The advent of eSIM is a game-changer in this era of mobile network technology. Before eSIM phones, cell phone users were only familiar with a physical SIM card that offered the necessary connection to make and receive calls as well as use the internet. With eSIMs, you do not need to slot a physical card into your phone to access the functions of the traditional card.
However, there is a catch. eSIMs do not work on all phones. There are specific devices that accept eSIM, and they are in the minority. Therefore, eSIM Guru has compiled an up-to-date list of compatible devices. Continue reading to learn devices that can work with eSIMs.
The first question everyone asks when they hear about the wonders of eSIM technology is, “is my phone eSIM compatible?” That's a good question that can help you determine whether you can buy an eSIM profile or not. You will get an answer to that question in this article.
Moreover, most people who know about eSIMs believe only phones can use them, but that is far from true. Of course, we can't blame them for believing that since phones are the most popular devices that use eSIMs. In fact, more smartphones use eSIMs than other devices that are not phones.
Other non-phone devices that use eSIMs include laptops and wristwatches. That means your laptop or wristwatch can have a SIM card that lets it function just like your phone. How cool is that?
In case this fact is not already clear, eSIMs are digital or virtual versions of the traditional SIM card that you can hold. The beauty of eSIMs is that they work without you needing to buy a SIM pack at an outlet. All you need to do is have a supported device, and you can activate an eSIM in the comfort of your home.
What's so special about an eSIM phone or laptop that makes it able to use a virtual SIM card while your old device cannot use it? Since eSIM is a new technology, only the newer devices possess them. However, their newness is not the only thing that makes them compatible with eSIMs.
These newer devices are integrated with a microchip that connects to a mobile network carrier and acts as an eSIM. This microchip is the eSIM (embedded SIM), which makes the difference between a newer iPhone that supports eSIMs and an older iPhone that does not.
Essentially, newer devices with the eSIM microchip can support eSIMs, but older devices without the chip lack the ability to do the same.
Interestingly, some devices have the eSIM microchip, but you cannot activate an eSIM on them because they are carrier-locked. Put simply, some devices support eSIM technology, but they can only work with a specific carrier. This situation is usually due to where you buy your phone from.
For example, if you bought your phone from a mobile network provider, it might be tied to that one provider. That means it is carrier-locked, making it incompatible with eSIM. However, phones that come directly from the manufacturer's store are typically unlocked. Essentially, your phone must be carrier-unlocked and have no country-specific restrictions for it to work with an eSIM.
There are several phones with eSIM capacity, but they are in the minority. If you're curious about whether you have an eSIM-compatible phone, we've created a comprehensive eSIM phones list that doesn't leave out eligible phones as of 2023. Below is our eSIM phone list:
Apple is one of the phone makers that tapped into the eSIM technology. Since 2018, all apple phones have had eSIM capability. Here are Apple products that support eSIM:
Note: iPhone 13 and 14 models allow you to activate two eSIMs simultaneously, while others allow only one activation at a time.
Also, iPhones from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao (except iPhone XS, iPhone SE 2020, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini) don't have eSIM capability.
Samsung is one of the makers of eSIM Android phones. Check the list below to learn whether you have an eSIM android phone or not:
Note: US versions of the Samsung S20, S21, and Galaxy Z Flip 5G are incompatible with eSIM.
US and Hong Kong versions of Samsung Note 20 Ultra are not compatible with eSIM.
US and Hong Kong versions of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 are not compatible with eSIM.
Our list of eSIM-compatible phones cannot be complete without mentioning some Google Pixel models. Here are Pixel phones that support eSIM:
Note: Google Pixel 3 bought with US or Canadian carriers other than Spring, and Google Fi will not work with eSIM)
Google Pixel 3 devices from Australia, Taiwan, and Japan are incompatible with eSIM.
Google Pixel 3a from South East Asia does not work with eSIM.
The latest Huawei models are some of Android phones with eSIM.
As we mentioned earlier, eSIM capability is not limited to phones. Here are laptops with eSIMs:
An eSIM device can be a phone, laptop, or a wristwatch. Here are other devices that accept eSIM:
Now that you know the devices that support eSIM, you should prioritize buying them. Also, ensure that the phone you're buying is carrier-unlocked and has no country-specific restrictions that may affect you. Once you satisfy all the conditions for compatibility, you can activate a US, Africa, or Europe eSIM with phone number without difficulty.
Devices that accept eSIM, such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, have built-in technology that allows them to use an embedded SIM card instead of a physical one. This provides the convenience of activating and switching between mobile networks without the need for a physical SIM card.
To check if your phone is compatible with eSIM, you can refer to the manufacturer's specifications or contact their customer support. Many popular phone models from various manufacturers now support eSIM functionality.
Absolutely! All eSIM-compatible devices offer the flexibility to support multiple carriers, empowering users to switch between networks seamlessly.
eSIM-enabled laptops offer a convenient and streamlined way to connect to cellular networks. Instead of relying on traditional physical SIM cards, eSIM laptops come with built-in eSIM technology that allows you to activate cellular data plans directly on your device. By selecting and activating an eSIM data plan, you can enjoy instant connectivity without the need for external SIM cards.
Absolutely! With eSIM technology, you can activate and use multiple eSIM profiles on a single phone. This means you can enjoy the benefits of different carrier plans, such as local data plans while traveling or taking advantage of special offers from various providers.
With eSIM technology, the number of eSIMs you can activate on your phone may vary depending on the device and operating system.If you're using an iOS device, you can typically install five or more eSIMs on your device. However, please keep in mind that only two eSIMs can be active at a time. This allows you to easily switch between the two active eSIM profiles based on your needs
