The honest answer to "is my phone eSIM compatible" is that a list will get you most of the way, and a thirty-second check on your own phone will finish the job. Lists go out of date, manufacturers enable eSIM in one country and not another, and two phones with the same name on the box can differ inside. So this guide does both. It starts with the check, because it works on every phone ever made and takes less time than reading the list. Then it goes brand by brand through the models we have verified support for, the models that definitely do not have it, and the ones where it depends which market your unit was sold in. That third category is where most of the confusion lives, and it is the part most compatibility lists leave out entirely.
The 30-second check that beats any list
Every eSIM-capable phone carries an EID, a serial number for its built-in eSIM chip. If your phone can show you an EID, it has the hardware. If it cannot, it does not. There is no ambiguity and no regional variation in that answer, which is what makes it better than any list including this one.
On Android, open the dialer and type the code below. If a long number appears under a heading marked EID, you are compatible. On an iPhone, the equivalent is finding the option to add an eSIM in your settings; if the menu offers it, the phone supports it.
Do this before you buy anything. It takes less time than reading the rest of this page, it is accurate for your exact unit rather than for the model in general, and it is the same check we would run if you asked us.
One warning about what the check does not tell you. It confirms the hardware, not the permission. A phone that is locked to a carrier can show a perfectly good EID and still refuse to install an eSIM from anyone but that carrier. That second requirement has its own section at the end.
- Android, any brand: open the dialer and enter *#06#. An EID in the results means the phone has eSIM hardware.
- Android menu route: Settings, then Network and Internet, then SIMs, then Add eSIM or Download a SIM
- iPhone: Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, then Add eSIM. If the option is there, so is the hardware.
- Samsung route if the above is missing: Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager
- The check reads your specific unit, which is why it beats a model list for anything sold in more than one country
iPhone: every model since 2018, with three exceptions
Apple has been the most consistent of any manufacturer here. Every iPhone from the XS and XR generation onwards has eSIM, worldwide, with the exceptions noted below. If your iPhone was bought in the last few years anywhere outside mainland China, you are almost certainly fine.
Two facts about recent iPhones are worth knowing before you travel, because they change what you can do rather than just whether you can. Since the iPhone 14, units sold in the United States have no physical SIM tray at all. They are eSIM only, which means a travel eSIM is not one option among several, it is the only way to get a local plan onto that phone. And from the iPhone 13 onwards you can keep two eSIMs active at the same time, so your home line stays reachable for calls and messages while the travel plan carries your data.
The exceptions are regional and they are absolute. iPhones sold in mainland China have no eSIM at all; Apple ships a dual physical SIM design there instead. iPhones sold in Hong Kong and Macau are a partial case: only the iPhone XS, the SE, the 12 mini and the 13 mini have eSIM, which is the reverse of what you would expect, since the newer and larger models there do not.
This matters more than it sounds for second-hand phones. A phone bought used, or imported, or brought back from a trip, follows the rules of the market it was made for and not the market you are in. The EID check is the only way to be certain with a phone whose history you do not know.
- Supported: iPhone XS, XS Max and XR
- Supported: iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
- Supported: iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max
- Supported: iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max
- Supported: iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
- Supported: iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
- Supported: iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16e
- Supported: the iPhone 17 series
- Supported: iPhone SE, both the 2020 and 2022 generations
- No eSIM: iPhone X, 8 and 8 Plus, 7 and everything older
- No eSIM: every iPhone sold in mainland China, which uses two physical SIM slots instead
- Partial: iPhones sold in Hong Kong and Macau, where only the XS, SE, 12 mini and 13 mini have it
Samsung Galaxy: the flagships yes, the mid-range it depends
Samsung splits cleanly into two groups. The flagship S and Note lines, and both foldable families, have eSIM across the board from the S20 generation onwards. The mid-range A and FE lines are where it gets complicated, because Samsung enables eSIM per market on those, so the same model number can have it in one country and not in another.
There is also a software wrinkle specific to Samsung that catches people who have already checked. Some carrier-sold units from the S20 and S21 generations, particularly in the United States and Korea, shipped with eSIM present in hardware but switched off in software. If the phone looks like it should be on this list and the option is missing, look specifically under Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager rather than the main network menu.
The A-series is the single most common source of confusion we see. The A54, A55 and A56 5G models have eSIM in Europe and a handful of other markets, and lack it elsewhere. Same phone, same name, different hardware depending on where it was sold. There is no way to answer it from the model number alone.
For anything in the A, J or M families, treat the list below as a starting point and let the EID check give the final answer on your actual unit.
