Is My Phone eSIM Compatible? How to Check in 2 Minutes (2026)
Is my phone eSIM compatible? Check eSIM support on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel, find your EID, and learn how to tell if your phone is unlocked in Canada.
ArriGo team 9 min read Updated
To check if your phone is eSIM compatible, look for an EID number in your phone’s About settings or an “Add eSIM” option in its SIM settings: if either exists, the phone has an eSIM chip. It also needs to be unlocked, which in Canada is the norm for phones bought new since December 1, 2017.
Those two checks, eSIM support and unlock status, decide whether a travel eSIM will work on your trip. This guide shows exactly where to look on iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, explains carrier locks under Canadian rules, and flags the regional models that ship without eSIM. If you would rather skip the menus, our eSIM compatibility checker gives you an answer by model in seconds.
Key takeaways
- A phone is eSIM compatible if it has an eSIM chip (it will show an EID) and is not locked to one carrier.
- iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later support eSIM, as do Google Pixel 3a and later and many Galaxy S, Z and A models.
- Some models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao lack eSIM, so imported phones need a closer look.
- Phones newly purchased in Canada since December 1, 2017 must be provided unlocked, and unlocking on request is free.
What makes a phone eSIM compatible?
An eSIM is a small chip soldered inside the phone that stores a mobile plan as a downloadable profile instead of a plastic card. Our explainer on how an eSIM works covers the technology in more detail. For a travel eSIM to work, three things must be true.
- The phone has eSIM hardware. Most flagship phones from the last several years do, but many budget models and some regional versions do not.
- The phone is unlocked. A carrier-locked phone only accepts plans from the carrier it is locked to.
- The model sold in your region supports eSIM. The same phone name can ship with different SIM hardware in different countries.
The quickest single test is the EID. The EID is the unique number of the eSIM chip itself, so a phone without one has no eSIM to install a plan on. Below are the official ways to find it on the three most common brands in Canada.
How to check if an iPhone supports eSIM
Apple’s eSIM setup guide lists iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and later models as eSIM capable. Anything older, such as an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, uses a physical SIM only.
To confirm on your own phone, follow Apple’s steps to find your iPhone’s identifiers: open Settings, tap General, then About, and scroll down. If you see an EID near the IMEI, your iPhone has an eSIM. You can also look in Settings, Cellular (Mobile Data on some versions) for an option to add an eSIM.
Regional iPhone models without eSIM
Apple notes that most iPhone models sold in mainland China do not support eSIM, with only a few recent models as exceptions. It also says some models sold in Hong Kong and Macao use two physical nano-SIM cards for Dual SIM instead of eSIM. If you bought your iPhone in one of those markets, or second-hand from someone who did, check for the EID before you buy a travel plan.
Can an iPhone hold more than one eSIM?
Apple says iPhone 13 and later support two active eSIMs. Both lines can make and receive calls and messages, but only one uses mobile data at a time. That is exactly the set-up most travellers want: your Canadian number for texts and bank codes, the travel eSIM for data.
How to check if a Samsung Galaxy phone supports eSIM
Samsung sells a wide range of phones, and eSIM support varies by model and by the country it was sold in. Samsung’s own eSIM guide gives two quick checks:
- Find the EID: open Settings, About phone, then Status. If an EID is listed, the phone has an eSIM chip. The EID is also printed on the box of many models.
- Look for the eSIM option: open Settings, Connections, then SIM card manager. If you can tap “Add mobile plan” there, the phone supports eSIM.
Samsung’s eSIM compatibility page lists the Galaxy S20 series and later S models, the Z Fold and Z Flip foldables, the Note20 series and selected A and XCover models. It is written for Australian versions, and Samsung advises checking the spec page for your exact model and region. On Samsung’s support site, choose your device, open Spec, then Network/Bearer, and look for “Embedded-SIM” under SIM Size.
Tip: Galaxy A series phones are where support varies most. A model with eSIM in one country may ship without it in another, so trust the EID check on your own phone over any list.
How to check if a Google Pixel supports eSIM
Google’s Pixel eSIM help page says the Pixel 3a and later support one physical SIM plus one eSIM. Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and later can hold two eSIM profiles at once if the carrier allows it. Google also notes that a Pixel 3a bought in Japan cannot use two SIMs.
To find the EID, follow Google’s steps to find your Pixel’s ID numbers: open Settings, tap About phone, then SIM status, and look for the EID entry. To add a plan, go to Settings, Network & internet, SIMs, then Add SIM.
Google also says Pixel 10 models sold in the US, except the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, are eSIM only. That matters if you bought your Pixel across the border: those phones have no SIM tray, so you rely entirely on eSIM, which suits travel plans well.
Where to find your EID: iPhone, Samsung and Pixel compared
| Phone | Where to find the EID | Where to add an eSIM | Official model list |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > General > About | Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM | iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later |
| Samsung Galaxy | Settings > About phone > Status | Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add mobile plan | Varies by model and region; check the spec page |
| Google Pixel | Settings > About phone > SIM status | Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM | Pixel 3a and later |
Menu names can shift slightly between software versions. If you cannot find any of these entries, enter your model in our compatibility checker for a quick answer.
