Devices

iPhone 16 eSIM: SIM + eSIM vs eSIM-only and how to tell yours

Which SIM versions of the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and Pro Max exist, how to identify yours, whether an eSIM-only model works outside the US, and how to add a travel eSIM.

Published September 24, 2026 · Updated October 1, 2026 · 9 min read · MoreSim editorial team

Every iPhone 16 (the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max) has eSIM, except the versions for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao: according to Apple, those have two nano-SIM slots and no eSIM. US versions are sold eSIM-only with no tray, and in most other countries they come with a tray for one nano-SIM plus eSIM. The model number in settings tells you which version you have, and a travel eSIM works as a second line on any version with eSIM, as long as the iPhone isn’t carrier-locked.

Which SIM versions of the iPhone 16 are there?

The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max differ in SIM setup not by model but by the country the phone was built for. The same model with the same storage and color may or may not have a tray. The data below is from Apple’s specs at launch in September 2024; for your particular phone, check Apple’s website by model number.

The rule is the same for all four models: the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus handle SIMs the same way as the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. The difference between the base and Pro models is the cameras, display and build, not how many numbers fit in the phone.

In February 2025, Apple released the iPhone 16e. According to Apple at launch, it also supports eSIM, and the US version is eSIM-only. If you’re choosing the iPhone 16e specifically, check your version’s SIM configuration the same way as described below.

What does “iPhone 16 Pro SIM + eSIM” mean in a listing?

“SIM + eSIM” on an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 means the phone has a tray for one nano-SIM plus a built-in eSIM. “eSIM” or “eSIM only” usually means the US version with no tray. When phones are imported or resold, versions for different markets often end up side by side in the same store.

• “SIM + eSIM” or “nano-SIM + eSIM”: a tray for one physical card plus eSIM. The most common setup outside the US.
• “eSIM” or “eSIM only”: no tray, all numbers are digital. Usually the US version.
• “Dual SIM” or “2 SIM”: usually two physical nano-SIMs, as on most versions for China, Hong Kong and Macao. These versions usually have no eSIM, so ask the seller.
• Storage — 128, 256 or 512 GB — doesn’t affect the SIM configuration.

If a listing doesn’t make the version clear, ask the seller for the model number. Unlike the wording in a listing, the model number pins down the market version for sure. For more on these confusing labels, see our explainer on what “SIM + eSIM”, Dual SIM and “eSIM only” mean.

How to find out which iPhone 16 version you have

You can identify your iPhone 16 version in a couple of minutes from the frame and settings. If you haven’t bought the phone yet, ask the seller to show you these screens before you pay.

1. Look at the sides of the phone. If there’s a tray with a pin hole, it’s a nano-SIM version; if the side is smooth, it’s eSIM-only.
2. Go to Settings > General > About and tap the Model Number line to see a number like A followed by four digits.
3. Match the model number against the iPhone 16 specs on Apple’s website: they show which market the version is for and which SIMs it supports.
4. Check the part number: the letters before the slash at the end hint at the market, for example LL/A for the US and CH/A for mainland China.
5. Dial *#06# in the Phone app. If an EID appears alongside the IMEI, this phone has eSIM.
6. In the same About screen, find the Carrier Lock line. To use another SIM or a travel eSIM, it needs to say “No SIM restrictions”.

Can you use an eSIM-only iPhone 16 outside the US?

An iPhone 16 with no SIM tray works outside the US as long as it isn’t carrier-locked and your home number is moved to an eSIM. Most major carriers now issue eSIMs — in Russia, for example, MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, T2 and Yota do. Your carrier handles the move from a physical card, in a store or in its app; the process differs by carrier and changes over time, so check your carrier’s website.

The main drawback of a US iPhone 16 is that you can’t quickly move a physical SIM from your old phone or into a backup phone. If the iPhone breaks or gets lost, your number is restored through your carrier, not by swapping a card. If you change phones often or like keeping your number on a physical card, the “SIM + eSIM” version is more convenient.

On a trip, the difference between versions all but disappears. Both the US iPhone 16 and the version with a tray run two active lines, so your home number and a travel eSIM fit side by side.

How to add a travel eSIM to an iPhone 16 as a second line

A travel eSIM installs on the iPhone 16 as a second line next to your home number, whether that number is on a physical card or an eSIM. Your home line keeps receiving calls and texts, while mobile data on the trip runs through the travel eSIM.

1. Pick a plan for your destination on the MoreSim website or in the @moresim_bot Telegram 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).
2. Get the QR code in the chat; it arrives in about 30 seconds.
3. At home, on Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM and scan the QR code.
4. Give the new line a clear label, like “Travel”, so you don’t mix it up with your home line.
5. On the trip, choose the travel eSIM under Cellular Data and turn on data roaming for it: most travel eSIMs connect to the local carrier as a roaming partner. If your plan’s instructions say otherwise, follow them.
6. Turn off cellular data on your home line, and in the Cellular Data screen turn off Allow Cellular Data Switching, so the iPhone doesn’t fall back to your home carrier’s roaming.

The plan starts counting on its first connection to a network in your destination, so you can install the eSIM ahead of time. MoreSim plans are data-only, with no phone number. You can call over messaging apps where they aren’t restricted, and bank texts keep arriving on your home SIM. Data and validity options for each country are on its catalog page, and there’s a step-by-step guide with screenshots in our iPhone eSIM guide.

What to check when buying a used or imported iPhone 16

With a used or imported iPhone 16, check four things: the market version, eSIM support, carrier lock and whether someone else’s profile is still on the phone. All of it is visible in settings in a couple of minutes.

• Market version, from the model number. It determines whether there’s a tray and whether there’s eSIM.
• EID via *#06#. No EID means no eSIM, which happens with versions for China, Hong Kong and Macao.
• Carrier Lock. iPhones from the US are sometimes sold on carrier contracts; such a phone won’t accept another SIM or eSIM.
• Old eSIM profiles under Cellular. Ask the seller to delete their lines and sign out of their Apple ID before handing over the phone.
• Network band support. If specific bands matter to you, check them for your version in Apple’s specs.

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 17: any difference for eSIM?

For a travel eSIM, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 work the same way: both lineups support two active lines, and both come in versions with and without a tray. What differs is where eSIM-only versions are sold: according to Apple, the tray-less iPhone 17 is sold not only in the US but also in Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, and the iPhone Air is eSIM-only everywhere. So checking the market version matters even more when buying an iPhone 17. We cover the new models in a separate iPhone 17 article, and there’s a summary table for every generation in our guide to which iPhones support eSIM.

If you’re unsure about a particular phone, the compatibility check in the @moresim_bot bot answers for your model in seconds. If something goes wrong during installation, MoreSim support is reachable via /support in the bot, a ticket in your account and email.