- Supported: Galaxy S20, S20 Plus and S20 Ultra
- Supported: Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra
- Supported: Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra
- Supported: Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, S23 Ultra and S23 FE
- Supported: Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, S24 Ultra and S24 FE
- Supported: the Galaxy S25 series
- Supported: Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra
- Supported: Galaxy Z Flip, every generation
- Supported: Galaxy Z Fold, every generation
- Depends on the market: Galaxy A54 5G, A55 5G and A56 5G, which have eSIM in Europe and selected markets only
- Depends on the market and software version: Galaxy S21 FE
- No eSIM: Galaxy S20 FE, most A-series models older than the A54, and the J and M series
Google Pixel: from the Pixel 4 onwards, cleanly
Pixel is the simplest brand on this page. From the Pixel 4 generation onwards, every model has eSIM, including the a-series budget models, the Fold, and everything up to the current Pixel 10 series. There are no market splits to worry about in that range.
Pixel 4 and later also handle a physical SIM and an eSIM together, so you can leave your home SIM in the tray and add the travel plan alongside it rather than choosing between them.
The one soft edge is the Pixel 3 generation. Most Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a and 3a XL units have eSIM, but some carrier-sold units, notably in Japan and Australia, shipped without it. If you are on a Pixel 3 of any kind, the EID check takes seconds and removes the doubt.
Below that, the answer is no. The Pixel 2 technically had eSIM but only ever for Google Fi, which does not help a traveller, and the original 2016 Pixel has none.
- Supported: Pixel 4, 4 XL, 4a and 4a 5G
- Supported: Pixel 5 and 5a
- Supported: Pixel 6, 6 Pro and 6a
- Supported: Pixel 7, 7 Pro and 7a
- Supported: Pixel 8, 8 Pro and 8a
- Supported: Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold and 9a
- Supported: the Pixel 10 series
- Supported: Pixel Fold
- Depends on the unit: Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a and 3a XL, where some carrier versions in Japan and Australia shipped without eSIM
- No eSIM: Pixel 2, which supported it only on Google Fi, and the original 2016 Pixel
Xiaomi: the market matters more than the model
Xiaomi is the brand where a model list is least useful on its own, because Xiaomi enables eSIM per market rather than per model. The global and European versions of its flagships have it. The same phone sold in China or India generally does not.
That means the question to answer is not which Xiaomi you own, but which version of it you own. You can find that under Settings, then About phone, where the version string will tell you which market the software and hardware were built for.
Within the global versions, support sits with the recent flagship line: the Xiaomi 13, 14 and 15 families, plus the 13T pair and the 12T Pro. The Redmi and POCO ranges are largely without eSIM, with a couple of exceptions at the top of the Redmi Note line that vary by version.
This is the brand where we would most strongly recommend running the EID check rather than trusting any list, ours included. The variation is real, it is not documented consistently anywhere, and the check costs you half a minute.
- Supported, global versions: Xiaomi 13, 13 Pro and 13 Lite
- Supported, global versions: Xiaomi 13T and 13T Pro, and the Xiaomi 12T Pro
- Supported, global versions: Xiaomi 14, 14 Pro, 14 Ultra and the Xiaomi 15 series
- Depends on the version: Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus and Note 14 Pro Plus, which have eSIM on some global versions
- No eSIM: Xiaomi and Redmi phones sold in China and India
- No eSIM: most Redmi and POCO models generally
OnePlus: judge by where the phone was made for, not where you bought it
OnePlus added eSIM region by region rather than model by model, which produces the most counterintuitive situation on this page: a newer OnePlus can lack eSIM while an older one has it, depending entirely on which market each was built for.
European versions got eSIM from the OnePlus 11 onwards. North America did not get it until the OnePlus 13. So a North American OnePlus 12, a recent and expensive phone, has no eSIM, while a European OnePlus 11 from the generation before does.
If you imported your phone, or bought it while travelling, the region it was manufactured for is what counts rather than the shop you bought it from. That is the distinction that catches people, and it cannot be resolved from the model name.
The OnePlus 13 is the first model where the answer is simply yes everywhere, including the North American version.
- Supported everywhere: OnePlus 13, including the North American version
- Depends on the region: OnePlus 11, on European and selected global versions
- Depends on the region: OnePlus 12, on European and selected global versions, but not the North American one
- No eSIM: the OnePlus 10 series and everything older
- No eSIM: OnePlus Open and most OnePlus Nord models
Huawei: a narrow window, and one piece of good news
Huawei is the one brand on this page where eSIM support went backwards. It arrived with the P40 generation, and it was dropped again after the Mate 40. Newer Huawei flagships do not have it.
