Before you buy
Which iPhones have eSIM, model by model
Every iPhone from the XS onwards has eSIM, with caveats by generation and by country of purchase. What each one supports and how to check in twenty seconds.
Dani Requena 6 min Photo by Datingscout on Unsplash The quick rule fits on one line: if your iPhone is from 2018 or later, it supports eSIM. The long version has three caveats worth knowing, because the same model doesn't behave the same way depending on the generation and on where it was bought.
From which model onwards
The first iPhone with eSIM was the 2018 generation. From there on, they all have it.
| Model | eSIM |
|---|---|
| iPhone 8 and earlier | No |
| iPhone X | No |
| iPhone XR, XS and XS Max | Yes, the first generation with eSIM |
| iPhone 11, 12 and 13 and their variants | Yes |
| iPhone 14, 15, 16 and 17 and their variants | Yes |
| iPhone SE second and third generation | Yes |
So if your phone was bought new in the last few years, the answer is almost certainly yes.
Caveat 1: how many lines can be active
Every compatible iPhone can store several profiles and keep two lines active at once. What changes is what those two can be.
- On the first models with eSIM, the two active lines are the physical card plus one eSIM.
- On the iPhone 13 and later you can have two eSIMs active at once, with no physical card needed.
- On all of them, several profiles can be stored and switched on or off from your settings.
For a trip, the first of those is all you need, so any of them will do.
Caveat 2: US iPhones have no tray
From the iPhone 14, models sold in the United States have no slot for a physical card: they're eSIM only. The ones sold in Europe do have it.
If you bought your phone there or somebody brought it back for you, your usual line has to be an eSIM as well, and you ask your operator for that. It's free with almost every provider and it's worth doing before you travel, not from your destination.
Caveat 3: mainland China models
iPhones sold in mainland China work with two physical cards and don't include eSIM. If you bought your phone there you won't find the option however hard you look, and it isn't a software fault.
The check that beats any list
- Open Settings.
- Go into Mobile Data, which on some versions is called Cellular.
- Look for the option to add an eSIM or add a data plan.
- If it's there, your iPhone supports it. If it isn't, either it's not compatible or it's locked by an operator.
There's another route that's just as reliable: in Settings, General, About, look for the eSIM section and its EID identifier. If there's an EID, there's eSIM.
And the second condition, which everyone forgets
Supporting eSIM isn't enough: the phone also has to be carrier unlocked. An iPhone bought on instalments through an operator can stay locked until it's paid off, and then it won't take anyone else's line, on a card or on an eSIM.
How to tell whether your phone is locked and what to do about it is in unlocked or locked to an operator.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPhones have eSIM?
The iPhone XR, XS and XS Max from 2018 onwards, including the second and third generation SE. Earlier models don't support it.
Does the iPhone 11 have eSIM?
Yes. It takes one eSIM alongside the physical card, with both lines active at the same time.
Can I have two eSIMs active on an iPhone?
On the iPhone 13 and later, yes. On earlier ones, the two active lines are the physical card plus one eSIM.
Why doesn't my iPhone have the option to add an eSIM?
Either it's a model from before 2018, or it's locked by an operator, or it was bought in mainland China, where iPhones take two physical cards and have no eSIM.
Do iPhones bought in the United States work here?
Yes, but from the 14 onwards they have no card slot: everything goes through eSIM, so your usual line has to be in eSIM format. Ask your operator before you travel.
