Before you buy
Does my phone support eSIM? Check in a minute
Dial *#06# and look for an EID, then check the phone is not locked to a carrier. Which iPhones and Androids take an eSIM, and the catches (phones from mainland China, locked phones).
Updated 2026-11-14
The one-minute check
Two things have to be true: the phone has an eSIM chip, and it is not locked to your carrier. Check both before you buy; we would rather sell you an eSIM that works.
- Open the phone app and dial *#06#. If a line labelled EID appears (a long number, 32 digits), the phone has an eSIM. Only IMEI numbers and no EID usually means no eSIM.
- iPhone: Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. “No SIM restrictions” means unlocked. Android: try a friend’s SIM from another carrier, or ask your carrier.
- iPhone only: check Settings → General → About for the iOS version. iOS 17.4 or later installs our eSIM in one tap; older versions use the QR code, which works just as well.
Which phones take an eSIM
iPhone: every model from the XS, XS Max and XR (2018) onwards. iPhones sold in mainland China generally do not have eSIM; they use two physical SIM slots instead.
Android: most recent flagships do, including Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 3 onwards and Samsung Galaxy phones from the S20 onwards, plus the Z Fold and Z Flip. Regional and carrier versions vary, so trust the *#06# check over any list, ours included.
Tablets and watches are a different story: our plans are for phones (and anything that can take a phone eSIM by QR code, such as many iPads with mobile data).
If your phone is locked
A phone bought outright is normally unlocked. A phone that came with a plan may be locked to that carrier, and a locked phone refuses every other carrier’s eSIM, ours included. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel; it is far easier from home than from an airport.
Questions
How do I know if my phone has eSIM?
Dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, it has an eSIM. Then make sure the phone is not locked to a carrier.
Do iPhones from China support eSIM?
Generally no. iPhones sold in mainland China use two physical SIM slots instead of an eSIM.
Can I use an eSIM on a locked phone?
No. A carrier-locked phone only accepts that carrier’s SIMs and eSIMs. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you go.
Do I need iOS 17.4?
Only for the one-tap install. On older versions you scan the QR code instead, and the eSIM works the same.