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Does My Phone Support eSIM? The Complete 2026 Guide for Australians
Before you buy a travel eSIM, it's worth spending 30 seconds confirming your phone supports one. Most phones bought in Australia in the last four or five years do, but there are a few exceptions worth knowing about, especially if you're heading to China.
The fastest way to check: dial this code
Open your phone dialler and call:
If you see an EID number in the results, your phone supports eSIM. No EID means no eSIM support.
The EID is a long number, usually 20 or more digits, that identifies your phone's built-in eSIM chip. If it shows up, you're ready to go. If you only see IMEI numbers and nothing labelled EID, your phone doesn't have eSIM support.
Which iPhones support eSIM
Apple introduced eSIM support with the iPhone XS in 2018, and every model since then supports it. If you have an iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, you're covered regardless of which variant you have.
📱 Supported iPhones
- iPhone 16 series (all models)
- iPhone 15 series (all models)
- iPhone 14 series (all models)
- iPhone 13 series (all models)
- iPhone 12 series (all models)
- iPhone 11 series (all models)
- iPhone XS and XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd gen 2020 onwards)
🚫 Not supported
- iPhone X and older
- iPhone 8 and older
- Any iPhone bought in mainland China
This catches people out. iPhones sold in mainland China use dual physical SIM slots instead of eSIM, due to local regulations. Even a recent iPhone 15 bought in China will not have an EID. If your phone was purchased in China, a physical local SIM is your only option for travel data.
Which Android phones support eSIM
Android support is more fragmented than iPhone, but most flagship phones from 2019 onwards have it. Samsung, Google Pixel and a number of other brands are well covered.
Samsung: supported from
- Galaxy S20 series and later
- Galaxy S21, S22, S23, S24
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 and later
- Galaxy Z Flip and later
- Galaxy Note 20 series
- Galaxy A54 and A55
Google Pixel: supported from
- Pixel 3 and later
- Pixel 3a and later
- All Pixel 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 models
Other brands that support eSIM
- Motorola Razr (2019 onwards)
- Motorola Edge+ (2020 onwards)
- Huawei P40 series
- Sony Xperia 10 III and later
- OnePlus (selected models from 2022)
Not supported
- Most budget Android phones
- Samsung A series below A54
- Phones purchased in mainland China
- Most Android phones older than 2019
How to install an eSIM on iPhone
- Go to Settings, then Mobile Data, then Add eSIM
- Tap Use QR Code
- Scan the QR code from your Travelren confirmation email
- Follow the prompts to label the plan, something like "China Travel" works well
- Set it as your primary data SIM before you board
How to install an eSIM on Samsung Android
- Go to Settings, then Connections, then SIM Manager
- Tap Add eSIM
- Select Scan QR code from service provider
- Scan your QR code
- Set the eSIM as your default for mobile data
You need a working internet connection to download and install an eSIM. If you're travelling to China, this matters especially: you won't be able to set up a new eSIM once you're inside the firewall without an existing connection. Install it at home, before you board.
Can you use eSIM and your regular SIM at the same time?
Yes, and this is one of the best things about using a travel eSIM. Your physical Telstra or Optus SIM stays in the phone the whole time. It keeps your Australian number active for calls and texts from home. The eSIM handles your data while you're travelling. You don't miss anything, and you're not paying Telstra $10 a day for the privilege.
Your phone is eSIM ready. Now get your plan.
Greater China eSIM plans from $3.50 AUD. Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau on one plan. Instant delivery by email.
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