Does My Phone Support eSIM? Check iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel

Many recent iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and Google Pixel phones support eSIM, but it depends on your exact model, your region and whether the phone is carrier locked. Apple lists iPhone XS and later, Samsung publishes its own model list, and Google names Pixel 7 or later for some eSIM features. Here is how to confirm yours before you buy a travel plan.

What the manufacturers say about eSIM support

An eSIM is a SIM built into the phone, so there is no card to insert. For travel it means you can add a data plan from another provider without finding a shop or swapping a card. Each brand publishes its own rules, and they differ in detail.

For iPhone, Apple says you need an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later and a carrier or worldwide service provider that supports eSIM. (source: Apple eSIM setup guide)

Apple also notes that iPhone models sold in some places work differently. In China mainland only certain recent models support eSIM, and in Hong Kong and Macao certain models have Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards. (source: Apple Dual SIM guide)

Samsung's Australian support page lists supported Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S20 to S26 series, Z Fold and Z Flip models, Galaxy Note20, and Galaxy A36 5G, A55 5G and A56 5G. That page is written for Australian variants, so a phone bought elsewhere can differ. (source: Samsung eSIM compatibility list)

Google's eSIM page says you can use two eSIM profiles at once with a Pixel 7 or later phone, if your carrier allows it. The Pixel pages I opened do not give one full list of models, so check Google's pages for your exact phone. (source: Google Pixel eSIM overview)

How to check your phone, brand by brand

Menu names can vary by model and software version, so treat the paths below as a guide.

iPhone

1. Find your model name in the About section of your settings (the label can vary) and compare it with Apple's list of iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later.
2. Open Settings > Cellular. Apple's eSIM steps start from this screen with Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM, and Apple says to connect to a Wi-Fi network or hotspot first.
3. After you add a travel plan, open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data and tap the travel eSIM number so it is the line used for mobile data. Apple also words the first screen as Mobile Data in some versions.
4. If your iPhone came from a carrier, ask that carrier whether it is unlocked.

The Cellular, Set Up Cellular and Wi-Fi steps come from Apple's eSIM page. (source: Apple eSIM setup guide)

The Cellular Data step comes from Apple's Dual SIM page. (source: Apple Dual SIM guide)

Apple says that to use two carriers, your carrier must unlock your iPhone, or both plans must be from the same carrier. (source: Apple Dual SIM guide)

Apple's page also says iPhone 13 models and later support Dual SIM with two eSIMs, and that your iPhone can use one cellular data network at a time. (source: Apple Dual SIM guide)

Samsung Galaxy phones

1. Find your model name in the About section of your settings (the label can vary).
2. Check it against the list on Samsung's support site for your country. On its Australian site, Samsung describes opening the Spec page for your device, then Network/Bearer, and looking for Embedded-SIM under SIM Size.
3. Open Settings > Connections > SIM manager and look for Add eSIM. To install a travel plan, tap Add eSIM, then Scan QR code, then restart the phone to apply the profile.
4. In the same SIM manager screen, Samsung's Primary SIM option sets the default line for calls, texts and data. Choose the travel eSIM for mobile data, and the label can vary by model.

Samsung's US page gives the path Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM for scanning a carrier QR code. It adds that screens and settings may vary by provider, software version and device model. (source: Samsung SIM card support page)

Samsung also warns that some carriers may not yet support the eSIM features of a Galaxy device, so a phone with the hardware can still be limited by the carrier. (source: Samsung SIM card support page)

Google Pixel phones

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > SIMs.
2. Tap Add SIM and look for Set up an eSIM, then follow the instructions on the screen.
3. During first-time phone setup, the matching option is Download SIM.
4. Then pick the travel eSIM as your mobile data line in the same SIMs settings. The Pixel pages I read do not give that menu path, so the label can vary.

Those are the steps on Google's eSIM setup page, which adds that details can differ slightly depending on your carrier. It also says to contact your carrier to check eSIM support if you did not buy the phone from them. (source: Google Pixel new eSIM setup)

Google also states that phones in the US with the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL model do not use physical SIMs and are eSIM-only. (source: Google Pixel eSIM overview)

Converting a physical SIM to an eSIM on the same Pixel needs a Pixel 7 or later device and a Wi-Fi connection, and the physical SIM stops working afterwards. This is not needed for a travel eSIM. (source: Google Pixel SIM conversion guide)

Locked phones, regional limits and what to ask

Hardware support is only half of the answer. Three other things decide whether a travel eSIM will work, and none of them is visible on the phone's spec sheet.

• Carrier lock. Whether a locked phone accepts a plan from another provider varies by carrier. Apple's page mentions unlocking for iPhone, so ask your carrier to confirm before you travel.
• Region of purchase. Apple and Samsung both describe regional differences, so a phone bought in another country may behave differently from the model in a list.
• Software and carrier support. Menu names change with updates, and Samsung says some carriers may not yet support the eSIM capabilities of a Galaxy device.

If you plan to keep your home number active while you travel, read how calls and fees work first (guide: Wi-Fi Calling explained).

Once you have confirmed your phone supports eSIM, the next step is installing and switching on the plan at the right moment (guide: How to activate your travel eSIM when you land).

With eSIMtime you don't need a QR code. After you buy, the assistant sends an installation link in the WhatsApp or Telegram chat. Tap the link, then tap Install now on the page that opens, and your phone starts installing the eSIM, with no QR code to scan. Follow your phone's prompts to finish. If you prefer, the assistant can also give you a QR code or a manual activation code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all new phones support eSIM?

Not always. Support depends on the exact model and region, as Apple's regional notes and Samsung's model list show. Check your phone against the manufacturer's page for your country.

Can I use a travel eSIM on a carrier-locked phone?

It varies by carrier. Apple says to use two carriers an iPhone must be unlocked by the carrier, unless both plans are from the same carrier. I found no equivalent statement for Samsung or Pixel, so ask your carrier before you travel.

Can I keep my physical SIM and add an eSIM?

On iPhone, Apple says you can use Dual SIM with a physical SIM and an eSIM. Samsung says an eSIM can be used alongside a physical SIM. Check your model for the details.

Can my phone use two eSIMs at once?

It depends on the model. Apple says iPhone 13 models and later support Dual SIM with two eSIMs, and Google says Pixel 7 or later phones can use two eSIM profiles at once if the carrier allows it. Samsung's pages I read do not say, so check your model. An iPhone uses one cellular data network at a time.

Get connected with eSIMtime

eSIMtime is an eSIM provider that works entirely through chat, and it has been selling eSIMs through WhatsApp and Telegram since 2024. You can buy, install and manage your eSIM by chatting with its assistant, with no website or app needed. The assistant finds the right plan for your destination and trip length, takes the payment, sends an installation link that installs the eSIM in a couple of taps, with no QR code to scan, and answers questions or checks your remaining data 24/7.

Start a chat with the assistant:

• WhatsApp
• Telegram

Prefer the website? Useful pages:

• All eSIM plans
• Installation sheets
• Frequently asked questions

Cover photo by ClickerHappy (Pixabay)