Free tool
Does my phone support eSIM?
Check any phone in a couple of seconds. This covers 108 handsets across Apple, Samsung, Google and others — and, more usefully, the two things a plain yes or no leaves out: whether your handset is carrier-locked, and whether the region you bought it in shipped it with the eSIM hardware at all.
Type a model to see whether it takes a travel eSIM — and the two catches a yes/no answer misses.
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Device support changes with new models and regional variants. This is a guide, not a guarantee — the *#06# check above is the definitive test for your exact handset.
The short version
If your phone launched after 2020, it almost certainly supports eSIM. Every iPhone since the XR and XS in 2018, every Samsung Galaxy S since the S20, and every Google Pixel since the Pixel 3 has the hardware. The question is rarely whether the phone can — it is whether anything is standing in the way.
The two things that actually stop people
A carrier lock. This is the one we see most. A locked phone supports eSIM perfectly well and will still refuse to install a travel profile. If you bought the handset on a carrier plan or you are still mid-contract, call them and ask for an unlock before you travel. It is usually free and usually immediate, but it is not something you want to discover at an airport.
Where it was bought. Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and India frequently ship without eSIM hardware even when the identical international model has it. If your phone came from one of those markets, check before you rely on it.
The definitive test
Any list, including this one, can be out of date on a model released last month. The check that cannot be wrong is to dial *#06# on the handset itself. If an EID number appears alongside the IMEI, the phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means no eSIM.
Once you know it works
A travel eSIM installs before you fly and connects the moment you land, which beats paying carrier roaming at $13 to $18 a day on anything longer than a weekend. If you want to compare providers first, our guide for Canadians covers the main ones honestly, including where they beat what we sell — or go straight to plans for Mexico, Japan or Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Does my phone support eSIM?
Almost certainly if it launched after 2020. Every iPhone from the XR and XS (2018) onward supports eSIM, as does every Samsung Galaxy S from the S20 (2020) onward and every Google Pixel from the Pixel 3 (2018). The fastest check on any handset is to dial *#06# — if an EID number appears alongside the IMEI, the phone has eSIM hardware.
Does the iPhone 11 support eSIM?
Yes. The iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max all support one eSIM profile alongside a physical SIM, so a travel plan can run while your usual number keeps handling calls and texts.
Does the iPhone 12 support eSIM?
Yes. The entire iPhone 12 range supports eSIM — one eSIM profile active alongside your physical SIM card. Dual active eSIM arrived with the iPhone 13.
Does the iPhone 13 have eSIM?
Yes, and the iPhone 13 was the first to run two eSIM profiles at the same time. You can keep a travel plan and your Canadian line both active without removing a SIM.
Is the iPhone 17 eSIM only?
In the United States, yes — Apple has shipped US iPhones without a physical SIM tray since the iPhone 14. Canadian and most other international models still include a SIM slot alongside eSIM support.
How many eSIMs can an iPhone hold?
An iPhone can store eight or more eSIM profiles and keep two of them active at once from the iPhone 13 onward. Earlier models from the XR to the 12 hold multiple stored profiles but run one at a time alongside the physical SIM.
Do Samsung Galaxy phones support eSIM?
Yes from the Galaxy S20 (2020) onward, plus every Z Flip and Z Fold, the Note 20 series and selected A-series models including the A35, A54, A55 and A56. One important caveat: units sold in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and India often ship without eSIM hardware even when the international version has it.
Why won't my eSIM install even though my phone supports it?
The usual cause is a carrier lock rather than the hardware. A locked handset supports eSIM and will still refuse a third-party profile. Contact your carrier and ask them to unlock it — it is normally free and takes minutes. Also confirm you are on Wi-Fi during installation.
How do I move an eSIM to a new phone?
On recent iPhones, Quick Transfer moves an eSIM between devices during setup or from Settings, without contacting the carrier. Otherwise you delete the profile on the old phone and reinstall it on the new one using the original QR code, which is why keeping that email matters. Travel eSIMs are generally tied to the device they were installed on, so check with the provider before wiping the old handset.
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