Before you buy any travel eSIM, there's one thing worth thirty seconds: confirming your phone actually supports it. eSIM is standard on every flagship from the last several years, so most people are fine — but there are a few specific variants that quietly don't work, and it's better to find out now than at the airport.
The simple version
If your phone is any of these, you're almost certainly good:
- iPhone: XS, XR, and everything newer (2018 onward). US iPhone 14 and later are eSIM-only — no physical SIM tray at all — which makes a travel eSIM the only way to add a local line.
- Google Pixel: Pixel 3 and newer.
- Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy S20 FE and newer, plus the recent Note, Z Fold, and Z Flip lines.
- Others: recent Motorola Razr / Edge, OnePlus 11 and newer, Sony Xperia, and most current Oppo, Xiaomi, and Nothing flagships sold internationally.
For the full model-by-model list, see our device compatibility page.
The exceptions worth knowing
A phone "supporting eSIM" is really about the specific variant you bought, not just the model name. Two cases catch people out:
Mainland China variants. Phones purchased in mainland China — including iPhones — very often have eSIM disabled in firmware, regardless of model. If you bought your phone in China, assume it won't work until you've checked.
Region-specific Android variants. Some Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei models support eSIM in some regions and not others. Huawei phones without Google services are a separate compatibility question entirely. If you're on one of these, verify with the manufacturer for your exact model and region before you rely on it.
How to check in 20 seconds
Don't take a list's word for it — your phone will tell you directly.
- iPhone: Settings → General → About, scroll to the bottom. If you see an "Available SIM" or "Digital SIM" / EID entry, eSIM is supported. Or just try Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM; if the option exists, you're set.
- Android: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → look for "Add eSIM" or "Download a SIM instead." If it's there, you're good. (Exact wording varies by brand.)
- Dial check (many phones): open the dialer and type
*#06#. If an EID number appears alongside your IMEI, your phone has an eSIM.
What about older or budget phones?
If your phone predates the cutoffs above — an iPhone 8, an early Pixel, a budget Galaxy A model — it likely has no eSIM, and a travel eSIM won't work. Your options there are a physical travel SIM or pocket WiFi. Nothing wrong with that; it's just a different product.
Driftvoy is launching in September 2026 with full-speed eSIM plans for Japan and Thailand. Join the waitlist for 10% off your first plan.