Going eSIM Only: Which Phones and Networks Are Dropping the SIM Card in 2026

Physical SIM cards are being phased out on phones faster than on networks. Apple's iPhone Air and iPhone Duo have no SIM tray anywhere in the world, and US models of recent iPhones and Google Pixels are eSIM only. In the UK, every major network still issues physical SIMs, but almost all now offer eSIM, and new brands such as Monzo Mobile are eSIM only. If your next phone is eSIM only, you can't pop in a local SIM card abroad, so a travel eSIM is how you add local data.

Last checked: 27 October 2026. Phone specs and network policies change often, so check the maker's spec page and your network's own eSIM page before you buy or switch.

What "eSIM only" actually means

An eSIM is a SIM built into the phone. Instead of inserting a plastic card, you download your network's profile by scanning a QR code, using the network's app or letting the phone set itself up. An "eSIM only" phone has no SIM tray at all, so eSIM is the only way to connect it to a mobile network. Our guide to eSIM vs traditional SIM covers the pros and cons in more detail, and our explainer on virtual SIM cards clears up how eSIM differs from apps that give you a "virtual number".

Which phones are eSIM only in 2026?

Only a handful of phones have no SIM tray in every country. Most "eSIM only" models are eSIM only in some markets and keep a nano-SIM slot elsewhere, including the UK.

• iPhone Air and iPhone Duo: eSIM only worldwide, including the UK. Apple's iPhone Air and iPhone Duo spec pages say both are "not compatible with physical SIM cards".
• iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e, 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: eSIM only when bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and a few other countries, according to Apple's SIM type list. UK models keep a nano-SIM slot.
• iPhone 14, 15 and 16 ranges: eSIM only when bought in the US.
• Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL: eSIM only in the US. Google's Pixel tech specs list "Dual SIM (single nano-SIM and eSIM)" for the rest of the world, including the UK.

We could not verify any Samsung Galaxy model that is eSIM only, so we have not listed one. For the full model-by-model table, see our list of eSIM-only phones. For Apple's foldable, read our iPhone Duo eSIM guide, and for background on Apple's strategy see Apple's push for eSIM-only iPhones and our iPhone 17 and iPhone Air launch article.

Are UK networks going eSIM only?

No major UK network has announced that it will stop issuing physical SIM cards. What we found on 27 October 2026:

• EE, O2, Vodafone and Three all offer eSIM and still offer physical SIMs. O2 says "Using an eSIM costs the same as a plastic SIM" (O2 help).
• giffgaff, SMARTY, iD Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, VOXI, Lebara and Lyca Mobile offer eSIM in some form, with different rules for pay monthly and pay as you go. Lebara's help page says new customers can only get an eSIM with an iPhone Air for now.
• Monzo Mobile, the bank's mobile service, sells "eSIM-only plans" to Monzo current account holders (Monzo). ISPreview reported in May 2026 that it runs on O2's network.

Our network-by-network guide, which UK networks support eSIM in 2026, has a full table with official links, swap steps and pay as you go details.

Outside the UK, eSIM-only brands are not new. In November 2021 Norway's Ice launched NiceMobil, saying "We will only use eSIM that you activate via our app" (Ice Group). We found no major network operator anywhere that has stopped issuing physical SIMs to all customers.

Timeline: the move towards eSIM only

Rules and standards behind eSIM

• GSMA specifications: eSIM works across networks and phone makers because of GSMA standards. SGP.22 covers consumer devices such as phones and watches, and SGP.32 covers IoT devices such as trackers and meters, which have no screen to scan a QR code with (GSMA). SGP.32 is not the spec your phone uses.
• iSIM: an integrated SIM builds the SIM into the phone's main chip rather than a separate eSIM chip. It works the same way for you (you still download a profile), but it saves more space. GSMA-certified iSIM has existed since 2023, but we found no phone sold in the UK that advertises it.
• Ofcom switching rules: keeping your number works the same with eSIM. Text PAC to 65075 for a code that keeps your number, or STAC to 75075 if you don't need it, and the new provider must complete the switch within one working day (Ofcom). One Touch Switch is for broadband and landline, not mobile.

We found no UK or EU rule that requires networks or phone makers to go eSIM only. The move is being driven by phone makers.

The downsides and edge cases

Moving to a new phone. With a SIM card you just move the card. With eSIM you transfer the profile or ask your network for a new one. Apple's eSIM Quick Transfer works with Three, EE, O2, Sky Mobile and Vodafone in the UK (Apple). Others, such as giffgaff, do it in their app. Our new iPhone eSIM transfer guide has the steps.

Lost or broken phones. If your phone is lost, you can't take the SIM out and put it in a spare. You need your network to issue a new eSIM, which usually means passing a security check. giffgaff, for example, sends a code by text, and suggests a physical SIM if you can't receive it (giffgaff). If you are abroad with an eSIM-only phone, this is harder, so know your network's process before you travel.

SIM-swap fraud. Criminals who persuade a network to move your number to their device can intercept bank codes. eSIM doesn't remove that risk. Networks add checks, and Three says replacement eSIMs can be blocked for a few days after some account changes (Three). Never share an eSIM QR code or activation code, and read our guide to eSIM scams and fake QR codes.

Older phones, kids' phones and smartwatches. Many older and budget phones have no eSIM, so a hand-me-down phone for a child may need a physical SIM. Cellular smartwatches use eSIM, but not every network supports a watch eSIM. Lebara, for example, says its eSIM can't be used on a smartwatch. Check your devices with our eSIM compatibility guide.

What this means for travellers

The biggest change is abroad. With an eSIM-only phone, you can't buy a local SIM card at the airport and pop it in. To get local data, you add a travel eSIM instead. Most eSIM-only phones store several eSIMs and run two at once, so you can keep your UK number on one line for calls and texts and use the travel eSIM for data on the other.

On 27 October 2026, SimplySIM plans included:

See all regional and global eSIMs. A travel eSIM is data only, so keep your UK SIM or eSIM on for calls and texts and turn off data roaming on it. Check your phone supports eSIM and is network-unlocked with our compatibility checker, then follow our setup guides for iPhone and other devices or Samsung and Pixel.

FAQs

Are physical SIM cards being phased out?

On some phones, yes. The iPhone Air and iPhone Duo have no SIM tray anywhere, and several iPhones and Pixels are eSIM only in the US. UK networks still issue physical SIMs, and UK models of the iPhone 17 and Pixel 11 still have a SIM tray.

Which UK networks are eSIM only?

None of the major networks. EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and their sub-brands still issue physical SIMs. Monzo Mobile is a newer UK service that sells eSIM-only plans.

Which iPhones have no SIM tray in the UK?

The iPhone Air and iPhone Duo. Other current iPhones bought in the UK have a nano-SIM slot as well as eSIM. iPhones bought in the US since the iPhone 14 have no tray.

Can I use a local SIM card abroad with an eSIM-only phone?

No, because there is nowhere to put it. You need an eSIM instead, either from a local network that sells eSIMs or a travel eSIM you install before you go.

Is eSIM only safer than a SIM card?

A thief can't take an eSIM out of your phone and use it elsewhere, which helps. But eSIM doesn't stop SIM-swap fraud, where a criminal tricks your network into moving your number, so keep your network account secure.