How to check if your phone is unlocked in Canada
A phone can have perfect eSIM hardware and still refuse a travel plan if it is carrier locked. Canadian rules make this much less common than it used to be.
What the CRTC Wireless Code says
In June 2017, the CRTC announced that it would end locked cellphones and unlocking fees. As of December 1, 2017, individual and small business wireless customers have the right to have their devices unlocked free of charge on request, and newly purchased devices must be provided unlocked. In practice, a phone bought new from a Canadian carrier or retailer since then should already be unlocked.
The phones to double-check are older ones bought before that date, phones bought second-hand, and phones bought in another country, where different rules apply. The Government of Canada’s travel advice on mobile devices abroad also suggests confirming your phone is unlocked before you rely on a local SIM or eSIM.
How to check an iPhone
Apple’s guide to unlocking your iPhone gives a simple test: open Settings, tap General, then About, and look at Carrier Lock. If it says “No SIM restrictions”, the iPhone is unlocked. If it shows anything else, contact the carrier, because Apple says only the carrier can unlock the phone.
How to check an Android phone
For Samsung and Pixel phones, the most reliable route is to ask your carrier to confirm the phone’s unlock status, or check your carrier account online. If the phone turns out to be locked, ask for the free unlock before your trip, not the day before you fly.
Second-hand and imported phones
Buying a used phone or picking one up on a trip abroad can save money, but it is where both checks most often fail. Before you hand over cash for a used phone, ask the seller to open the About screen so you can see the EID and, on an iPhone, the Carrier Lock line. If the phone came from another country, compare its exact model against the maker’s list for that region, not the Canadian one.
A phone locked to a foreign carrier has to be unlocked through that carrier, since Apple says only the carrier an iPhone is locked to can unlock it. When in doubt, enter the model in our compatibility checker and confirm the lock status in settings before you plan a trip around it.
Watch: how to set up an eSIM on iPhone
Once you know your phone is ready, the set-up itself is short. Apple Support’s official video walks through adding an eSIM on iPhone.
The same steps apply to a travel eSIM: scan the QR code, label the line, and choose which line handles mobile data. Our guide to installing an eSIM before you fly covers Samsung and Pixel as well.
What if my phone is not eSIM compatible?
If your phone has no EID and no eSIM option, a travel eSIM will not work on it. You still have choices:
- Use your carrier’s roaming plan for a short trip. Our comparison of Bell, Rogers and Telus roaming vs an eSIM shows what that costs per day.
- Buy a physical local SIM when you arrive, if your phone is unlocked and has a SIM tray.
- Travel with a second phone that supports eSIM, such as a recent hand-me-down, and use it as a hotspot for the older phone.
- Upgrade before a long trip. If you are replacing your phone soon anyway, choose a model on the official lists above.
For families, keep in mind that each eSIM installs on one phone only, so every phone in the group needs to pass these checks. Our guide to sharing mobile data with family abroad explains how to mix eSIMs and hotspots.
A two-minute eSIM compatibility checklist
| Check | How | Pass if |
|---|---|---|
| eSIM hardware | Look for the EID in About or Status settings | An EID is listed |
| eSIM option | Look in SIM or Cellular settings | You can add an eSIM or mobile plan |
| Unlock status | iPhone: Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock; Android: ask your carrier | “No SIM restrictions” or the carrier confirms it is unlocked |
| Regional model | Bought in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao or Japan? | The EID check still passes |
| Software | Update to the latest iOS or Android version | Update installed before you travel |
If every row passes, your phone is ready for a travel eSIM. Do these checks a week or more before departure, so there is time to request an unlock or ask our help centre if something looks off.
Your next step
Run your model through our eSIM compatibility checker, then choose a plan for where you are going, whether that is the United States, Mexico or anywhere from our destinations. The QR code arrives by email within about a minute, and you can install it at home because the plan’s days only start when it first connects at your destination.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?
Look for an EID number in your phone's About or Status settings, or an option to add an eSIM or mobile plan in the SIM settings. If either is there, the phone has an eSIM chip. Our compatibility checker also confirms it by model.
Are all phones sold in Canada unlocked?
Phones newly purchased in Canada since December 1, 2017 must be provided unlocked under the CRTC's Wireless Code rules. Older phones, second-hand phones and phones bought abroad may still be locked, so check before you travel.
Can I use an eSIM on a carrier-locked phone?
Not with another provider. A locked phone only accepts plans from the carrier it is locked to, so a travel eSIM from another provider will not work on it. Ask your carrier to unlock it, which is free in Canada for individual customers.
What is an EID number?
The EID is the unique identifier of the eSIM chip inside your phone. Only phones with eSIM hardware have one, which makes it a quick way to confirm eSIM support.
Do older iPhones support eSIM?
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR and every later model support eSIM, with exceptions for some models sold in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Anything older than the XS and XR does not.
Can I install a travel eSIM and keep my Canadian SIM?
Yes, on phones that support Dual SIM. Your Canadian line stays active for calls and texts while the travel eSIM handles mobile data, and you choose which line uses data in your settings.
