The single most common reason an eSIM purchase goes wrong isn’t the eSIM itself — it’s a device that turns out not to support it, or a regional variant that looks identical to a supported model but isn’t. This takes two minutes to check properly, and it saves a wasted purchase.
Check your phone in 10 seconds
Three ways, in order of speed:
- Dial *#06# on any phone. If an EID (Embedded Identity Document) number appears alongside your IMEI, your device supports eSIM. This works on both iPhone and Android.
- iPhone: Settings → General → About — look for an EID field. Or Settings → Cellular → look for “Add eSIM.”
- Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (Pixel) or Settings → Connections → SIM Manager (Samsung) — look for “Add eSIM” or “Download a SIM instead.”
iPhone compatibility
| Models | eSIM status |
|---|---|
| iPhone XR, XS, XS Max and every model since | eSIM supported |
| iPhone X, iPhone 8 and earlier | Not supported |
| iPhone 14 – 17 (US-market models) | eSIM-only, no physical SIM tray at all |
| iPhone Air | Apple’s first globally eSIM-only iPhone (all markets) |
| iPhone 13 and later | Support two eSIMs active at once (dual eSIM), and can store up to 8 eSIM profiles — US-market iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only with no physical tray, so both active SIMs are eSIMs |
Important regional exception: iPhones purchased in mainland China do not support eSIM at all (with a few specific exceptions: iPhone 13 mini, 12 mini, SE 2020, and XS). Hong Kong and Macau models are also generally not eSIM-compatible. If your phone was purchased or intended for one of these markets, verify with the *#06# check before assuming compatibility from the model name alone.
Samsung Galaxy compatibility
| Series | eSIM status |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S20 and every S-series model since | Supported |
| Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip (all generations) | Supported |
| Galaxy Note 20 series | Supported |
| Select A-series (A35, A54, A55, A56) | Supported — but eSIM support on Samsung’s A-series varies significantly by region and carrier, always verify with *#06# |
| Galaxy S10 and earlier | Not supported |
Samsung devices sold in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and some US carrier-locked units may lack eSIM even where the same global model supports it — this is the single most commonly reported compatibility surprise, so check your specific unit rather than assuming from the model name.
Other brands
| Brand | eSIM status |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Every Pixel from the Pixel 2/3 onward supports eSIM — Google was one of the earliest adopters |
| Xiaomi | Global/international versions of the 12, 13, 14, 15 series support eSIM; mainland China versions typically do not |
| Huawei | Some models (P40, Mate 40 Pro) have eSIM hardware, but real-world compatibility is inconsistent due to ongoing restrictions affecting parts of the ecosystem — verify before relying on it |
| Motorola | Razr 2019 onward and several G/Edge-series models support eSIM |
| OnePlus | OnePlus 11, 12, and 13 support eSIM |
The mistake that causes most failed activations
Even a fully eSIM-compatible phone will refuse to activate a new eSIM if it’s carrier-locked to a different network. If you bought your phone directly from Apple, Samsung, or Google’s own store, it’s almost always unlocked. If you bought it through a carrier contract, confirm it’s unlocked before assuming an eSIM will work — your existing carrier can usually unlock it on request once your contract terms allow it.
Bottom line
If your phone is from 2020 or later and you bought it as an international/global/unlocked model, the odds are strongly in your favor. The exceptions worth double-checking are: phones from before 2020, any device bought in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and any phone still locked to a specific carrier. The *#06# check takes ten seconds and removes all the guesswork.
How many eSIM profiles can your phone actually hold?
| Device category | Typical profile limits |
|---|---|
| iPhone 13 and later | Up to 8 stored eSIM profiles, with 2 active simultaneously on dual-eSIM models |
| iPhone XR – 12 series | 1 active eSIM alongside 1 physical SIM |
| Most Samsung and Pixel models | Typically 1 active eSIM at a time alongside 1 physical SIM slot; several stored profiles, but usually only one active |
This matters in practice if you’re the kind of driver who wants a separate eSIM profile per major route or region rather than one continuous plan — most modern phones can store several profiles and let you switch which one is active without re-scanning a QR code each time, provided you haven’t deleted the profile from the device.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move an eSIM to a new phone the way I’d move a physical SIM?
Not directly. An eSIM profile is tied to the device it was installed on. If you get a new phone, you generally need to remove the eSIM from the old device first (or have it removed via your provider) before it can be reinstalled on the new one — it isn’t a simple “pop the card out and put it in a new phone” swap.
My phone model is on the compatibility list, but the option isn’t showing in Settings. What’s wrong?
The most common cause is a regional or carrier-specific variant of the same model name lacking eSIM hardware or having it disabled, particularly for phones purchased in the US, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, or through certain carrier contracts. The *#06# EID check is the definitive test — if no EID appears, the specific unit you own doesn’t support eSIM regardless of what the general model name suggests.
Do I need a data plan on my physical SIM slot as well as the eSIM?
No — a common setup is keeping your physical home SIM active for calls and SMS on your regular number, while routing mobile data through the eSIM. Your phone’s settings let you choose which SIM handles data specifically.