Is My Phone eSIM Compatible? How to Check, Plus the 2026 List
How to check if your phone supports eSIM in under a minute, the full 2026 list of eSIM phones from Apple, Samsung and Google, and the carrier-lock catch.
Before you buy an eSIM, two things have to be true. Your phone needs an eSIM chip, and it needs to be unlocked. Almost every phone from the last five or six years passes the first test. The second one catches more people, usually at the airport.
This guide shows you how to check both in under a minute, then lists every eSIM-compatible iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, with the regional exceptions that most lists leave out. It’s based on Apple’s, Samsung’s and Google’s own support pages as of October 2026.
The quick answer
| Brand | Supports eSIM | Doesn’t |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and every iPhone since, plus SE (2020 and 2022) | iPhone X, 8, 7 and the original SE |
| Samsung Galaxy | S20 and later S-series, Note 20, every Z Fold and Z Flip, some A-series | S20 FE, S21 FE and most budget A-series models |
| Google Pixel | Pixel 4 and every Pixel since | Original Pixel; some Pixel 2, 3 and 3a models |
If your phone is on the left, you still need to check that it’s unlocked, which is covered below.
How to check if your phone supports eSIM
On an iPhone
Go to Settings, then General, then About, and scroll down. If you see an EID number, your iPhone has an eSIM.
You can also go to Settings, then Cellular (or Mobile Data). If there’s an option to Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan, your phone supports it.
On a Samsung Galaxy
Go to Settings, then Connections, then SIM manager. If you see Add eSIM, your phone supports it.
On a Google Pixel
Go to Settings, then Network & internet, then SIMs, and tap Add SIM. If you’re offered the choice to set up or download an eSIM, your Pixel supports it.
On other Android phones
Look in your SIM or mobile network settings for an option to add an eSIM or download a SIM. The wording varies by brand.
The shortcut: dial *#06#
On many phones, dialling *#06# shows a list of device numbers. If one of them is labelled EID, the phone has an eSIM. It’s quick, but not every phone shows the EID this way, so if it isn’t there, check your settings before you give up.
Check that your phone is unlocked
This is the step people miss. A phone that’s locked to your home carrier can have an eSIM chip and still refuse another provider’s eSIM. Apple puts it plainly: to use two carriers, “your carrier must unlock your iPhone, or both plans must be from the same carrier.”
On an iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then About, and find Carrier Lock. If it says No SIM restrictions, you’re unlocked.
On Android, there’s no single setting that shows it. Phones bought directly from Google, Samsung or another manufacturer are usually unlocked. Phones bought from a carrier, especially on a payment plan, may be locked until they’re paid off. If you’re not sure, ask your carrier, or borrow a friend’s SIM from another network and see if it works.
If your phone is locked, ask your carrier to unlock it well before you travel. Only the carrier can do it, and it can take a few days. In the US, Verizon’s rules changed in 2026: postpaid phones now unlock once they’re paid off or bought outright, and prepaid phones after 365 days of active, paid service.
Seeing an Add eSIM option doesn’t prove your phone is unlocked. Check both.
eSIM compatible iPhones
| iPhone model | eSIM? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XS, XS Max and XR | Yes | One eSIM alongside a physical SIM |
| iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max | Yes | One eSIM alongside a physical SIM |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020) | Yes | Has a SIM tray too |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation, 2022) | Yes | Has a SIM tray too |
| iPhone 12 series | Yes | One eSIM alongside a physical SIM |
| iPhone 13 series | Yes | Can run two eSIMs at once |
| iPhone 14, 15, 16 series and 16e | Yes | eSIM only, no SIM tray, in the US |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 17e | Yes | eSIM only in 13 markets, including the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan |
| iPhone Air | Yes | eSIM only, worldwide |
| iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max | Yes | eSIM only in the same 13 markets |
| iPhone Duo | Yes | eSIM only |
| iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus, 7 and older, SE (1st gen) | No |
The 13 eSIM-only markets for the iPhone 17 and 18 Pro models are the US, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. If you bought your iPhone in one of those places, eSIM is the only way to add a plan, which makes a travel eSIM the obvious choice abroad.
Every iPhone from the 13 onwards can store eight or more eSIMs and use two at the same time.
iPhones from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are the big exception. Most older models sold in mainland China, and certain models sold in Hong Kong and Macao, use two physical SIM cards and have no eSIM. Apple’s newest China models, the iPhone Air, 17e, 18 Pro and Duo, do support eSIM. And if you’re travelling to mainland China, Apple says eSIMs from non-Chinese carriers can’t be installed while you’re there, so install yours before you arrive.
eSIM compatible Samsung Galaxy phones
Samsung’s support varies by model and by the country the phone was sold in, so treat this as a starting point and confirm in your settings.
