eSIM Ara

Does my phone support eSIM? How to check (2026)

Last updated: 13 June 2026

Before you buy a travel eSIM, it takes about thirty seconds to confirm your phone can use one. Here is the quick check, the full list of supported phones, and the one setting people most often miss.

The 30-second check

Open your phone's dialer and type *#06#. If a number labelled EID appears (a long string, separate from the IMEI), your phone has an eSIM. No EID means no eSIM support.

You can also look in settings: on iPhone, Settings > General > About and check for an Available SIM or EID entry; on Android, Settings > About phone > SIM status, or just search your settings for “eSIM”.

Phones that support eSIM

Most phones released from 2019 onward support eSIM. The common ones:

  • iPhone: iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, and every model since (11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 series, plus SE 2020 and later). US iPhone 14 and newer are eSIM-only.
  • Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and newer (a few early carrier variants aside).
  • Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy S20 and newer, the Z Flip and Z Fold range, Note 20, and many A-series flagships.
  • Others: recent Motorola, Oppo, Huawei and Sony flagships — confirm with the *#06# check above.

A few regional variants ship without eSIM (notably some phones sold in mainland China and Hong Kong), which is exactly why the dial-code check is the reliable test rather than the model name alone.

The setting people miss: your phone must be unlocked

An eSIM only works on a carrier-unlocked phone. If you bought it outright it is almost certainly unlocked. If it came on a carrier contract or instalment plan, it may stay locked until that is paid off — ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.

Will it replace my normal SIM?

No. An eSIM sits alongside your existing physical SIM or eSIM. Your home number keeps working for calls and texts, while your travel data runs over the eSIM — so no roaming bill and no swapping tiny SIM cards at the airport.

You're compatible — what next?

Pick where you're going and you'll have a QR code by email within minutes:

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Already bought one? See how to install and activate your eSIM.