Devices

Which phones support eSIM in 2026, and how to check yours

Which iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi and other phones support eSIM, why you can’t blindly trust a list of models, and how to check your own phone in a minute.

Published August 7, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 10 min read · MoreSim editorial team

According to manufacturers, as of October 2026 most flagship smartphones from recent years support eSIM: every iPhone from the XS and XR onward, Samsung Galaxy S flagships and foldable Galaxy Z models, Google Pixel from the Pixel 3 onward, and some Xiaomi, Honor, Huawei and other models. But the final answer depends not on the model name but on your specific version of the phone: the country it was built for, its firmware and any carrier lock. So treat the brand table as a guide; checking your own device takes a minute.

Which phones support eSIM? A brand-by-brand table

As of October 2026, eSIM support looks like this: for Apple and Google it has long been standard, for Samsung it covers the flagships, and for other Android brands it depends on the model and the country. The table gives the big picture; detailed model-by-model breakdowns are in separate articles for each brand.

The iPhone is the most predictable: if your model came out in 2018 or later, it almost certainly has eSIM. For a detailed rundown of every generation from the iPhone XS to the latest models, see our article on iPhone models with eSIM. The iPhone 17 versions differ by the tray: “SIM + eSIM” has a tray for one nano-SIM, “eSIM only” has none.

Samsung Galaxy is more of a mixed bag. Galaxy S flagships and the foldable Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip usually work with eSIM, but versions for different markets, such as Russian and European ones, got support at different times, and in the Galaxy A series eSIM remains more the exception than the rule. Our Samsung article covers which series support eSIM and how to check yours.

Google Pixel supports eSIM from the Pixel 3 onward, and it’s standard on newer generations. The same caveat applies as with other Android phones: on some versions built for a specific country or bought from a carrier, eSIM may be disabled, so check a secondhand or imported Pixel. On Xiaomi, Honor and Huawei, only some models and versions have eSIM; our article on those brands shows where to find the setting in MIUI, HyperOS, MagicOS and EMUI.

Why you can’t trust lists of eSIM phones

A list of “phones with eSIM” talks about a model in general, but what you’re holding is one specific device. There are three layers of difference between the two, and any of them can disable eSIM even on a model that’s on the list.

• Regional version. Manufacturers release one model in several variants for different markets. The classic example is the iPhone for mainland China, with two physical SIM slots and no eSIM. Versions for different countries also differ at Samsung, Xiaomi and other Android brands.
• Firmware. On Android phones, the eSIM option may be missing from the firmware for a particular market, even if the chip is physically there. A system update sometimes adds support, but you can’t count on that in advance.
• Carrier lock. A phone bought on contract from a carrier may be locked to its network and refuse another provider’s eSIM. This is more common with phones from the US, Japan and other countries where phones are sold bundled with a plan.

How to check if your phone supports eSIM: 4 ways

There are four ways to check whether your phone supports eSIM, and combining two of them is the most reliable. Menu names depend on the model and software version, but the logic is the same everywhere. Our article on checking eSIM support walks through each method with the exact paths for iPhone, Samsung, Xiaomi and Pixel.

1. Search settings. Open settings and type “eSIM” into the search bar. If the system finds something like “Add eSIM”, “Add Cellular Plan” or “Download a SIM”, your phone almost certainly works with eSIM.
2. EID via *#06#. Dial *#06# in your phone app. If there’s an EID line next to the IMEI, a long number identifying the eSIM chip, your phone has one. If only IMEI and IMEI2 are shown, the device doesn’t support eSIM.
3. Specs for your version. Find the exact model number under “About” or “About phone” and compare it with the specs on the manufacturer’s website. Look at your market version specifically, not the general page for the lineup.
4. Automatic check in the bot. The Telegram bot @moresim_bot has an automatic compatibility check: enter the model, and the bot tells you whether it works with eSIM. This is handy when checking a relative’s phone or a model you’re only planning to buy.

If the methods give different answers, for example the bot confirms the model but there’s no option to add an eSIM in settings, the cause is usually the regional version or a carrier lock. Don’t buy a plan on a hunch: send the exact model to MoreSim support, available via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.

What do “SIM + eSIM” and “Dual SIM” mean in phone specs?

“SIM + eSIM” in a phone’s specs means a tray for one physical nano-SIM plus a built-in eSIM: your home card stays in the tray, and a travel eSIM installs as a second line. For travel, that’s the most convenient setup.

“Dual SIM” on its own says nothing about eSIM: most often it means two physical nano-SIM slots. If the specs list only two nano-SIMs and don’t mention eSIM, you can’t install a travel profile on that phone. “eSIM only” means there’s no tray at all, and “Dual eSIM” means two eSIMs can run at the same time.

Can you use an eSIM if your phone doesn’t support it?

You can’t install an eSIM profile directly on a phone without an eSIM chip, and no setting or app will change that. But you can still stay connected on a trip with such a phone; the choice depends on how many slots it has and what matters more to you, your home number or simplicity.

• An eSIM adapter, or “physical eSIM”: a plastic card with a rewritable chip that you load eSIM profiles onto through an app. Not every profile works with an adapter, so check with the plan seller before paying.
• A local physical SIM bought at your destination. Purchase and registration rules depend on the country.
• Your home carrier’s roaming: check terms and prices with your carrier before the trip.
• A pocket Wi-Fi router, or a second phone with an eSIM that shares data over Wi-Fi.

An eSIM adapter has limits: it doesn’t work with every phone and firmware, and you load profiles onto it through a separate app. How an adapter works and who actually benefits from one is covered in detail in our article on phones without eSIM.

Do smartwatches and tablets support eSIM?

eSIM isn’t just for phones: according to manufacturers, some tablets support it, such as cellular iPads, as do cellular versions of smartwatches. Watches are a different story: a watch eSIM is usually added as a carrier service linked to your number. A travel plan for your phone generally can’t be moved to it. Tablets are simpler: if a tablet has a cellular modem and eSIM, a travel plan installs just like on a phone.

Your phone supports eSIM: what’s next?

If the check shows your phone has eSIM, all that’s left is to choose a plan and install it in advance, at home over Wi-Fi. A MoreSim travel eSIM runs as a second line: your home SIM stays in the phone, and the plan only starts counting on first connection in the destination, so installing the profile before you fly is safe.

1. Choose a country or region on the MoreSim website or in the bot @moresim_bot: travel eSIMs are available for 200+ destinations.
2. Pay with Telegram Stars from any country, right in the bot; bank card and SBP payments currently work with cards issued in Russia. The QR code arrives in the chat in about 30 seconds.
3. Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi using the QR code — open it on a second screen or enter the details manually — and don’t delete the profile after installing it.
4. On your trip, select the eSIM as the line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it, and turn off mobile data on your home SIM.

If something goes wrong during installation, MoreSim support is available through /support in @moresim_bot, a ticket in your account and email.