Not every phone has eSIM and finding out at the airport is a terrible way to start a trip. Here’s how to check your device in two minutes flat.
Picture this: you’re at Melbourne Airport, thirty minutes before boarding. You’ve bought a travel eSIM, you’re feeling organised, and then the activation fails. Turns out the Android you’ve been using for three years doesn’t support eSIM at all. Trip hasn’t even started and it’s already a headache.
This catches more people out than you’d expect. eSIM support isn’t built into every phone, and it’s not always obvious which devices have it. Before putting money down on any travel data plan, it’s worth doing a quick check. The full list of eSIM supported phone models covers every compatible device currently available, worth a look before you buy anything.
What is an eSIM, and why are travellers switching to it?
An eSIM is a SIM card that lives inside your phone’s hardware. Nothing to insert, nothing to lose at the bottom of a bag. When you want a new mobile plan, you scan a QR code and it downloads directly to the phone.
For travel specifically, this changes the whole routine. No queuing at an airport kiosk. No hunting for a local SIM card shop in a city where you don’t speak the language. You buy the plan at home, activate it before you leave, and you’ve got data the moment you clear customs. It’s always cheaper than paying Telstra or Optus roaming rates, and there’s no physical card to damage or misplace across a two-week trip.
Does an iPhone have eSIM? Which models are compatible?
If the iPhone was bought in the last five or six years, it almost certainly has eSIM. Here’s the full breakdown:
- iPhone XS, XS Max, XR (2018)
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 series (all models)
- iPhone 13 series (all models)
- iPhone 14, 15, 16 series (all models)
- iPhone SE – 2020 and 2022 models
How to activate an eSIM on an iPhone
The process is straightforward and takes about three minutes:
- Open Settings and tap Mobile Data
- Tap Add eSIM
- Scan the QR code from the eSIM provider
- Follow the on-screen prompts and label the plan – “Travel Data” or the destination name works well
- Select which SIM handles data while abroad
Which Android phones are eSIM compatible?
Android is patchier than iPhone on this. Manufacturers have adopted eSIM at different rates, and some budget models still don’t include it even now.
- Samsung: Galaxy S20 through S24 series; Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold (all generations); Galaxy A54 and A55 for those after a mid-range option.
- Google Pixel: Every model from the Pixel 3 onwards – including the budget ‘a’ variants like the Pixel 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 7a. The full Pixel 9 series is also supported.
- Other brands: Oppo Find X3 Pro, Find X5, Find X5 Pro; OnePlus 11 and 12; Motorola Razr from 2019 onwards and the Razr Plus; Huawei P40 and P50 series, though availability in Australia is limited on those.
How to activate an eSIM on Android?
Steps differ slightly depending on who made the phone, but the general path is the same:
- Open Settings, go to Network & Internet or Connections
- Tap SIM Cards or Mobile Networks
- Select Add eSIM or Download a SIM
- Scan the QR code
- Confirm and activate
If those menu options aren’t visible, the phone most likely doesn’t support eSIM. A quick search of the exact model number online will give a definitive answer either way.
How do you check if your phone has eSIM capability?
Three ways to find out:
Check the settings menu. On iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → look for “Add eSIM.” On Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIM Cards → look for “Add eSIM” or “Download SIM.” If neither option appears, eSIM isn’t supported on that device.
Dial a code (iPhone only). Open the phone app and dial *#06#. If a 32-digit EID number appears on screen, the phone has eSIM hardware built in.
Check the manufacturer’s website. Search the exact model number and look at the connectivity specs. eSIM support is listed there when a device has it.
What are the best travel eSIM options for Australians?
Once the phone checks out, Yesim is worth a look. It covers 200+ countries and offers a few different plan structures depending on the trip:
- Regional plans cover an entire continent – useful for anyone doing a Europe loop or hopping around Southeast Asia. Typically $20–$30 AUD for 5–10GB, and there’s no need to buy a new plan at each border.
- Single-country plans suit straightforward trips to one destination. These start from around $8–$15 for a week of data.
- Global plans work across 100+ countries and make sense for longer trips or anyone who wants one plan and no further decisions to make.
For anyone unsure how much data a trip actually needs, the Yesim data calculator is a practical starting point, input daily usage habits and it gives a realistic estimate before committing to a plan size.
Readers get 10% off: Use promo code YESTECHGID10 at checkout on the Yesim app. Available to new customers.
Common eSIM activation mistakes and how to avoid them
Most problems trace back to the same handful of errors.
- Scanning the wrong QR code happens when buying plans for multiple people or destinations at once. Each code links to a specific plan – labelling them clearly before travel day avoids a lot of confusion.
- Leaving data roaming on for the Australian SIM is the most costly mistake. With eSIM active for data abroad, the primary line can still fall back to roaming automatically if it’s not switched off. Go to Settings and disable data roaming on the Aussie SIM before departing.
- Activating at the airport rather than at home is asking for trouble. Get it done the night before on a reliable home connection.
- Deleting the QR code after activation is worth avoiding. If the profile ever needs reinstalling, the original code is required. Keep a screenshot saved somewhere accessible.
Two minutes checking eSIM compatibility before buying a plan saves a lot of grief later. Check the settings, confirm the model, and if everything lines up, sort the plan from home before the suitcase is even out of the cupboard.
New to Yesim? Use code YESTECHGID10 for 10% off your first plan.