So the window is narrow and specific: the P40 and P40 Pro, and the Mate 40 Pro. If you have a P50, P60, Mate 50 or Mate 60, the answer is no, regardless of how recent or expensive the phone is. As with every other brand here, models sold in mainland China are excluded too.
The good news, for anyone inside that window who has been told otherwise, is that the absence of Google services on newer Huawei phones is not a barrier to using a travel eSIM. Installation happens from the QR code or link in your confirmation email, at the operating system level, with no app to download from any store.
That point generalises beyond Huawei. Nothing about installing an eSIM requires an app, on any phone. If a seller tells you their eSIM needs their app to work, that is a property of how they built their product, not of how eSIM works.
- Supported: Huawei P40 and P40 Pro
- Supported: Huawei Mate 40 Pro
- No eSIM: Huawei P50, P60 and the Mate 50 and Mate 60 series, where the feature was dropped
- No eSIM: Huawei models sold in mainland China
- Not a barrier: the lack of Google services on newer Huawei phones, since eSIM installs from the emailed QR code with no app required
iPads and tablets
eSIM is not limited to phones, and a tablet with a travel plan is genuinely useful on a long trip, particularly for anyone working or watching something on a flight with ground time either side.
On the Apple side the cellular iPads have supported eSIM for several generations. The important qualifier is the word cellular: a Wi-Fi-only iPad has no mobile hardware at all and no eSIM can change that. If you are unsure which one you have, a cellular iPad has a SIM tray or, on the newest models, a nano-SIM-free design, and it will show mobile data options in its settings.
Android tablets and cellular smartwatches vary far too much between manufacturers and models for a list to be reliable. The principle is the same as for phones: if the device offers to add an eSIM in its settings, it can take one.
One thing worth setting expectations on. Our plans are designed for phones and tablets. A cellular smartwatch may technically accept an eSIM profile, but watch support depends heavily on the watch and its carrier arrangements, and it is not what these plans are built for.
- Supported: iPad Pro 11-inch, all generations, cellular models
- Supported: iPad Pro 12.9-inch, third generation and newer, cellular models
- Supported: iPad Air, third generation and newer, cellular models
- Supported: iPad, seventh generation and newer, and iPad Mini, fifth generation and newer, cellular models
- Never: any Wi-Fi-only iPad or tablet, which has no mobile hardware to put an eSIM on
The second requirement everyone forgets, and what to do if your phone is not listed
Compatible hardware is only half of it. The phone also has to be carrier-unlocked. A locked phone is restricted to the network that sold it, and that restriction usually extends to eSIM profiles from anyone else, so a phone can pass the EID check and still refuse the install.
Phones bought outright from Apple, Samsung or Google are normally unlocked. Phones that came as part of a monthly contract often are not, at least until the contract term is served. If you are unsure, your carrier can tell you and can usually unlock it, though it can take a few days, which is a good reason to check well before you fly rather than at the airport.
If your phone is not on any list above, do not conclude it is unsupported. This page covers the six brands we hold verified model-by-model data for. Plenty of phones from other manufacturers have eSIM, and the check on the keypad answers for all of them in half a minute. An absence from our list means we have not verified that model, not that it fails.
And if the check comes back negative, the honest answer is that no seller can help you, because the hardware is not there. What works instead is a physical SIM bought locally, or connecting through someone else who does have a working plan.
- Requirement one: eSIM hardware, which the EID check confirms
- Requirement two: carrier-unlocked, which your carrier confirms and can usually fix
- Requirement three: an internet connection at the moment you install, which is why installing at home is better than at arrivals
- Not on the list: run the keypad check, since we only list brands we have verified model data for
- Check comes back negative: the hardware is absent, and a local physical SIM is the realistic alternative
Frequently asked questions
Is my phone eSIM compatible?
The fastest way to know for certain is to check your own phone rather than a list. On Android, open the dialer and enter *#06#: if an EID appears in the results, your phone has eSIM hardware. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Data, and look for Add eSIM. If the option is there, the phone supports it. This checks your exact unit, which matters because the same model can differ between countries.
What phones support eSIM?
Every iPhone from the XS and XR generation onwards outside mainland China; Samsung Galaxy S20 through S25, Note 20, and all Z Flip and Z Fold models; Google Pixel 4 and newer; the global versions of the Xiaomi 13, 14 and 15 families; the OnePlus 13 everywhere and the OnePlus 11 and 12 in Europe; and the Huawei P40 generation and Mate 40 Pro. The lists above break each of these down by model, including the ones that depend on which market your unit came from.
