Does my phone support eSIM? Model and unlock checklist

A phone is ready for an independent travel eSIM when its exact model and sales variant support eSIM, its carrier lock permits another provider, and the selected package supports that device. Check all three before paying. A model family on a compatibility list, a visible EID or a working home eSIM is useful evidence, but none answers every part alone.

The phone search gives a quick model match; this checklist completes the buying decision by covering what a list cannot: your sales variant, the carrier lock and the package. Once it passes, use the eSIM installation guide for setup and your selected package’s timing instructions.

1. Identify the phone you actually own

Record the model name, model number, country or region of original sale, current carrier and operating-system version. For a used or imported phone, the seller’s location may differ from its original sales market. Check the receipt, box and manufacturer information where available.

On iPhone, open Settings → General → About. Beside Model Number, Apple initially displays the part number; tap it to reveal the model number. Follow Apple’s model-number instructions. On Android, start with About phone and check the manufacturer’s instructions for the full model code.

Use the model number and sales market when consulting official specifications. Regional differences matter: Samsung says its Australian eSIM compatibility guide is designed for Australian-variant Galaxy devices. It also explains how to find Embedded-SIM in the device’s Network/Bearer specifications.

Google’s Pixel SIM guide records exceptions for older models, including Pixel 3a units bought in Japan or with Verizon service. This shows why a family name such as “Pixel” or “Galaxy” is insufficient. Use your unit’s exact specifications rather than treating a short list of examples as a universal device list.

Apple’s pages also treat China mainland, Hong Kong and Macao separately from the rest of the world. They say eSIM support there is limited to particular iPhone models, with its own list for each market (Apple’s eSIM and Dual SIM troubleshooting page). An iPhone bought in one of those markets can therefore differ from the same model sold elsewhere, so note where yours was bought.

Maker	Where it documents eSIM support	What its page says
Apple	Set up eSIM on iPhone	Lists iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later, with a carrier or provider that supports eSIM
Google	Pixel SIM guide	Lists Pixel 4 and later as working with eSIM, with exceptions for some older models by sales market or carrier
Samsung	Your model’s Spec page, under Network/Bearer	Look for Embedded-SIM; the Australian guide covers Australian-variant devices

The phone search is a faster first pass, but the maker’s page for your own variant is the one to keep with your trip documents.

2. Check eSIM settings and the EID

Look for the option to add an eSIM or mobile plan using your manufacturer’s instructions. Samsung documents this under Connections → SIM card manager, although labels can vary by device and software. Its Galaxy eSIM setup guidance also places the EID on the box or under About phone → Status.

For Pixel, Google says the EID can be found on the box or under About phone → SIM status. See its identification-number guide. Use the manufacturer’s documented location rather than treating a missing dialler result as a final diagnosis.

An EID identifies the eSIM component. It does not establish that your carrier has unlocked the phone or that every travel package is supported. If the specification, settings and identifiers disagree, ask the manufacturer or provider to confirm the exact variant before buying.

*What #06# shows. Many searches ask whether dialling *#06# proves a phone has eSIM. Samsung says the code displays the IMEI and serial number, and that it only works when your carrier supports it (Samsung Canada); its page does not mention the EID. Apple’s identifier guide gives the Settings route for the EID (General → About) and does not describe the dialler code. Whether the code also lists an EID or a second IMEI depends on the phone and its software, so use the Settings path your maker documents.

What a visible EID tells you. Google says a phone needs an EID to use an eSIM, and that Pixel phones supporting both eSIM and a physical SIM have two IMEI numbers. An EID or a second IMEI is therefore a sign that the hardware can hold an eSIM. It does not establish the carrier lock, and it does not settle questions about your market’s variant, so keep the checks in sections 1 and 3. A dialler screen that shows only an IMEI is not proof that eSIM is missing either; check Settings and the specification.

3. Confirm the carrier lock separately

On iPhone, check Settings → General → About → Carrier Lock. Apple says “No SIM restrictions” means the phone is unlocked. If it is locked, only the current carrier can unlock it, and the process may take a few days. Follow Apple’s unlock guidance early enough to resolve it before departure.

For Android, ask the carrier that supplied the phone whether it is SIM-unlocked for another provider’s eSIM. Do not assume that paying off the device automatically completed unlocking. Google’s Pixel carrier guide says a phone can come SIM-locked or SIM-unlocked depending on where it was bought, and that it must be SIM-unlocked to use another carrier. That is a separate question from the eSIM support covered in its Pixel SIM guide.

Ask for a clear answer: “Can this model and IMEI install and use another provider’s travel eSIM?” Provide identifiers only through the provider’s private support channel when requested. Save the response and complete any carrier-required steps.

4. Make the purchase decision from evidence

Your evidence	Decision before purchase
Exact variant supports eSIM, unlock confirmed, package supports the device	Proceed to package coverage and activation checks
EID or Add eSIM is visible, but lock status is unknown	Confirm the lock before buying
Device family is listed, but original sales region is uncertain	Confirm the exact variant with manufacturer or provider
Official specification excludes eSIM for the unit	Choose an alternative connectivity method
Manufacturer support is clear, but the chosen provider cannot confirm compatibility	Resolve that package question or choose a confirmed option

Finally, check the package’s destinations, validity trigger, installation method and required settings. Device compatibility does not establish those product facts. A phone that passes the checklist can still be paired with the wrong destination or travel dates.

Save your model details and support confirmation with your trip documents. If you later change phones, repeat the check for the replacement before assuming an existing profile can move; each plan’s own reinstall terms say whether it can. The useful result is a documented yes for your device and package, with unresolved questions settled before departure.

When the phone passes, browse travel eSIM plans by destination and read the plan’s own start rule. The pre-departure eSIM checklist covers what to do before you fly, and if a profile installs but shows no data, work out which part is failing.

Common questions

How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?

Match your exact model and sales region against the maker’s documentation, then look in Settings for an option to add an eSIM or mobile plan and for an EID. Apple shows the EID under General → About, Google under About phone → SIM status, and Samsung under About phone → Status. A listed model still needs the carrier-lock check in section 3.

Does *#06# show if my phone has an eSIM?

Not on its own. Samsung says the code displays the IMEI and serial number, and only when your carrier supports it. An EID or a second IMEI points to eSIM hardware, but it does not show whether the phone is carrier-locked or which market variant you hold.

Can a locked phone use a travel eSIM?

Not until it is unlocked. Apple says only the current carrier can unlock a locked iPhone, which can take a few days, and Google says a Pixel must be SIM-unlocked to use another carrier. On iPhone, Carrier Lock under General → About should read “No SIM restrictions”.

Do iPhones sold in China, Hong Kong or Macao support eSIM?

Apple lists those markets separately and limits eSIM support there to particular models. Check Apple’s troubleshooting page for your model, and keep the box or receipt showing where the phone was bought.

Does an eSIM-compatible phone work with every travel plan?

No. Device support, carrier lock and package compatibility are three separate checks. The plan page tells you the coverage, the start rule and how the profile is installed.