Is my phone eSIM compatible?

You’ll be able to use a travel eSIM on most newer mid-high end range phones. However, to be absolutely sure, you’ll want to run our eSIM compatibility check, starting by verifying that your phone has the following three key features.

1. eSIM compatible

Naturally to use an eSIM, your phone needs to be eSIM compatible. Fortunately we’ve put together a list of eSIM compatible phones below to help you check quickly. Still, if you want to confirm manually, here’s what you need to do:

eSIM for iPhone Users:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. Select “Mobile Service”, “Mobile Data” or “Cellular”. The terminology might vary depending on your region.
3. Look for an option to “Add eSIM”. If you find it, your iPhone is set for eSIM.

eSIM for Android users:

1. Go to “Settings”.
2. For Samsung Galaxy users, head to “SIM manager”; Google Pixel users should go to “Network & Internet”.
3. Look for “Add eSIM” on Samsung or a “+” sign on Google Pixel. If these options are available, your Android device supports eSIM.

2. Dual SIM compatible

Having a phone that supports Dual SIM is a big plus as it allows you to use two different plans and numbers on the same device. For example, when we went to Thailand, we got an affordable data plan from an eSIM, but kept our regular UK SIM card for calls and SMS texts.

Let’s look into steps to check the Dual SIM capabilities and configurations for both iOS and Android devices.

Dual SIM on iPhone

1. Open the “Settings” on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Mobile Service”, “Mobile Data” or “Cellular”.
3. Check for Dual SIM options: If your iPhone supports Dual SIM, you will see two separate sections; each of them correspond to a different line or number. You can see this setup in the image below, where “Mobile Data” corresponds to our Thailand Airalo eSIM, while the “Default Voice Line” is set to use Giffgaff service, a mobile network in the UK.

Keep in Mind:

• Physical SIM and eSIM: On Dual SIM iPhones, one line is designated for the physical SIM card, while the other is for the digital eSIM.
• Model Check: Dual SIM functionality (including eSIM) is available from the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and later models. If you’re not seeing any options to add or manage a second line, it might be because your iPhone doesn’t support it, or perhaps the feature isn’t activated by your carrier.

Dual SIM on Android

1. Open the “Settings” on your phone.
2. Look for options such as “SIM cards”, “SIM & network”, “Network & internet” or “Connections”. This can vary based on the brand and version of Android.

• On Samsung Galaxy phones, you might find these under “Connections” > “SIM card manager”. 
• On Google Pixel phones, it might be under “Network & Internet” > “Mobile Network” > “Advanced”.

3. Check the two tabs or sections, each representing a SIM slot. In this section, you can set preferences for data, calls and SMS messages for each SIM.

Keep in mind:

• Explore SIM Settings: For phones with eSIM capability, there might be an option labeled “eSIM” or “Add Digital SIM”.
• Manual Checking: If you’re unsure about your device’s Dual SIM or eSIM capabilities, you can consult your phone’s user manual or the manufacturer’s support website for specific instructions.
• Model Check: The availability and method of adding and managing eSIMs can depend on the phone model and the version of the Android operating system it’s running. If you’re unable to find these settings, or if the options aren’t available, it’s possible that your device does not support Dual SIM or eSIM functionality.

3. Unlocked

Remember that in order to use eSIMs from different carriers to your own, your phone must be unlocked, meaning that your carrier has not blocked you from using it on other networks. Checking if your phone is unlocked is simple. To find out, just follow these steps:

For iPhone users:

1. Head to “Settings”.
2. Tap on “General”.
3. Go to “About”.
4. Scroll to find “Carrier Lock” or “Network Provider Lock”. If it says “No SIM restrictions”, your phone is unlocked and you’re ready to go!

For Android users:

The process is similar for Android, but slightly more manual. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open “Settings”.
2. Go to “Connections”.
3. Tap on “Mobile Networks”.
4. Look for an option like “Choose Network” or something similar, which allows you to manually search for networks. If you can see networks other than your own, then your phone is unlocked.

What phones support eSIM?: The list

Let’s run you through a list of the most popular phones that are eSIM compatible, as well as any additional information that might be useful. Keep in mind that not all manufacturers are always are always transparent about which of their models support eSIM. So, while our research suggests these phones are eSIM-ready, it’s always a good idea to double-check with your phone’s manufacturer just to be extra sure.