How does the *#06# dialer check actually work?

Open your phone's dialer (the keypad you'd use to make a call), type *#06#, and the screen pops up a list of your device identifiers. The IMEI is your device's network identity; the EID (if present) is your embedded SIM's identity. Any EID number means the phone has an eSIM chip physically present. No EID line means the phone is physical-SIM only.

Which iPhones support eSIM?

Every iPhone from XS and XR (2018) forward supports eSIM. That covers XS, XR, 11 series, 12 series, 13 series, SE 2nd and 3rd gen, 14 series, 15 series, and 16 series. iPhone 14 and newer sold in the US have no physical SIM tray and are eSIM-only. iPhone SE 1st gen (2016) and older do not support eSIM.

Which Android phones support eSIM?

Google Pixel 3 and every Pixel since. Samsung Galaxy S20 and every flagship since, plus the Z Fold/Flip foldables. OnePlus 11 and 12. Most 2023+ Xiaomi and Motorola flagships. Motorola Razr 2019 was the first Motorola eSIM phone. Regional variants can drop eSIM support — always run the *#06# check on the specific device.

Will a carrier-locked phone work with a travel eSIM?

Usually not. A locked phone refuses any SIM profile — physical or eSIM — that isn't from its host carrier. You need to unlock the phone first. T-Mobile and Verizon unlock automatically once the device is paid off; AT&T requires a request through their unlock portal. International travelers with US carrier-financed phones should check this weeks before the trip, not the night before.

Why don't China-market iPhones support eSIM?

Apple doesn't ship eSIM hardware in iPhones sold through mainland China because Chinese regulators haven't approved consumer eSIM for local carriers. Those iPhones use dual physical SIM trays instead. Hong Kong iPhones also ship dual-physical-SIM for a different reason — the local market's preference. If you bought your iPhone in China or Hong Kong, a travel eSIM won't work on it.

Can I use an eSIM alongside my physical SIM?

Yes on every dual-SIM-capable phone with eSIM support. iPhone XS through 13 can run one physical SIM plus one eSIM. Pixel 3 through 9 can run one physical plus one eSIM. Most Samsung Galaxy S21 and newer support it. This is the standard setup for travelers — physical SIM for home, eSIM for travel data.

ConnectivityUpdated April 24, 2026

Does my phone support eSIM? How to check in under a minute

A 30-second dialer check, the Settings path on iPhone and every major Android, a full compatibility list by brand and year, and the carrier-lock gotcha that trips people up.

Derek AlvarezConnectivity & Gear Editor

April 24, 20268 min read

What you'll learn

Dial *#06# to see your phone's IMEI and EID. An EID number present = eSIM supported.
iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM. If the option exists, you have an eSIM slot.
Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM. Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM.
Flagship iPhones from XS (2018) forward support eSIM. US iPhone 14 and newer are eSIM-only — no physical tray.
Google Pixel 3 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, most OnePlus flagships from 11 onward support eSIM.
Regional variants can differ. China-market iPhones have no eSIM. Hong Kong iPhones ship as dual-physical-SIM with no eSIM chip.
Carrier-locked phones need unlocking before they can use a third-party eSIM. Check your carrier's unlock policy before you travel.

*#06#
Universal dialer check
Look for the EID number
XS / 2018
iPhone eSIM starting point
All US models since
Pixel 3+
Google Pixel eSIM
Pixel 3 and every model since
S20 / 2020
Samsung Galaxy starting point
All US flagships since

The fastest question I get asked by travelers is some version of "will my phone work with this eSIM I'm about to buy?" The answer comes from a thirty-second test: dial *#06# and look at the screen.

That's the universal check, and it's more reliable than any compatibility list because it inspects the specific device in your hand rather than trusting the model number. Here's how to read the result, how to verify with Settings, and the gotchas (carrier lock, regional variants) that catch people even when the hardware is fine.

The *#06# dialer check

Open your phone's dialer app — the same keypad you'd use to make a call. Type *#06# exactly. On every phone made in the last decade, the screen responds with a stack of device identifiers: IMEI, sometimes IMEI2, sometimes MEID, and sometimes EID.

The EID is the one that matters. EID stands for eSIM Identifier — a 32-digit number that's only printed if the phone has an eSIM chip physically present on the motherboard. If you see an EID line, your phone supports eSIM. If the display shows only IMEI and no EID, your phone is physical-SIM-only.

On iPhone the EID appears on the second screen that slides in after IMEI. On Android the order varies: Samsung shows it inline with IMEI, Pixel shows it near the bottom, Xiaomi separates it into its own section. Scroll the dialer result fully — the EID line is there if it exists.

Verifying in Settings

The dialer check covers hardware. Settings covers software support — whether the phone's current OS lets you actually add an eSIM profile. On a modern phone these two match; on older phones the hardware can be present while the software path is limited to specific carriers.

iPhone: Settings → Cellular (or Mobile Data) → Add eSIM. If the option is there, you can add a travel eSIM. On iPhone 14 and newer US models, the path may show "Add eSIM" as the only option, since there's no SIM tray to pair with.

Samsung Galaxy: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM. On older One UI builds it's under Settings → Connections → SIM card manager. Foldables (Z Fold, Z Flip) use the same path.

Google Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Download a SIM instead? (The phrasing shifted in Android 13.) On Pixel 8 and newer: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Download a new SIM.

OnePlus: Settings → Wi-Fi & Network → SIM & Network → Add eSIM. OnePlus 11 and 12 are the confirmed eSIM models; older OnePlus phones do not support it.

Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS global builds): Settings → SIM cards & mobile networks → Add eSIM. Note that China-market Xiaomi builds usually omit this option entirely.

