Live browser detection, the exact settings path for every major brand, and the *#06# hardware test — plus the edge cases that trip people up after they buy.
Live detection
We read your OS, browser, and form factor to tailor the guidance below.
Definitive manual check
Per-platform settings paths, including the menu names each Android maker uses.
Hardware proof
Dial *#06# to see whether your handset reports an EID — the eSIM chip ID.
Edge cases covered
Carrier locks, China-market variants, and managed work phones that block profiles.
No website can read your SIM hardware directly. These are signals, not proof — the settings check below is the one that settles it.
Browser signals
Heuristics, not hardware access
Browser signals only mean something on a phone or tablet. Open this page on the device you plan to travel with, or jump straight to the manual check.
Three separate things have to line up. Knowing which one failed tells you whether there is a fix.
The eUICC is soldered onto the board at manufacture. It cannot be added later by a software update, a case, or an adapter.
When it fails: The phone has no eSIM menu at all and reports no EID. There is no workaround — you need different hardware.
iOS 12.1+ and Android 9+ expose the LPA — the local profile assistant that talks to the provisioning server and installs the profile.
When it fails: Chip present but no download UI. Update the OS first; on old Android builds the feature may never have shipped.
A locked device only accepts profiles from the network that sold it, even though the menus look completely normal.
When it fails: Installation fails with a generic error, or the profile installs but shows "No service". Ask your carrier to unlock.
You get an activation code
The QR encodes an LPA string: the address of the provisioning server plus a one-time matching ID.
Your phone calls the server
The LPA on your device contacts that SM-DP+ server over Wi-Fi or mobile data and presents the code.
The profile downloads
An encrypted carrier profile is written to the eUICC. This is the moment that needs an internet connection.
You enable the line
The profile appears as a second line. Turn it on, set it as your data line, and enable roaming if prompted.
This is the authoritative test. Pick your platform — the tab defaults to whatever you are reading this on.
Every iPhone from the XS, XR and second-generation SE onward has eSIM hardware. The iPhone 14 and later sold in the United States have no physical SIM tray at all.
On iOS 17 and later the wording is "Add eSIM". Older releases say "Add Cellular Plan".
What success looks like
You reach a screen offering to scan a QR code or enter details manually. That confirms both the chip and OS support.
If the option is missing
No Add eSIM entry on an iPhone XS or newer almost always means a carrier lock or a mainland-China model. Check Settings → General → About for an EID line.
Also worth knowing
Three numbers that get confused constantly. Only one of them proves you have eSIM hardware.
The eUICC Identifier — the serial number of the embedded SIM chip itself. If your device reports one, it has eSIM hardware.
iPhone: Settings → General → About. Android: Settings → About phone → SIM status. Or dial *#06#.
Identifies the handset on mobile networks. Carriers use it to confirm a device is unlocked and not blocklisted.
Dial *#06#, or find it in Settings → About. It is also printed on the original box.
Identifies an individual SIM profile rather than the chip. Each eSIM you install has its own ICCID — useful when support needs to trace one specific line.
After installation: Settings → Cellular, tap the travel line, then look under its details.
Every one of these has to be true. Miss one and the install fails, usually with an unhelpful error.
Built-in eSIM hardware
An eUICC chip soldered to the board. Flagships from 2018 onward almost always have one; budget models often do not.
Carrier-unlocked device
Free to accept profiles from any network. Phones bought outright are usually unlocked; contract and instalment phones frequently are not.
iOS 12.1+ or Android 9+
Earlier releases lack the download flow entirely. In practice iOS 16+ and Android 12+ give a noticeably smoother install.
4G LTE or 5G support
Travel eSIMs run over LTE and 5G. A device limited to 3G will not connect on networks that have retired those bands.
Wi-Fi at install time
Downloading a profile needs internet. Install before you fly, or on airport Wi-Fi — not after you have already lost signal.
A free profile slot
Phones store a limited number of profiles (often 5–10). Delete eSIMs from past trips if the install fails with a storage error.
A model that is missing here is not necessarily unsupported — the settings check above beats any list.
130 models listed
36 models
Mainland-China iPhone models use dual physical SIM and have eSIM disabled. Hong Kong and Macau models vary by generation.
36 models
Regional variants matter: some Galaxy units sold in Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia ship without eSIM despite an identical model name.
27 models
Pixels have the broadest and most consistent eSIM support of any Android line — the feature is standard across regions.
31 models
Support in this group is the least predictable. Confirm with the settings check rather than the model name alone.
Cellular iPads and 5G/LTE Galaxy Tabs take eSIMs and are great for long trips. Wi-Fi-only models never will — the modem simply isn't there.
Cellular models only
Business ultrabooks with an optional WWAN card (Surface LTE/5G, ThinkPad X1, Latitude, EliteBook) support eSIM. Consumer laptops and every Mac do not.
