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Which Phones Have eSIM Compatibility?

By
Kyle Reyes
April 25, 2023

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Finding whether or not your current phone is eSIM compatible is an important step if you want to change your device from physical SIM to eSIM. This list is also important if you want to purchase a new phone and ensure it is eSIM compatible. In general terms, many newer models are eSIM compatible and physical SIM compatible, but this list will give you every phone currently compatible. 

You can also search the phone’s specifics to ensure it retains the compatibility of your preferred type of SIM card. Let’s jump into the list of which phones have eSIM compatibility with a highlight on the ones that we like the best from each cell phone manufacturer. 

Apple Phones with eSIM Compatibility 

Apple has produced phones with eSIM compatibility for many years. They have a lot of available models at all manner of price points, making this a great place to start if you are looking for a new eSIM-compatible device. For current iPhone users, you may find that you have a device that’s already compatible with eSIM cards. Here are all the eSIM-compatible Apple devices. 

  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone SE 2 (2020)
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 Mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone SE 3 (2022)
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max

Our top 3 eSIM Compatible Apple Phones

Embedded SIM-compatible phones are very popular among phone users who want to have multiple accounts on one device. Most eSIM-compatible Apple iPhones can hold two accounts on the chip, and some can hold many more than that. If you are interested in multiple accounts on your device, or are partial to eSIM cell phone plans over regular SIM cell phone plans, here are our top choices of Apple phones that have eSIM!

iPhone 14 Pro

Price: $1,000

We’re starting off this list on the high end of the spectrum. The iPhone 14 Pro is an absolute beast of a phone, but you pay for it with the steep $1,000 price point. Let’s talk about what separates this phone from the previous generations. For starters, it has a 48 MP main camera. That provides an immense range of photo and video options at your fingertips. The iPhone 13 comes in with a 12 MP camera, which is the standard for a lot of the newer iPhone models. This immense camera is one of the reasons the iPhone is so expensive, so make sure that you will make good use of its photo and video-taking ability if you’ve got this phone on your mind. 

Alongside the camera, the battery and processor are huge draws for this device. There are a lot of options for phones with eSIM compatibility, perfect for users who want high-end phones as well as those who don’t need the camera, processor, and other advancements in the newest lines of devices. Let’s look at two more iPhones with eSIM compatibility. 

iPhones are some of the most popular cell phones on the market, and their popularity makes them a great choice when looking at which phones have eSIM. 

iPhone 13

Price:  $730

Apple’s iPhone 13 series is a fantastic choice for an eSIM phone. It is cheaper than the series 14, while providing pretty amazing hardware across the board. The camera is fantastic, the processor is tremendous, and the phone will last for a long time.   iMessage access allows quick and efficient communication with all Apple devices. They have a fantastic UI, and it is really easy to add a second SIM card through the phone's settings. On top of its eSIM compatibility, the iPhone 13 series is a powerhouse, so if you are someone who likes to game or watch videos or something like that on your phone, this is a fantastic way to do that.

iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

Price: $450

The iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is an affordable option that nets you a great new Apple device with eSIM capability. This model comes without the bells and whistles that many of the other new phones have, but you can rest assured that it is a new phone and is not refurbished, while coming at an astonishingly low price point in relation to the other phones on Apple’s roster. When looking at cell phones it is tempting to go for one of the newest models, but affordable options like this still provide a serious set of features. When you look through phones with the intention of purchasing a new one, take a moment to think about how you use your phone. If you generally just use your phone for messaging and browsing the web, then, well, a more affordable phone could be a great option to save some money while getting everything you need. 

Apple Tablets with eSIM Compatibility 

Alongside its impressive roster of phones, Apple also has a selection of tablets with eSIM compatibility. The ability to connect your tablet to a mobile network adds a lot of flexibility to your connection to the wider world. Lots of tablet plans are inexpensive and, while they don’t provide the same data package as phone plans, let you use your tablet while out and about. If you have one of these models, you can use your tablet with an eSIM as well! 

  • iPad Pro 11″ (model A2068, from 2020)
  • iPad Pro 12.9″ (model A2069, from 2020)
  • iPad Air (model A2123, from 2019)
  • iPad (model A2198, from 2019)
  • iPad Mini (model A2124, from 2019)

Our top Tablet with eSIM Compatibility — iPad Air

Price: $600 

The iPad Air is our top choice for an Apple tablet with eSIM compatibility. If you are interested in having a great tablet with mobile network connectivity, the sharp 10.9-inch display, strong processor, and excellent features make it a versatile tablet in your hands. It comes with a USB-C port, making it more of a versatile connection to other gadgets you may have in your home. 

Tablets are a popular option for people, especially now that there are lots of options to turn them into functioning computers. With the addition of an attachable keyboard and mouse, the iPad Air is excellent for the majority of basic computer operations. With the addition of an eSIM, you can use it for basic phone operations as well! 

There are lots of excellent choices for eSIM-compatible phones on the market. When looking at which phones have eSIM, you can decide whether you want a new and fancy device, or would rather go with an older and more affordable model.

Samsung Phones with eSIM Compatibility

Samsung is also up there as a powerhouse phone provider with a ton of phones that have eSIM compatibility. You can look through their offerings to find a great device that fits your phone needs! Here is the full list of which Samsung phones have eSIM compatibility:

  • Samsung Galaxy S20
  • Samsung Galaxy S20+
  • Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5g
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S21
  • Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
  • Samsung Galaxy S21+ Ultra 5G
  • Samsung Galaxy S22
  • Samsung Galaxy S22+
  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 20
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G 
  • Samsung Galaxy Fold
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
  • Samsung Galaxy S23
  • Samsung Galaxy S23+
  • Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Our top 3 Samsung Phone with eSIM Compatibility

Embedded SIM compatibility in Samsung phones opens up a lot of opportunities for dual-SIM active devices and gives you the option to use an eSIM phone plan or a physical SIM phone plan. You can also switch between whichever one you wish as well. Let's look at some of our favorite Samsung phones that have eSIM. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Series

Price: $1,000

The S22 series from Samsung Galaxy are all eSIM compatible and have a fantastic suite of bells and whistles. It has a tremendous processor, a ton of memory, and a killer camera. The price tag is a big hurdle, but a phone like this will treat you well if you are able to budget out the money for it. 

