Before buying a plan, there's really one question that matters: does my phone support eSIM? The answer depends on two things — hardware and carrier lock — and you can verify both yourself in a couple of minutes.
What is an eSIM, and how is it different from a physical SIM
An eSIM is a SIM chip built into your phone that can't be removed. Instead of inserting a physical card, you download a profile the carrier sends you, typically via a QR code. It runs alongside your physical SIM as a second line on the same phone.
Which phones generally support it
Roughly speaking, most mid-to-high-end and flagship smartphones released after 2018 support eSIM: recent iPhone generations, the Samsung Galaxy S/Note/Fold lines, Google Pixel models, and many other manufacturers' flagship devices. Support is more variable on budget/entry-level models.
Model lists change often and vary by region, so rather than giving you a fixed list here, we recommend the on-phone check below — it takes seconds and gives you the one answer that actually matters.
The carrier-lock trap
Even if a phone supports eSIM in hardware, in some markets (for example carrier-sold models in the US or Japan) a carrier lock can block adding an eSIM. In that case the phone shows as "restricted," and another carrier's profile cannot be loaded. This is a software restriction, not a hardware limitation — and the check below reveals it.
Definitive check on your phone
- Search Settings for EID. If it shows up, your phone has eSIM hardware.
- Under Cellular / Mobile Network, look for "Add eSIM."
- Confirm the carrier lock says "No restrictions." If you see a restriction, your current carrier needs to remove it.
These three steps give you a definitive answer straight from your phone, no external source needed.
Quick check before you buy
Just enter your model — our compatibility checker gives you a general steer, and you confirm the final answer with the "Add eSIM" menu on your own phone.
In short
- eSIM support depends on hardware and carrier lock.
- Trust EID + "Add eSIM" + lock status over any model list.
- If you see a restriction, contact your current carrier.
- Not sure? Try the compatibility checker first.