Nothing is more frustrating than landing in Europe with a freshly bought eSIM and discovering your phone can't install it. The good news: if your phone is a flagship from the last six or seven years, it probably supports eSIM. The bad news: "probably" isn't good enough when you're at the airport, because carrier locks and regional variants can silently remove eSIM support from an otherwise compatible model.
Below you'll find the definitive model lists for iPhone, Samsung and Pixel, a rundown of other brands, and — most importantly — the checks that confirm eSIM works on your specific phone, not just your model in general.
1. The 30-second check (better than any list)
Model lists go stale and can't account for your carrier or region, so run this check on the actual phone you're taking to Europe:
- Dial *#06# in your phone app. If you see an EID (eSIM ID) number alongside the IMEI, the phone has eSIM hardware. No EID means no eSIM — stop here and plan for a physical SIM or pocket WiFi instead.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Cellular. If you see Add eSIM, you're set. While you're in Settings > General > About, check Carrier Lock — it should say "No SIM restrictions".
- Samsung: go to Settings > Connections > SIM card manager. An Add eSIM option means support. No option means your variant lacks it.
- Pixel: go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. An Add SIM / Download a SIM option confirms support.
If the EID check passes and the menu option exists, your phone will take a travel eSIM — the lists below are just confirmation.
2. iPhone: XS and newer
Apple's eSIM support is the simplest in the industry: every iPhone from the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR (2018) onward supports eSIM, including the full iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 lineups and the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). One iPhone can store eight or more eSIM profiles and keep two active at once.
Two things to know. First, iPhones sold in the United States from the iPhone 14 onward have no physical SIM tray at all — eSIM is the only option, which also means these phones are guaranteed eSIM-capable. Second, iPhones purchased in mainland China (and a handful of other markets) historically shipped with dual physical SIM trays and no eSIM support. If you bought your iPhone in China and don't see "Add eSIM", that's why — no setting or update can add it.
3. Samsung Galaxy: S20 series and newer
Samsung's eSIM support starts with the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra (2020) and continues through the S21, S22, S23, S24 and S25 families, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series (Fold 2 onward, all Flips), the Galaxy Note 20 series, and select newer Galaxy A-series models. Flagship Galaxy phones from 2020 onward are generally safe bets.
The big Samsung caveat is regional variants. Galaxy models sold in China, Hong Kong and a few other markets ship without eSIM hardware even though the identical-looking model sold in the US or Europe has it. Carrier-branded models from some US carriers have also had eSIM disabled in the past. The EID check (*#06#) is the only thing that settles it for your specific unit — don't rely on the model name alone.
4. Google Pixel: Pixel 4 and newer (Pixel 3 partially)
Google has supported eSIM since the Pixel 3 (2018), though the Pixel 3 and 3a have limited eSIM functionality (they were early implementations). From the Pixel 4 onward — including the 4a, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 series and the Pixel Fold — eSIM works fully and reliably. Pixels are among the least troublesome phones for travel eSIMs.
Pixel caveats are minor: some carrier-sold Pixels in the US arrived carrier-locked (unlock rules apply as with any phone), and a few regional Pixel variants have had eSIM quirks. As always, the EID check is definitive.
5. Other brands: Motorola, Huawei, Honor, Sony, Xiaomi and more
Beyond the big three, eSIM support is model-specific rather than brand-wide:
- Motorola: the Razr foldables (2019 onward) and newer Edge models support eSIM. Most budget Moto G phones do not.
- Huawei: the P40, P40 Pro and Mate 40 Pro support eSIM; most other Huawei models don't.
- Honor: the Magic series (Magic 4 Pro onward) generally supports eSIM.
- Sony: recent Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 models (IV/V series onward) support eSIM in most regions.
- Xiaomi / Oppo / Vivo / OnePlus: eSIM appears on select flagships (for example, newer Xiaomi 13/14-series models in some regions) but is absent from most of these brands' lineups — always verify with the EID check.
- Tablets and watches: cellular iPads (Pro, Air and mini with cellular, recent generations), many Samsung Galaxy Tabs with LTE/5G, and LTE smartwatches support eSIM — but travel eSIM providers generally target phones, so check the provider's device list before buying for a tablet.
When in doubt, providers like aloSIM and Ubigi publish device compatibility checkers on their sites — useful cross-references, though your phone's own EID check remains the final word.
| Brand | eSIM support starts at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone | iPhone XS / XR (2018) and newer; SE 2nd/3rd gen | Models bought in mainland China lack eSIM; US iPhone 14+ are eSIM-only |
| Samsung Galaxy | S20 series (2020), Z Fold/Flip, Note 20, select newer A-series | China/Hong Kong variants often lack eSIM; check EID |
| Google Pixel | Pixel 4 (2019) fully; Pixel 3/3a limited | Carrier-locked units; otherwise very reliable |
| Motorola | Razr foldables, newer Edge flagships | Most Moto G budget models lack eSIM |
| Huawei / Honor | P40/Mate 40 Pro; Honor Magic 4 Pro+ | Most models lack eSIM entirely |
| Sony / Xiaomi / others | Select recent flagships only | Always verify with *#06# EID check |
6. The two deal-breakers: carrier locks and regional models
These two issues cause the vast majority of "but my phone is on the list!" failures:
- Carrier-locked phones. A phone locked to your home carrier may refuse to download or activate a travel eSIM profile, even though the hardware supports it. On iPhone, check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock ("No SIM restrictions" = unlocked). On Android there's no universal menu — if you bought the phone outright or finished your contract, it's usually unlocked; if you're still paying it off through a carrier, assume it's locked until you confirm. Most carriers unlock paid-off phones free on request — do this at least a week before travel.
- Regional variants. The same model number can have different hardware by region. The pattern to remember: phones bought in mainland China and Hong Kong are the most likely to lack eSIM (Apple and Samsung both ship eSIM-free variants there). US models are the opposite extreme — recent US iPhones are eSIM-only and guaranteed compatible.
Both problems share a fix: verify on the actual device (EID check + the Add eSIM menu), not on the model name.
7. What if your phone isn't eSIM-compatible?
You still have good options for Europe. The simplest is a physical local SIM bought at the airport or a phone shop on arrival — cheap and works in any unlocked phone. A portable pocket WiFi device is another route, especially for groups sharing one connection. And if your trip is months away and you're due an upgrade anyway, eSIM support is now standard on virtually all new flagships — it's a reasonable tiebreaker between two phones you're considering.
Don't buy a travel eSIM hoping your phone "probably" supports it. Run the 30-second check first — it takes less time than requesting a refund.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check eSIM compatibility in 30 seconds?
Does the iPhone 14 / 15 / 16 support eSIM?
My Samsung Galaxy S23 doesn't show "Add eSIM". Why?
Can a carrier-locked phone use a travel eSIM?
Do tablets and smartwatches support travel eSIMs?
Will eSIM work if my phone is dual-SIM with two physical SIMs?
The model lists are a starting point; the EID check on your own phone is the verdict. Verify before you buy, and Europe connectivity becomes the easiest part of trip planning. Updated 2026-10-22.