions, opens your maps, pulls up ride-hailing apps, and lets you message your hotel. If your airport pickup is already arranged through a service like Transpovia, working data on arrival means you can confirm the ride and track it without scrambling to connect first.
There's a planning benefit too. Sorting both your connectivity and your ground transport before departure — for example, booking your airport transfer with Transpovia ahead of time — means fewer decisions to make while you're tired and jet-lagged. A phone you've already confirmed is eSIM-ready is the first piece of that.
What Compatibility Lets You Do: Keep Your Home Number
One reason to confirm eSIM support specifically matters for travel: most eSIM-capable phones also support dual SIM. That means your home SIM can stay in the phone for calls and texts on your usual number, while the eSIM carries cheaper data in your destination. You're not choosing between staying reachable and paying less for data — you get both.
To make that work once you land, set the eSIM as your data line in settings and switch off data roaming on your home SIM so it can't quietly rack up charges. On an iPhone 13 or later, or a Pixel 7 or later, you can even run two eSIM profiles at once, which helps if you carry both a work line and a travel plan.
Most travel eSIMs are data-only, which suits the majority of trips since apps like WhatsApp and iMessage handle calls and messages over data. If you specifically need a local number with voice and SMS, confirm the plan includes it before buying, since many don't. And if you plan to share your connection with a laptop or a travel companion's phone, check that your plan allows hotspot use — support for tethering varies by provider.
FAQs
Does my phone support eSIM if it's a few years old?
Very likely, yes. Any iPhone from the iPhone XS (2018) onward, any Samsung Galaxy from the S20 (2020) onward, and Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 all support eSIM. The fastest way to be sure is to dial *#06# and look for an EID number, or check for an "Add eSIM" option in your settings.
Why doesn't my phone show an eSIM option even though it's a recent model?
The most common reasons are a China-market regional variant with eSIM removed, an outdated operating system, or a carrier lock. Update your OS first, then confirm your exact model number supports eSIM for the region where you bought it. If the hardware is there but you still can't add a plan, a carrier lock is the likely cause.
Can I check eSIM compatibility before I buy a phone?
Yes. Search "[your phone model] eSIM support" on the manufacturer's official site, or use a compatibility checker that lets you search by model name. Pay attention to the regional variant, since the same model can support eSIM in one country and not another.
Does an eSIM-compatible phone need to be unlocked to use a travel eSIM?
Yes. Compatibility and carrier lock are two separate things. Even a fully eSIM-capable phone will reject an outside provider's profile if it's locked to your home carrier. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
Before You Travel
Run the *#06# check on your phone today and confirm you see an EID number. Then verify the phone is unlocked, since compatibility alone isn't enough. Once both are sorted, you can buy and install a plan at home and arrange your airport transfer with Transpovia, so data and transport are both handled before you land.
"Check the phone before the flight, not after landing — figuring out whether your device even takes an eSIM while standing in a foreign airport is the worst possible time to find out it doesn't."
