Devices

iPhone 14 eSIM: US eSIM-only model, SIM + eSIM and travel

From iPhone 14 on, US models ship eSIM-only. Here’s which versions of the 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and Pro Max exist, how to tell which one you have, and how to add a travel eSIM.

Published September 24, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 7 min read · MoreSim editorial team

Every iPhone 14 supports eSIM: the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, except most versions for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. The iPhone 14 was the first generation where US models were made eSIM-only, with no SIM tray; in most other countries the same models were sold with a tray for one nano-SIM plus eSIM. You can add a travel eSIM as a second line on any iPhone 14 with eSIM, as long as the phone isn’t carrier-locked.

Which SIM versions of the iPhone 14 are there?

The SIM setup of an iPhone 14 depends on the country it was made for: the base iPhone 14 and 14 Plus work the same way as the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. The details below are based on Apple’s information at launch in September 2022; check your own phone by its model number.

Apple could drop the SIM tray on US models because, since the 13 series, the iPhone can keep two eSIMs active at once. An iPhone 14 without a tray still has a second line; it’s just electronic too.

Why does the US iPhone 14 have no SIM tray, and what does that mean for you?

The US iPhone 14 comes without a SIM tray because the United States was the first market Apple moved to eSIM-only. These phones often end up in other countries secondhand or through resellers, and they’re hard to spot from a photo: the body, colors and cameras are identical.

A US iPhone 14 works outside the United States if two conditions are met. First, the phone isn’t locked to a US carrier. Second, your home number has been moved to an eSIM. Most major carriers now issue eSIMs, but each has its own process for moving a number, so check your carrier’s website or app for the current steps.

If your number is on a physical SIM and you’d rather not move it, a US iPhone 14 isn’t the one for you. Look for a version with a SIM tray: it’s simpler for everyday use at home and just as good for travel.

How to check which iPhone 14 you have

You can find out which country your iPhone 14 was made for from the model number in Settings, and whether it has eSIM from the EID. It takes a couple of minutes and no apps.

1. Look at the sides of the phone: is there a tray with a pinhole? No tray almost certainly means a US model.
2. Open Settings → General → About.
3. Tap Model Number to see the A-xxxx number and compare it with the iPhone 14 specs on Apple’s website.
4. Look at the letters at the end of the part number: LL/A usually means the US, CH/A means mainland China.
5. Dial *#06#: if the screen shows an EID, the phone has eSIM.
6. Find the Carrier Lock line: for a travel eSIM it needs to say “No SIM restrictions”.

Can you add a travel eSIM to an iPhone 14?

A travel eSIM installs on any iPhone 14 with eSIM that isn’t carrier-locked, whether it’s a version with a SIM tray or a US model. Your home number stays as the first line and still gets calls and texts, while mobile data on the trip runs through the travel eSIM.

1. Check your model with the automatic compatibility check in the bot @moresim_bot.
2. Buy a plan for your destination on the MoreSim website or in the bot, and pay with Telegram Stars from any country, right in the bot (bank card and SBP payments currently work with cards issued in Russia).
3. Get the QR code in the chat, in about 30 seconds.
4. At home, on Wi-Fi, open Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM and scan the code.
5. Give the new line a label so you don’t mix it up with your home line.
6. On the trip, set the eSIM for cellular data and turn on data roaming for it: most travel eSIMs connect to a local carrier’s network as roaming SIMs. Turn off cellular data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier.

A plan starts counting from its first connection to a network in your destination country, so it’s easiest to install the eSIM at home. MoreSim plans are mobile data only, with no phone number: you can call through messaging apps where they aren’t restricted, and bank texts keep coming to your home number. Data amounts and validity for your destination are on its catalog page.

Where does the iPhone 14 work abroad, and what to check before you fly

An iPhone 14 with a travel eSIM works in your destination if the eSIM itself works there and the phone supports the local carriers’ networks. Supported bands differ between versions made for different countries, so for less common destinations check your version’s specs on Apple’s website.

• Update iOS at home; on the road you may not have enough data for it.
• Install the eSIM over your home Wi-Fi and check that the line shows up under Cellular.
• Turn off cellular data on your home SIM so your data doesn’t go through your home carrier and you don’t get a roaming bill.
• If your home number is on an eSIM, don’t delete or transfer it right before a trip unless you have to.
• Save the support contacts: MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.

What should you check when buying a used or imported iPhone 14?

When buying a secondhand iPhone 14, check for a carrier lock first: it’s the most common catch with US models. Phones in the US are often sold on carrier contracts, and a locked iPhone looks perfectly normal until you try to install another carrier’s eSIM.

• Carrier Lock: it must say “No SIM restrictions”.
• EID via *#06#: without it, the phone has no eSIM.
• Model number: tells you whether there’s a SIM tray.
• The seller has signed out of their Apple ID and turned off Find My.
• Any previous owner’s eSIM profiles are deleted under Cellular.

If you’re choosing between an iPhone 14 and an iPhone 15, there’s almost no difference for eSIM: the country versions and the two active lines work the same way. For a summary table covering every generation, see our article on which iPhones support eSIM.