An eSIM is built into the phone. It is an embedded chip the carrier writes a profile to, so there is no tray and nothing to post or collect.
Definitional
No source needed
Independent · Guide · Last reviewed 01 Jun 2026 · Methodology v1
Which devices support eSIM?
After the device check: how to choose a plan
General device guidance
Direct answer
A device supports a travel eSIM only if it carries eSIM hardware and is not carrier-locked, so the device check is the first thing to settle before buying a plan. Recent iPhone, Pixel, and Galaxy models, plus many newer Android phones, include eSIM. Confirm your own model in its settings before you pay.
This page gives general device guidance, not a per-model registry. Where a brand-specific device figure would sit, it reads "pending verification" rather than a guessed number.
The essentials
Key facts
Five points that hold across brands. They concern your handset, not any one plan, so no brand figure is needed. Where a per-brand device note would belong, the cell reads "pending verification".
Two conditions must both be true: the device has eSIM hardware, and the device is not carrier-locked to a network that blocks other profiles.
Definitional
No source needed
As general knowledge, iPhone XS and later, recent Google Pixel, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z lines carry eSIM. Always confirm your exact model in settings.
General
Check your device
A phone can hold one eSIM and one physical SIM at once, letting your home number stay reachable while a travel eSIM carries data abroad.
Definitional
No source needed
Whether a specific brand's profile installs on a specific model is recorded per brand only once read from a primary source and dated.
Per brand
SourcePending verification
Two-minute check
How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?
You do not need to know your model number. Two checks settle it: a settings path that exposes the eSIM menu, and a dial code that prints the device EID if one exists. If either reveals an EID or an "Add eSIM" option, the hardware is present.
Settings path
- Open
Settings, then tapMobile Data(orCellular). - Look for
Add eSIMorSet Up Cellular. - If that option appears, the device carries eSIM hardware.
As general knowledge, iPhone XS, XR and later include eSIM. Confirm on your own handset.
Settings path
- Open
Settings, thenNetwork & internetorConnections. - Tap
SIMsorSIM manager, thenAdd eSIM. - Wording varies by maker, so search settings for "eSIM" if unsure.
Menu labels differ between Android skins; the presence of an "Add eSIM" entry is the signal.
Dial code
- Open the phone dialler.
- Dial
*#06#. - If an
EID(a long number) appears alongside the IMEI, the device has an eSIM.
No EID shown usually means no eSIM hardware. The dial code reads the device, never a network.
Decision flow
The device check, as a decision tree
Both gates have to pass before a travel eSIM will work. Hardware first, lock second. If either fails, no plan from any brand will activate, which is why this check comes before comparison.
Which phone families support eSIM?
As widely published general knowledge, eSIM is standard on recent flagship lines: iPhone XS, XR and every iPhone since; Google Pixel from the Pixel 3 onward in most markets; and Samsung Galaxy S, Note, and foldable Z models from recent generations. Many other newer Android phones from makers such as Motorola and Sony include it too, though coverage is patchier in the mid-range. Two cautions matter. First, a model sold in one country may ship without eSIM in another, because regional variants differ. Second, US iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only with no physical tray at all. Treat any list as a prompt to check your own handset, not a guarantee. The settings path and dial code above settle the question in under two minutes for the exact device in your hand.
Does a carrier-locked phone block eSIM?
It can. A device locked to the network that sold it may refuse to install a profile from any other provider, including a travel eSIM, even when the eSIM hardware is present and working. The lock is a software restriction tied to your original contract, separate from the hardware question. If the dial code shows an EID but a travel profile will not activate, a carrier lock is the most common cause. The fix is to ask your home network to unlock the device, which they typically do once the contract or device is paid off. Buying outright, or buying an unlocked model, sidesteps this entirely. Because the lock sits between a capable phone and a working plan, confirming unlocked status belongs in the same pre-purchase check as confirming the hardware.
How does dual-SIM work with a travel eSIM?
Most eSIM-capable phones run an eSIM and a physical SIM at the same time, which is the feature that makes travel eSIMs practical. Your home physical SIM stays in the tray to receive calls and texts on your usual number, while the travel eSIM carries mobile data abroad. In settings you nominate which line handles data, so you can keep the home line for messages and route all data over the travel eSIM to avoid roaming charges. Phones differ on how many eSIM profiles they store and how many can be active at once, and the eSIM-only US iPhones run two eSIMs instead of one eSIM plus a tray. The principle is the same: one line for your number, one for data, switched in software with no swapping.
Why a supported device is the first requirement
Coverage, price, speed, and fair-use wording only matter once the eSIM can install at all. If the handset lacks eSIM hardware or is carrier-locked, the best-ranked plan on Simscanner will not activate, and the purchase is wasted. That is why every guide here treats the device check as step zero. Once your phone is confirmed eSIM ready and unlocked, the comparison work begins: which brand covers your destination, on which local networks, and under what fair-use terms. Our scoring categories explain how those judgements are made.
Common questions
Common questions about eSIM compatibility
How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?
Two quick checks settle it. On iPhone, open Settings then Mobile Data and look for "Add eSIM"; on Android, open Settings then SIM manager and look for the same. On any phone, dial *#06# and check for an EID number beside the IMEI. If an EID or an "Add eSIM" option appears, the device carries eSIM hardware. Always confirm on your own handset.
Which phones support eSIM?
As widely published general knowledge, iPhone XS, XR and later, recent Google Pixel from the Pixel 3 onward, and recent Samsung Galaxy S, Note and Z models include eSIM, along with many newer Android phones. Regional variants differ, so a model sold in one country may lack eSIM in another. Treat any list as a prompt to check your exact device in settings rather than a guarantee.
Can a carrier-locked phone use a travel eSIM?
Often not. A device locked to the network that sold it may refuse to install a travel eSIM profile even when the eSIM hardware is present and working. The lock is a software restriction from your original contract, separate from the hardware. Ask your home network to unlock the device, which they usually do once the contract or device is paid off. An unlocked or outright-bought phone avoids the problem.
Can I keep my home number while using a travel eSIM?
Yes, on most eSIM-capable phones. Dual-SIM support lets your home physical SIM stay in the tray to receive calls and texts on your usual number, while the travel eSIM carries mobile data abroad. In settings you nominate the travel eSIM as your data line to avoid roaming charges. The eSIM-only US iPhones run two eSIMs instead of one eSIM plus a tray, but the principle is the same.
Why does a supported device come before choosing a plan?
Because an eSIM can only install on a device with eSIM hardware that is not carrier-locked. If either condition fails, the best-ranked plan will not activate and the purchase is wasted. Confirm the device first, then compare brands on coverage, speed and fair-use terms. Simscanner explains how those judgements are made at /methodology and /how-we-score.