Which iPhones support eSIM? Full list, carrier lock check and dual SIM limits

Every iPhone from the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR (2018) onwards supports eSIM, and so does the iPhone SE from its 2nd generation. If your iPhone is one of those and isn't locked to a carrier, it can run a travel eSIM such as Cabin Mode alongside your usual line. The two things worth checking before you buy are the carrier lock, which is a setting, and whether your model can run two eSIMs at once, which depends on the model.

This page has the full list, as of September 2026.

The quick check on your own iPhone

Two places in Settings answer most of the question:

1. Does it support eSIM? Go to Settings › Cellular (Mobile Data or Mobile Service in some regions). If you see Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan, it does.
2. Is it unlocked? Go to Settings › General › About and scroll to Carrier Lock. No SIM restrictions means you can use any carrier's eSIM. Anything else means the phone is locked.

To see which model you have, check Settings › General › About › Model Name.

iPhone models that support eSIM

Older models (iPhone X, 8 and earlier) don't support eSIM. They can only use physical SIM cards.

"Two eSIMs active at once" is about lines working simultaneously. Every eSIM-capable iPhone can store several eSIMs; Apple says current models hold eight or more. You just choose which ones are switched on.

Which iPhones are eSIM-only

Apple has been removing the SIM tray market by market:

• United States: every iPhone 14 and later sold in the US is eSIM-only.
• iPhone Air: eSIM-only in every country, including mainland China.
• iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e, 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max: eSIM-only when bought in the United States, US Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Guam, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. Everywhere else, including the UK, Europe and Australia, they have a nano-SIM tray as well as eSIM.

What this means for travel: if your iPhone is eSIM-only, a physical local SIM card simply isn't an option. You'll be choosing between roaming with your home carrier and a travel eSIM. eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM compares the two.

The China exception

iPhones sold in mainland China are different. Most use two physical nano-SIM slots and don't support eSIM. As of September 2026, Apple lists only the iPhone Air, iPhone 17e, iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max as supporting eSIM on mainland China models. Some models sold in Hong Kong and Macao also use two physical SIMs. If you bought your iPhone there, check Settings › Cellular for the Add eSIM option before buying a plan.

Separately, if you're travelling to mainland China, install your travel eSIM before you enter. Installing eSIM profiles from inside the country can be restricted.

The carrier lock: the thing that actually stops people

A carrier-locked iPhone only accepts SIMs and eSIMs from the carrier it's locked to. An eSIM doesn't get around that. It's the most common reason a travel eSIM won't install.

How to check: Settings › General › About › Carrier Lock.

• No SIM restrictions: unlocked. You're fine.
• SIM locked, or a carrier name: locked.

Why phones are locked: usually because they were bought on a payment plan or with a carrier discount. Carriers typically unlock once the phone is paid off and has been active for a set period. The rules vary by carrier and country, so ask yours.

What to do: request an unlock from your carrier well before your trip. Unlocks can take a few days. Don't leave it for the airport.

Business phones: if your iPhone is managed by an employer, a device management profile may block adding lines even when the phone is unlocked. Check Settings › General › VPN & Device Management, and ask your IT team.

Dual SIM: how many lines at once

Every eSIM-capable iPhone supports Dual SIM Dual Standby. That means two lines can be active and ready at the same time. Within that:

• iPhone XS to iPhone 12 (and SE 2nd gen): one physical SIM plus one eSIM. If your home carrier gave you an eSIM rather than a card, you can't run it alongside a travel eSIM on these models; only one eSIM can be active at a time. You'd need your home line on a physical SIM card, or to switch lines back and forth.
• iPhone 13 and later: two eSIMs can be active together, or one eSIM and one physical SIM where there's a tray.

Some limits that apply to all models:

• Only one line carries data at a time. You choose it in Settings › Cellular › Cellular Data.
• Only one call at a time. While you're on a call on one line, the other can only take calls if its carrier supports Wi-Fi Calling and you have it on.
• Data roaming on the data line has side effects. Apple notes that when the data line is roaming, your other line loses Visual Voicemail and MMS. Regular SMS still arrives.

How the two lines divide calls, texts, iMessage and data is covered in dual SIM on iPhone for travel.

iPad and Apple Watch

Cellular iPads also support eSIM, and some travel eSIM providers support them. Cabin Mode is built for iPhone, so its plans and one-tap install are for iPhone. Apple Watch cellular plans are tied to your iPhone carrier and don't work with travel eSIMs.

To share a travel eSIM with an iPad or laptop, use your iPhone's Personal Hotspot. See using a travel eSIM as a hotspot.

What Cabin Mode needs

• An iPhone XR or later (the XS and XS Max from the same year work too).
• Carrier-unlocked: "No SIM restrictions" under Carrier Lock.
• A reasonably current version of iOS.
• Wi-Fi to install before you fly.

If all four are true, pick a destination. Popular ones include Japan, Europe and the United States. The install takes a couple of minutes: how to install a travel eSIM on iPhone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my iPhone supports eSIM?

Go to Settings › Cellular. If you see Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan, it does. Any iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, SE (2nd generation) or later supports eSIM, except most models sold in mainland China.

Is the iPhone 14 eSIM-only?

In the United States, yes. The iPhone 14 and every later model sold in the US has no SIM tray. Outside the US, the iPhone 14, 15 and 16 still have a nano-SIM tray as well as eSIM.

Can iPhone 11 or iPhone 12 use two eSIMs at the same time?

No. They can store several eSIMs but only have one eSIM active alongside a physical SIM. Two active eSIMs at once needs an iPhone 13 or later.

How do I check if my iPhone is carrier-locked?

Go to Settings › General › About and find Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means it's unlocked. Anything else means it's locked, and only your carrier can unlock it.

Can I use a travel eSIM on a locked iPhone?

No. A locked iPhone only accepts eSIMs from the carrier it's locked to. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.

How many eSIMs can an iPhone hold?

Apple says current iPhones can store eight or more eSIMs. Only two lines can be active at once, and only one line carries data at a time.