2026-07-07
Short answer: if you bought your phone in the last few years, it almost certainly supports eSIM. iPhone XS/XR (2018) and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and every Google Pixel from the Pixel 3 onward all work.
But there's one trap that catches travelers even on "supported" models — phones bought in mainland China. We'll cover that below.
Rather not scroll through a 300-row device table? Here's how to check your own phone in 30 seconds.
Faster than hunting for your model in a list — just look in your phone's settings for the eSIM option.
On iPhone:
On Android:
Still not sure? Dial *#06# on the keypad. If an EID number shows up (alongside your IMEI), your phone has eSIM hardware. No EID, no eSIM.
Every iPhone from 2018 onward supports eSIM:
Two things to know:
Watch out: some US carrier-locked Galaxy S20 units (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile) shipped without eSIM. If yours is an older carrier-locked S20, run the 30-second check to be sure.
Every Pixel from the Pixel 3 onward supports eSIM — Pixel 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and their a / Pro / Fold variants.
One caveat: a few early Pixel 3 units sold through specific carriers had spotty eSIM support. Pixel 4 and newer are rock-solid.
This is the one that catches people. iPhones sold in mainland China don't have eSIM — they use two physical nano-SIM slots instead. This has nothing to do with the model; it's about where the phone was sold.
How to check: Settings → General → About → Model Number. If it ends in CH/A, it's a China variant with no eSIM.
A phone can support eSIM hardware but still block travel eSIMs if it's locked to a carrier. If your phone is on a contract or was "free" with a plan, it may be locked. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel — an unlocked phone accepts any eSIM.
My phone is a few years old — does it support eSIM?
If it's an iPhone XS/XR (2018) or later, a Galaxy S20 or later, or any Pixel 3 or later, yes. Run the 30-second check to confirm.
Does eSIM support depend on my carrier?
The hardware is what matters, but a carrier-locked phone can still refuse a travel eSIM. Unlock it first.
I bought my iPhone in China. Can I use a travel eSIM?
No. Mainland-China iPhones have no eSIM hardware, and that doesn't change when you travel. You'd need a different phone or a physical SIM.
Do tablets and smartwatches support eSIM?
Many do — cellular iPads, Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular), and Galaxy Watch LTE models. This guide focuses on phones, but the same 30-second EID check works on tablets.
If your phone passed the check, you're all set. Grab a plan for your destination and follow our step-by-step install guide to be connected in about two minutes.