Is My Phone Compatible With eSIM? A Complete 2026 Guide for Travellers

Your phone is compatible with eSIM if it has eSIM hardware and is network-unlocked: almost every iPhone from the XR onwards, every Google Pixel from the Pixel 4 onwards and Samsung Galaxy S20 and later flagships qualify, and the quickest check is to dial *#06# and look for an EID number.

Last checked: 15 October 2026

This guide explains how to check your own phone in under a minute, lists the main eSIM phones on sale in 2026 (including the iPhone 17 range, iPhone Air, Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 and S26), and shows how to confirm your phone is unlocked in the UK. To look up your exact model, use the SimplySIM device compatibility checker.

What does eSIM compatibility mean?

An eSIM is a SIM chip built into the phone. Instead of inserting a card, you download a mobile plan to it. For a travel eSIM to work, three things must be true:

• The model supports eSIM. Most phones from about 2018 onwards do, but not all budget models.
• The regional version supports it. Some phones sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and a few other markets have eSIM disabled or missing.
• The phone is network-unlocked. A phone locked to one network may refuse another provider's eSIM.

How to check if your phone supports eSIM

Method 1: dial *#06#

Open the phone app and dial *#06#. If the screen shows an EID (a long 32-digit number) as well as your IMEI, your phone has eSIM hardware. If there is no EID, the phone, or that regional version of it, almost certainly does not support eSIM.

Method 2: check your settings on iPhone

• Open Settings and tap Mobile Service (called Mobile Data on older iOS versions).
• If you see Add eSIM, your iPhone supports eSIM.
• You can also find the EID under Settings, General, About.

Method 3: check your settings on Android

• Samsung: Settings, Connections, SIM manager. Look for Add eSIM.
• Google Pixel: Settings, Network and internet, SIMs. Look for Download a SIM instead or Add eSIM.
• Other brands: search Settings for "eSIM".

Method 4: use our checker

The compatibility checker lists the models our eSIMs work on, with any notes about regional versions.

eSIM compatible phones in 2026

This table covers the most popular phones in the UK. Support can differ by the country a phone was bought in, so if yours came from abroad, check with method 1 above.

Sources: Apple's guide to which SIM your iPhone uses, Google's Pixel SIM and eSIM help and Samsung UK's list of eSIM devices. Apple has also announced the iPhone Duo, which it says is eSIM-only worldwide.

eSIM-only phones and phones bought abroad

The iPhone Air has no SIM tray anywhere. The iPhone 17 and 18 Pro ranges are eSIM-only when bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan and several Gulf states, but UK versions keep a nano-SIM tray. Pixel 10 and 11 phones bought in the US are also eSIM-only. If you have an eSIM-only phone, a travel eSIM is the only way to add a local data plan abroad, because you cannot insert a local SIM card. Our article on the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air has more.

Phones bought in mainland China usually take two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. Apple lists only a few recent models, including the iPhone Air, 17e and 18 Pro, as supporting eSIM there.

How to check your phone is unlocked in the UK

Ofcom banned UK networks from selling locked phones from 17 December 2021. Phones bought new from a UK network since then should be unlocked. Older phones, and phones bought abroad or second-hand, may still be locked. See Ofcom's announcement: mobile companies banned from selling locked handsets.

On an iPhone

• Go to Settings, General, About.
• Find Carrier Lock (on newer iOS versions it may say Network Provider Lock).
• "No SIM restrictions" means your iPhone is unlocked. Apple explains this on its unlocking page.

On Android

There is no single menu for every phone. The simplest test is to borrow a SIM from a different network: if the phone shows "SIM not supported" or "Invalid SIM", it is locked. You can also ask the network the phone came from, giving them the IMEI (dial *#06# to find it).

Getting a phone unlocked

Only the network that locked the phone can unlock it. Ask through its app, website or customer services. Unlocking usually takes from a few hours to a few days, so do it well before you travel. Most networks unlock phones that are out of contract free of charge, but check with yours.

How many eSIMs can my phone hold?

• iPhone: Apple says eight or more eSIMs can be stored, with two active at once (iPhone 13 and later can use two eSIMs together).
• Google Pixel: several eSIMs can be stored. Pixel 7 and later can use two eSIMs at once.
• Samsung Galaxy: several eSIMs can be stored, with up to two lines active at once on recent models.

For travel, that means you can keep your UK SIM active for calls and texts and use a travel eSIM for data. Our dual SIM settings guide explains how to set it up.

What if my phone does not support eSIM?

• Use your UK network's roaming, and check the price first in our guide to UK roaming charges in 2026.
• Buy a local physical SIM at your destination (in some countries this means registering your passport or your phone).
• Use a pocket Wi-Fi device. We compare the options in eSIM vs pocket Wi-Fi vs local SIM.
• Use Wi-Fi only.

If your phone is compatible and unlocked, you can browse SimplySIM travel eSIMs for more than 190 countries from our homepage. For setup help, see eSIM setup on Samsung and Pixel.

FAQs

How do I know if my phone has eSIM?

Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone has eSIM. You can also look for an Add eSIM option in your mobile or SIM settings.

Does the iPhone 17 have a SIM card slot in the UK?

Yes. UK versions of the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and 17e have a nano-SIM tray as well as eSIM. The iPhone Air is eSIM-only in every country.

Do the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 support eSIM?

Yes. UK versions of the Pixel 10 range and the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra support eSIM alongside a physical SIM.

Does my phone need to be unlocked for a travel eSIM?

Yes. A phone locked to a network may reject another provider's eSIM. On an iPhone, check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock for "No SIM restrictions".

Can I use a travel eSIM and keep my UK SIM?

Yes, on dual SIM phones. Keep your UK SIM for calls and texts, use the travel eSIM for data and turn off data roaming on your UK line.

Will an eSIM work on a phone bought in China or Hong Kong?

Often not. Many mainland China models have no eSIM, and some Hong Kong models differ too. Dial *#06# and check for an EID before you buy a plan.