| Galaxy model | eSIM? |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra | Yes |
| Galaxy S21, S22, S23, S24, S25 and S26, including Plus and Ultra | Yes |
| Galaxy S25 Edge | Yes |
| Galaxy S23 FE, S24 FE, S25 FE and S26 FE | Yes, in many regions |
| Galaxy S20 FE and S21 FE | No |
| Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra | Yes |
| Galaxy Fold, Z Fold2 to Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra, Z TriFold | Yes |
| Galaxy Z Flip, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip3 to Z Flip8 and Z Flip7 FE | Yes |
| Galaxy A54, A35, A36, A56, A37 and A57 | Yes, in most regions |
| Galaxy A16 5G, A17 5G, A26 and A27 | Yes, North American models |
| Galaxy A32, A42, A52, A53, A12, A13, A14, A15, A02 and A03 | No |
The A-series is where most confusion comes from. Budget Galaxy phones mostly use two physical SIM slots, and even models with eSIM in one country may ship without it in another. Samsung’s eSIM support page lists the details by region.
eSIM compatible Google Pixel phones
| Pixel model | eSIM? |
|---|---|
| Pixel 4, 4 XL and 4a, and every Pixel since | Yes |
| Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL | Yes, and eSIM only in the US |
| Pixel 3 and 3 XL | Yes, except models bought from US or Canadian carriers other than Sprint and Google Fi, or in Australia, Taiwan or Japan |
| Pixel 3a and 3a XL | Yes, except models bought with Verizon service or in Japan |
| Pixel 2 and 2 XL | Only with Google Fi |
| Original Pixel | No |
Pixel 7 and later can use two eSIMs at the same time, if your carrier allows it. Outside the US, the Pixel 10 and 11 still have a SIM tray as well as eSIM, and the Pixel 10a, 9a and Fold models keep their SIM tray everywhere.
Other phones
Many other makers support eSIM on their recent flagships, including Motorola’s Razr and Edge phones, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo’s Find series, Sony’s Xperia 1 and 5 and Huawei’s P and Mate lines. Support often depends on the region a phone was sold in, so check your SIM settings using the steps above rather than relying on a list.
iPads and Apple Watch
iPad: Wi-Fi + Cellular models support eSIM, from the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and 12.9-inch (3rd generation), the iPad Air (3rd generation), the iPad (7th generation) and the iPad mini (5th generation) onwards. Recent models like the iPad Pro with M4 and the iPad Air with M2 or later are eSIM only. Wi-Fi-only iPads can’t use an eSIM at all.
Apple Watch: a cellular Apple Watch does use an eSIM, but it has to be on the same carrier as your iPhone. You can’t add a travel data eSIM to an Apple Watch.
Your phone supports eSIM but the travel eSIM won’t install
If you’ve confirmed your phone supports eSIM and the install still fails, it’s usually one of these:
- The phone is carrier-locked. Check Carrier Lock on iPhone, or ask your carrier.
- No internet connection. Installing an eSIM needs Wi-Fi or mobile data. Do it at home before you travel.
- The eSIM was already installed once. Most travel eSIMs can only be installed on one phone, one time. If you deleted it, you’ll need a new one.
- You’re in mainland China with an iPhone, where foreign eSIMs can’t be installed. Install before you arrive.
Using a travel eSIM on your phone
If your phone passed both checks, you’re set. SpendCrypto sells data eSIMs for 202 destinations, paid with Bitcoin, USDT, USDC or other crypto. You check out with an email address and the QR code appears on your order page as soon as the payment confirms. Our step-by-step guides for iPhone and Android cover the install.
You can keep your normal SIM in the phone while you travel. Our guide to eSIM vs physical SIM explains the best way to set up both, and the best eSIM for international travel compares providers and prices.
Common questions
Does the iPhone 11 have eSIM?
Yes. The iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max all support one eSIM alongside a physical SIM card, as long as the phone wasn’t sold in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao.
Does the iPhone 12 have eSIM?
Yes. Every iPhone 12 model supports eSIM, alongside a physical SIM.
Does the iPhone 13 have eSIM?
Yes, and the iPhone 13 was the first iPhone that can run two eSIMs at the same time.
Does the iPhone XR have eSIM?
Yes. The iPhone XR, XS and XS Max were the first iPhones with eSIM.
Does the iPhone SE have eSIM?
The 2nd generation (2020) and 3rd generation (2022) iPhone SE do. The original iPhone SE from 2016 doesn’t.
Does the iPhone 8 or iPhone X have eSIM?
No. The iPhone XS and XR were the first models with eSIM, so the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and older use a physical SIM only.
Does the Samsung Galaxy A54 have eSIM?
Yes, in Europe, North America, Korea and Japan. The Galaxy A32, A52 and A53 don’t have eSIM.
Does the Google Pixel 7 have eSIM?
Yes. Every Pixel from the Pixel 4 onwards supports eSIM, and the Pixel 7 and later can use two eSIMs at once.
Can I use an eSIM on a locked phone?
Only an eSIM from the carrier the phone is locked to. To use a travel eSIM from another provider, the phone has to be unlocked first.
Can I put a travel eSIM on my Apple Watch?
No. An Apple Watch eSIM has to come from the same carrier as your iPhone, so travel data eSIMs aren’t supported.