Is my smartphone eSIM-ready? Checking iPhone, Samsung & Android made easy
Being without internet while traveling has some disadvantages. It makes communicating with locals harder, you can’t access Google Maps, and hotel Wi-Fi may not be reliable. A practical solution is a travel eSIM, which provides mobile network access conveniently. eSIM usage abroad is becoming increasingly popular, but especially older smartphones may not be compatible with this technology.
This article explains exactly how to find out if your smartphone supports eSIM.
Table of Contents
- Is my Samsung phone eSIM compatible?
- Is my iPhone eSIM compatible?
- Is my Android device eSIM compatible?
Is my Samsung phone eSIM compatible?
Main Samsung models with eSIM support
- Galaxy S series: from S20
- Galaxy Z series: from Z Fold/Flip
- Galaxy Note series: from Note 20
- Galaxy A series: from A54 5G
⚠ Important note: Samsung smartphones from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan do not support eSIM.
How to manually check if your Samsung device supports eSIM
Follow these steps to check if your Samsung phone supports eSIM:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Connections > SIM card manager
- If you see Add eSIM, your device supports eSIM
Is my iPhone eSIM compatible?
Apple first released an eSIM-enabled iPhone in 2018 with the iPhone XS. If you have a newer model, it should support eSIM. Devices from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan do not support eSIM.
Does my iPhone have a SIM lock?
If your iPhone has a SIM lock, you cannot use eSIM.
How to check if your iPhone has a SIM lock
- Go to Settings > General > About
- Look for SIM Lock
- If it says No SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked
Is my Android device eSIM compatible?
Whether your Android device supports eSIM cannot be answered universally because many manufacturers modify Android in their own way. A quick check: see if your phone has an EID.
- Dial *#06# and press Call
- If an EID number appears, your device supports eSIM