Which phones support eSIM?

Two separate things have to be true before an eSIM plan will work: the hardware has to support it, and the phone has to be carrier-unlocked. Here's how to check both.

Check on iPhone

Go to Settings > General > About and scroll down. If there's a line listing an "EID" number, the phone supports eSIM. Roughly: iPhone XS/XR and later. Some carrier-branded and dual-physical-SIM regional variants omit eSIM entirely, which is why checking directly beats going by model name alone.

Check on Android

Go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs (wording varies by manufacturer) and look for an option to add an eSIM or "download a SIM instead." If that option exists, the hardware supports it. Roughly: Pixel 3 and later, Samsung Galaxy S20/Note20 and later on unlocked models, and most upper-midrange-or-higher phones from 2019 onward.

The part people miss: carrier-unlocked

eSIM-capable hardware isn't enough on its own. A phone bought on a carrier installment plan or contract is often locked to that one carrier, which blocks installing any other provider's eSIM regardless of what the hardware supports. Check for a lock under carrier settings, or ask the carrier directly -- most will unlock a phone once it's paid off or the contract term is met.

Confirmed, what next

Once the phone checks out on both counts, see the activation guide for the install steps, or go straight to a country page to compare plans.