AgentRoamHow to check if your phone supports eSIM.
Thirty seconds, no settings spelunking: open the dialer and type *#06#. If an EID number appears alongside the IMEI, your phone has an eSIM chip. No EID, no eSIM — and you should not buy a plan for it. Here is the full picture, including the carrier-lock catch that trips people up.
The 30-second check: dial *#06#
On any phone, dial *#06# like a phone number. A panel appears with your IMEI numbers — and, on eSIM-capable phones, an EID: a long number labeled exactly that. EID present means the hardware supports eSIM. This works identically on iPhone and Android and needs no network or SIM installed.
Checking in settings instead
iPhone: Settings → General → About — an EID row appears if supported; or look for "Add eSIM" under Settings → Cellular. Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs — a "Download a SIM instead?" or "Add eSIM" option means you are good. Menu names vary slightly by brand and OS version.
Device families that support eSIM
As a rule of thumb: iPhone XS / XR (2018) and newer; Samsung Galaxy S20, Note 20, Z Flip / Z Fold and newer; Google Pixel 3 and newer — plus most recent flagships from other brands. Budget models sometimes omit eSIM even in recent years, and a few regional variants (notably some mainland-China models) ship without it, which is why the *#06# check beats any list.
The catch: carrier lock and managed phones
eSIM hardware is not enough — the phone must be carrier-unlocked to add a foreign travel eSIM. A phone bought on an installment plan is often locked until paid off; check with your carrier. Company-managed devices can also block eSIM installation by policy. If the EID exists but "Add eSIM" is missing or fails, lock or management policy is the usual culprit.