Motorola: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Download an eSIM. Razr 2019 was the first, then Razr 40 Ultra, then select Edge models forward.

If the option isn't where it should be, your phone's either on an old OS (update before concluding), or the hardware doesn't support eSIM regardless of what the compatibility list says.

The carrier-lock gotcha

A phone can pass the EID check, have an Add eSIM option in Settings, and still refuse a travel eSIM profile. That's carrier lock — a software restriction on the phone that says "only accept SIM identities from my carrier."

In the US, every phone purchased on an installment plan from a major carrier is locked by default. The unlock policies differ:

T-Mobile and Sprint unlock automatically once the device is paid off (usually triggered within 24 hours of the final payment).
Verizon unlocks after 60 days from purchase for most devices, and automatically for paid-off installment plans.
AT&T requires you to request unlock through their online portal. Paid-off phones are eligible immediately; financed phones after payoff.

International carriers vary. UK carriers typically unlock free after 24 months. European carriers often sell unlocked by default. Always check your carrier's unlock status from their portal — not a third-party site — before you travel. The worst version of this problem is landing, scanning the QR code, and seeing an error that your phone "can't add this eSIM" with no explanation.

Compatible iPhones (eSIM support)

Every iPhone from the 2018 lineup forward: iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2nd generation (2020), iPhone SE 3rd generation (2022), 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max.

US iPhone 14 and newer are eSIM-only (no SIM tray). Non-US variants of the same models retain the physical SIM tray. iPhone SE 1st gen (2016), iPhone X (2017), and every iPhone older than that do not support eSIM.

Compatible Google Pixels

Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4 XL, 4a, 4a 5G, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold. Every Pixel since the Pixel 3 (2018) supports eSIM. Pixel 2 and older don't.

Compatible Samsung Galaxy phones

Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S25 series, Note 20, Note 20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Flip, Z Flip3, Z Flip4, Z Flip5, Z Flip6.

The original Galaxy Fold (2019) supported eSIM in some markets. S10 did not. Korean-market S20/S21 units sometimes ship without eSIM support — run *#06# to confirm.

Other compatible Android phones

OnePlus 11, OnePlus 12. Earlier OnePlus flagships do not support eSIM even though they're otherwise high-end.

Xiaomi 12T Pro, 13, 13 Pro, 14, 14 Pro (global variants only). China-market builds usually omit eSIM.

Motorola Razr 2019, Razr 40 Ultra, Razr 50 Ultra, Edge 40, Edge 50 Pro.

Huawei Mate 40 Pro, P40, P40 Pro (in markets where eSIM is certified; not all).

Oppo Find N2 Flip, Find X5 Pro, Find X6 Pro (global variants only).

Honor Magic V2, Magic5 Pro, Magic6 Pro (global variants).

When in doubt, run the check

No compatibility list replaces the thirty-second dialer check on the phone in front of you. Regional variants, aftermarket modifications, and carrier-specific builds can all change the answer from what the model spec sheet says.

Run *#06#. Look for the EID. Cross-check in Settings. Confirm carrier unlock. If all three pass, your phone is ready for any travel eSIM — including a plan from 99esim for whichever country you're headed to next.

Once you're through the check, the install process is straightforward. We walk through it step by step in the iPhone install guide and the Android install guide.

Open your phone's dialer (the keypad you'd use to make a call), type *#06#, and the screen pops up a list of your device identifiers. The IMEI is your device's network identity; the EID (if present) is your embedded SIM's identity. Any EID number means the phone has an eSIM chip physically present. No EID line means the phone is physical-SIM only.

Common mistakes

Skipping the carrier-lock check: Your phone can physically support eSIM and still refuse a third-party eSIM because the carrier has locked it to their network. US carrier-financed phones are locked by default. T-Mobile and Verizon unlock automatically after payoff; AT&T requires a request. Check your carrier's unlock status before you fly, not after.
Assuming every phone of the same model behaves the same: Regional variants differ. The same iPhone 14 model number that supports eSIM in the US doesn't have an eSIM chip in Mainland China. Hong Kong iPhones ship as dual-physical-SIM with no eSIM. Korean-market Galaxy phones sometimes differ from their US/European equivalents. The dialer check catches these; model number alone doesn't.
Confusing 'my phone has an eSIM' with 'my phone works with any eSIM': An eSIM chip in the phone is necessary but not sufficient. Some old phones with eSIM hardware only support specific carrier profiles (early Pixel 3 was locked to Google Fi for a while). All phones from 2021 onward support arbitrary travel-eSIM profiles; older ones can be hit or miss.
Looking for a SIM tray and assuming no tray means no SIM: US iPhone 14 and newer have no SIM tray at all. First-time owners often think their phone is 'broken' or 'missing a slot.' It's eSIM-only by design — you can't put a physical SIM into those phones, but you can load up to 8 eSIM profiles.

with 99esim

Phone checks out — ready for a travel eSIM?

99esim covers 155 countries plus 9 regional bundles. If your phone passed the EID check and is carrier-unlocked, you can buy a plan in 60 seconds and scan the QR code before you board. Plans start at €1.99.

Get 99esim Read the iPhone install guide

Connectivity & Gear Editor

Derek Alvarez

Miami, FL

Miami-based technology writer covering mobile connectivity, travel gear, and the infrastructure that keeps travelers online. Spent twelve years as an enterprise IT consultant before realizing he preferred writing about the equipment to maintaining it. Tests every eSIM, hotspot, and charging brick he reviews — usually in places with questionable coverage. Cuban-American, fluent in Spanish, collects old film cameras he rarely uses.

View all articles by Derek

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