This is the one step in the whole process we can't do for you, and the one where getting it wrong leaves you without a fallback. Three minutes now beats discovering the problem after you land.
There are two independent conditions, and you need both: the device supports eSIM, and the device isn't locked to the carrier that sold it. One out of two isn't enough.
Step one: does the device support eSIM?
1iPhone
Open Settings → General → About and scroll to the bottom. If you see an “Available eSIM” entry, or a second IMEI (IMEI2), the device supports eSIM.
2Android
Type *#06# on the dialler. Your device identifiers appear on screen. If an EID is listed among them, the device supports eSIM. An IMEI with no EID usually means it doesn't.
A rough guide by model
If you just want a quick sense of it, these lines and everything after them generally support eSIM:
- iPhone XS / XR and later
- Samsung Galaxy S20 and later
- Google Pixel 3 and later
Treat that as a rough guide only — regional variants of the same generation can differ. What actually counts is the check above, because it tests the specific handset in your hand.
Step two: confirm it isn't carrier-locked
A carrier lock is a restriction operators place on subsidised contract phones. A locked device only accepts that operator's SIM and cannot activate a third-party eSIM. This is entirely separate from hardware support — a contract phone can support eSIM and still refuse to install one.
How to tell: if you bought the phone at a subsidised price from a carrier on a contract, it may be locked, and you'll need to ask that carrier whether it has been released. Handsets bought outright at retail are usually unlocked.
Once both check out
Now you can pick a destination. Don't rush out the door once you have, though — the timing of the install matters too. See why you should install your eSIM before you fly, and the full step-by-step in the installation guide.
Still unsure after checking? Send us the model — get in touch and a real person will confirm it with you.