Does the iPhone 17 support eSIM?
Yes. The entire iPhone 17 series supports eSIM, as does every iPhone generation back to the XS and XR in 2018. If your iPhone 17 was sold in the United States it has no physical SIM tray at all, so an eSIM is the only way to add a local or travel plan to it. iPhone 17 units sold in mainland China are the exception, as Apple ships a dual physical SIM design there.
Do all iPhones have eSIM?
No, and there are three exceptions worth knowing. The iPhone X, 8, 7 and anything older have no eSIM at all. Every iPhone sold in mainland China lacks it, using two physical SIM slots instead. And in Hong Kong and Macau only the iPhone XS, SE, 12 mini and 13 mini have it, which is the opposite of what most people assume. Everything else from the XS generation onwards is supported.
Why does my iPhone not show the Add eSIM option?
Usually one of three reasons. The phone is carrier-locked, which hides or blocks the installation of eSIMs from anyone else, and your carrier can confirm and normally fix it. The phone is a mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau unit, where support differs or is absent. Or the model predates the iPhone XS. If none of those apply, check that the phone is running a current version of iOS and look under Settings, then Cellular, rather than in the general network menu.
Does the Samsung Galaxy S25 support eSIM?
Yes. The whole Galaxy S25 series has eSIM, as do the S20 through S24 generations including their Plus, Ultra and FE variants from the S23 FE onwards. Samsung foldables, meaning every Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold generation, are supported too. The uncertainty in Samsung’s range is in the A and FE mid-range lines rather than the flagships.
Do Samsung A-series phones support eSIM?
It depends on the market your unit was sold in, which is the single most common source of confusion in Samsung’s range. The A54 5G, A55 5G and A56 5G have eSIM in Europe and selected other markets, and lack it elsewhere, with no way to tell from the model number. Most A-series phones older than the A54 have none, and neither do the J and M series. Run the check on the keypad to settle it for your unit.
Does my Xiaomi phone support eSIM?
Only if it is a global or European version. Xiaomi enables eSIM per market rather than per model, so the same phone sold in China or India usually has none. Among global versions, the Xiaomi 13, 14 and 15 families are supported, along with the 13T, 13T Pro and 12T Pro. Most Redmi and POCO models are not. Check which version you own under Settings, then About phone, then confirm with the keypad check.
Do OnePlus phones support eSIM?
It depends on the region the phone was built for, not where you bought it. European versions have eSIM from the OnePlus 11 onwards, but North America did not get it until the OnePlus 13, which means a North American OnePlus 12 has none while a European OnePlus 11 does. The OnePlus 13 has eSIM everywhere including the North American version. The 10 series and older, the OnePlus Open and most Nord models have none.
Do Huawei phones support eSIM?
Only a narrow range. The P40, P40 Pro and Mate 40 Pro have eSIM, and Huawei dropped the feature after that generation, so the P50, P60, Mate 50 and Mate 60 do not have it despite being newer. Models sold in mainland China are excluded as well. If your Huawei is in the supported window, the missing Google services on newer Huawei software are not a problem, because an eSIM installs from the emailed QR code without any app.
Is my iPad eSIM compatible?
Cellular iPads are, across several generations: iPad Pro 11-inch in all generations, iPad Pro 12.9-inch from the third generation, iPad Air from the third, iPad from the seventh and iPad Mini from the fifth. The word cellular is the important one. A Wi-Fi-only iPad has no mobile hardware at all, so no eSIM will work on it regardless of the model or how new it is.
What is an EID and how do I find it?
The EID is a serial number belonging to the eSIM chip built into your phone. Its usefulness is that only phones with eSIM hardware have one, so its presence is a definitive yes. On Android, open the dialer and enter *#06#, and look for an EID in the results alongside the IMEI. On an iPhone it appears under Settings, then General, then About. You do not need to write it down, only to confirm that it exists.
My phone has an EID but will not install an eSIM. Why?
Almost always because the phone is carrier-locked. The EID confirms the hardware exists; it says nothing about whether the phone will accept a profile from anyone else. A locked phone refuses eSIMs from anyone but its original carrier. Your carrier can confirm the status and usually unlock it, though it can take a few days, so it is worth checking before your trip rather than at the airport.
My phone is not on your list. Does that mean it does not support eSIM?
No. This page covers the six brands we hold verified model-by-model data for, and plenty of phones from other manufacturers support eSIM. An absence from our list means we have not verified that specific model, not that it fails. The keypad check answers it for any phone in about half a minute, and it is more reliable for your particular unit than any published list, including this one.