The features on the S22 are some of the best out there. It has a ton of the attributes that come with new phones, and it can output some of the best pictures on the market. We do, however, want to mention the previous model, the S21. 

Samsung Galaxy S21 Series

Price: $625

The S21 series is amazing. It has the same base suite of features as the S22 with a weaker camera and processor. We are big fans of finding a more affordable phone depending on the best phone for you. 

Camera, resolution, processing power, and battery life are the major improvements in new phone lines. After that, there are few differences between the last couple phone series released by the major companies.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G 

Price: $250 (refurbished) 

Going back a little further lands you with a very affordable device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G on Amazon. This device is much cheaper than the alternatives, and while it is refurbished, these phones remain excellent options and are just like new. Renewed phones have to go through a pretty rigorous process in order to pass the tests. On Amazon, renewed phones pass these criteria: 

  • The product is in “Excellent Condition,” meaning the screen and body show no cosmetic damage from one foot away. 
  • Battery life exceeds 80% capacity relative to new.
  • Accessories are complete and fully functional
  • The phone is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of purchase

The Galaxy Note 20 is a great device that provides all the features you need for general phone usage. 

Google Pixels are a great option if you are interested in a device and neither Apple or Samsung devices have caught your eye, then a Google Pixel might do the trick. 

Google Pixel Phones with eSIM Compatibility

Next up on our list are the phones from Google Pixel. They have a lot of great options, just like Samsung and Apple. Here is the complete list: 

  • Google Pixel 2 
  • Google Pixel 2 XL
  • Google Pixel 3 
  • Google Pixel 3 XL
  • Google Pixel 3a 
  • Google Pixel 3a XL
  • Google Pixel 4
  • Google Pixel 4a
  • Google Pixel 4 XL
  • Google Pixel 5
  • Google Pixel 5a
  • Google Pixel 6
  • Google pixel 6a
  • Google Pixel 6 Pro
  • Google Pixel 7
  • Google Pixel 7 Pro

Our top 2 Google Pixel Phones with eSIM Compatibility 

Google Pixel phones are, across the board, less popular than Samsung and Apple devices, but they deliver fantastic performance, especially on the Google Fi MVNO. Google Fi has some amazing cell phone plans, and pairing one of those plans with a Google Pixel. 

Google Pixel 7

Price: $600

The Google Pixel 7 is a fantastic new phone with a lot of storage and access to the latest and greatest that Google is able to put on the table. This is an amazing phone for users of all kinds, and it has a great camera and some fantastic features when it comes to photo taking and photo editing. This is another excellent choice for an eSIM phone if you are looking for a new phone that is more affordable than the flagship from Samsung or Apple. 

If you are happy with a phone that’s been figuring out its look over the last few generations and landed on something fantastic, this is the phone for you. That said, the oldest Google Pixel with eSIM capability goes way back to the 3a. Let’s check it out. 

Google Pixel 3a

Price (Refurbished): $100

The price on this one changes greatly depending on the sale you get and where you look to purchase it. Right now on Amazon, the Google Pixel 3a is around $100 and a very affordable way to get an eSIM-compatible phone. 

Getting used phones, be they refurbished or lightly used, is always a risk because you are not sure if they have any problems on the inside. Refurbished or lightly used phones are almost always good as new, especially ones that are being sold by a wireless provider or another big distributor who checks the insides to ensure that everything is working. While these phones are riskier than new phones they are so cheap that even if they don’t last as long, you are able to purchase another one or even a third (if you are tremendously unlucky) and still be saving some serious money on your cell phone bill. 

Finding which phones have eSIM is a great way to narrow down the list of possible new phones. 

Key Takeaways

Are you wondering which phones have eSIM? We hope that this list has answered your questions! There are a lot of excellent choices for a new phone with eSIM compatibility. Let’s look at what each provider brings to the table. 

  • The eSIM-compatible Apple phones are tremendously popular and let you iMessage other iPhones. As with all eSIM devices, you can activate dual SIM on the device if you want to operate multiple accounts on the same device. 
  • The eSIM-compatible Samsung phones have a lot of great options and specs across the board. 
  • The eSIM-compatible Google Pixel phones, while less popular than the other companies, work great, especially when paired with their phone service. 

Activating an eSIM device is exciting and lets you enjoy the benefits of an eSIM phone plan. There are not too many differences between physical SIM and eSIM in terms of your service, but eSIM cards make it easier to switch carriers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eSIM available for all phones? 

No. There are a lot of older models of phones that only support physical SIM, as well as newer models from smaller phone manufacturers. The quantity of phones with eSIM compatibility is likely to increase over the next couple of years until just about every phone on the market has eSIM compatibility. 

How do I know if my phone is eSIM compatible?

You can check out our full list here to see which phones have eSIM. On top of that, there are ways to look at eSIM compatibility within your device. While it depends on the model of your device, looking into your settings is another way to discern whether or not your phone is eSIM compatible. 

How much does the eSIM cost? 

Nothing! There are no fees associated with activating an eSIM phone plan on any carrier. 

Does eSIM give a better signal? 

The SIM card does not affect the internet speeds or cellular reception of your device. eSIMs share serious similarities with SIM cards, so you should not expect a change in the quality of service when changing from one to the other.

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