Rare — check for a WWAN card
Cellular watches use eSIM, but their profiles come from your home carrier as a plan add-on. Portable 4G/5G hotspots are the better travel companion.
Not suitable for travel eSIMs
Four situations where a supported phone still refuses to install a profile — and how to spot each one before you pay.
iPhones sold in mainland China ship with two physical SIM trays and eSIM disabled at the hardware level. Several Android makers do the same for that market.
How to check: Look at the model number in Settings → General → About. Chinese iPhone models end in CH/A; there is no EID line.
Phones bought on a contract or instalment plan are often locked until the balance is cleared, and some ship with the eSIM download flow disabled by the carrier.
How to check: iPhone: Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. Android: insert another network's SIM, or call your carrier with the IMEI.
MDM software can block adding cellular plans entirely. The menu may be greyed out or missing even on brand-new, fully unlocked hardware.
How to check: iPhone: Settings → General → VPN & Device Management. Android: Settings → Security → Device admin apps.
Identical model names can ship with different silicon by region. Samsung in particular has released eSIM-less variants of eSIM-capable flagships in some markets.
How to check: Find the full model code (e.g. SM-S928B) in Settings → About phone, then check that exact code — not just the marketing name.
From checkout to your first data session abroad, with the tip that saves each step.
01
Pick a destination and data allowance, then check out securely.
Buy a day or two before departure so you have time to install calmly.
02
Your QR code and activation details arrive by email within moments.
Save the email offline or screenshot the QR — you may need it without data.
03
Scan the QR in your phone settings to write the profile to your device.
Do this on Wi-Fi at home. Label the line "Travel" so it is easy to find.
04
Switch the travel line on, set it as your data line, and enable data roaming.
Turn off data on your home line first to avoid accidental roaming charges.
Matched by symptom, with the underlying cause and the fixes worth trying in order.
Usually because: Either the device has no eSIM chip, the OS is too old, or a carrier lock / MDM policy is hiding the flow.
Usually because: A blurry screenshot, poor lighting, or a code that has already been installed once.
Usually because: An interrupted connection to the provisioning server, or no free profile slot left on the device.
Usually because: The line is off, roaming is disabled, or you have not arrived in the coverage area yet.
Usually because: The wrong line is set as the data line, or the APN is not configured.
Usually because: Both lines stay active by default, so your home SIM can still register abroad.
The acronyms that appear in settings menus, activation emails, and support threads.
Everything travelers ask before buying their first eSIM — and a few things they only ask afterwards.
Three quick tests, in order of speed: dial *#06# and look for an EID line, open your settings and look for "Add eSIM" or "Add Cellular Plan", or find your model in the device list above. Most flagship phones released since 2018 include eSIM hardware.
Yes. A carrier-locked device rejects profiles from any network other than the one that sold it, even though the eSIM menu still appears normally. If you bought your phone on contract or an instalment plan, ask your carrier to unlock it — most do so free once the balance is paid.
On most modern phones, yes. Dual SIM keeps your home number active for calls and texts on the physical SIM while the travel eSIM handles data. Set the eSIM as your data line and turn data roaming off on the home line to avoid unexpected charges.
Travel eSIMs are usually data-only, so there is no number for voice calls or SMS. Keep your home SIM active to receive verification codes, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or similar apps over data for calls.
The three usual causes are a carrier lock, a regional model variant sold without the chip, or an MDM profile on a work-managed device. Dial *#06# — if no EID appears, the hardware genuinely is not there and no setting will change that.
No. Mainland-China iPhone models ship with two physical SIM trays and eSIM disabled at the hardware level, and they show no EID. Hong Kong and Macau models vary by generation, so check the EID before buying a plan.
Cellular iPads and 5G/LTE Android tablets generally do; Wi-Fi-only models never will. Among laptops, only business machines with an optional WWAN card — Surface LTE/5G, ThinkPad X1, Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook — qualify. No Mac has cellular hardware, so tether from your phone instead.
Install it at home on Wi-Fi, one or two days before you travel. Downloading a profile requires an internet connection, which is exactly what you will not have when you land. Then simply enable the line and data roaming on arrival.
Installing and activating are separate. For most travel plans the validity period begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in the destination, not at installation — check your plan details, as this varies by provider.
Typically between five and ten profiles, though only one or two can be active at a time. iPhone 13 and later can run two eSIMs simultaneously. If an install fails with a storage error, delete profiles from past trips.
Usually not. Most travel profiles are tied to the device that downloaded them, and QR codes are single-use. Some newer iPhones and Android phones support eSIM transfer during device setup, but do not rely on it — install on the phone you will actually travel with.
The profile stays on your device but stops carrying data. Many plans can be topped up and reused for a later trip; if not, delete the profile to free a slot before installing a new one.
Choose your country, compare prepaid data plans, and install before you fly.