$16.50about $1.65 a day
Get UbigiDoes my phone have eSIM? iPhone and Android models
Yes if you have an iPhone XS, XR or later, a Pixel 4 or later, or a Galaxy S22 or later. With one of those, unlocked, the eSIM to get for Japan is Ubigi: 10 GB for about $16.50. For any other phone, dial *#06#: an EID number on the screen means yes.
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How to check if your phone has eSIM
What you're looking for is an EID, the 32-digit number that belongs to a phone's eSIM chip. Any one of these will show it.
On any phone: dial the code
Open the phone app and dial *#06#. An EID number on the screen means the phone has eSIM. If you only see an IMEI, check the settings below. No EID there either means no eSIM.
On an iPhone: open About
Go to Settings > General > About and scroll down. A line called EID means yes. The Carrier Lock line nearby should say No SIM restrictions, and that's the other half of the answer.
On Android: open Status
Go to Settings > About phone > Status, or Status Information on a Galaxy, and look for EID. The exact names shift a little from brand to brand.
Which iPhones have eSIM
Every iPhone from the XS and XR on has it, so the iPhone 11, 12 and 13 all do. The iPhone X, the 8 and everything older don't, and neither does the first iPhone SE.
| iPhone | eSIM? | Lines that run at once |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Air, 14, 15, 16, 17 and later | Yes, with no SIM tray | Two eSIMs |
| iPhone 13, all models | Yes | Two eSIMs, or eSIM and SIM card |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | Yes | Two eSIMs, or eSIM and SIM card |
| iPhone 12 and 11, all models | Yes | One eSIM and a SIM card |
| iPhone XS, XS Max, XR | Yes | One eSIM and a SIM card |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | Yes | One eSIM and a SIM card |
| iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus and older | No | SIM card only |
| iPhone SE (1st generation) | No | SIM card only |
The right-hand column matters if your US line is already on an eSIM. On an iPhone 12 or older, a travel eSIM can't run next to it, so you'd have no US calls or texts on the trip unless your carrier first moves your number to a SIM card.
Android phones with eSIM: Pixel, Samsung, Motorola
Android is messier than iPhone, because the same model can come in versions with and without eSIM. Use the tables to narrow it down, and let the EID have the last word.
| Google Pixel | eSIM? |
|---|---|
| Pixel 7 and later | Yes, and two eSIMs at once if your carrier allows it |
| Pixel 4, 5, 6 | Yes, one eSIM and a SIM card |
| Pixel 3a | Yes, unless bought with Verizon service or in Japan |
| Pixel 3 | Only some: in the US, those bought with Sprint or Google Fi |
| Pixel 2 | Only those bought with Google Fi |
| Pixel (2016) | No |
In the US, the Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL have no SIM tray at all, so eSIM is the only way to use them.
| Samsung Galaxy | eSIM? |
|---|---|
| S22 and later | Yes |
| Z Flip3, Z Fold3 and later | Yes |
| S20, S21, Note20 | Depends on the US version, so check the EID |
| A36 5G, A54 5G, A55 5G, A56 5G | Yes |
| Other Galaxy A models | Don't assume so, check the EID |
| Motorola | eSIM? |
|---|---|
| Razr+ 2023 and later, razr (2020) | Yes |
| Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 and later | Yes |
| Moto G 5G (2023) | Yes |
| Other models | Check the EID |
Another brand, like OnePlus? Dial *#06# and check the settings above: the EID beats any list for a phone sold in several versions.
Your phone has eSIM but won't take one
An EID proves the chip is there. Two more things can stand between it and a travel plan.
Your carrier still has it locked
A locked phone refuses another company's eSIM. On postpaid plans, AT&T unlocks a phone that's paid off and was bought more than 60 days ago. T-Mobile wants it paid off and active for 40 days. Verizon unlocks a phone once it's paid in full, and phones bought before January 27, 2026 should already be unlocked. Prepaid phones usually wait longer, up to a year. Ask a week or two before you fly, since a request can take a couple of days.
It was sold for another market
The iPhone model list above is for US phones. In mainland China, Apple sells only a few iPhones with eSIM, and Samsung's support also varies by country. Bought overseas or secondhand? Check for the EID, whatever the model name says.
Once your phone passes, the setup takes minutes: the iPhone guide shows every screen, and the Android guide has the Samsung and Pixel menus.
What to do if your phone doesn't have eSIM
You can still have cheap data abroad. It just won't come from a travel eSIM.
A local SIM card works in any unlocked phone with a tray: here's how it compares with an eSIM. Going to Japan with a group, or with a laptop to connect too? Look at pocket WiFi, which runs on its own device and doesn't care what phone you carry.
eSIM compatibility questions
Is the iPhone SE compatible with eSIM?
The 2nd generation (2020) and 3rd generation (2022) are. The original iPhone SE from 2016 isn't. To be sure about yours, look for an EID line in Settings > General > About.
Which Samsung phones have eSIM capabilities?
Every Galaxy S22 and later, and the Z Flip3, Z Fold3 and later. US versions of the S20, S21 and Note20 vary, and so does the Galaxy A series, where the A36 5G, A54 5G, A55 5G and A56 5G have it. Dial *#06# if yours isn't named here.
Which Motorola phones are compatible with eSIMs?
The Razr+ from 2023 on, the Moto G Stylus 5G from 2023 on, the Moto G 5G (2023) and the 2020 razr all have it. For other models, dial *#06# and look for an EID number.
Why is my phone not compatible with eSIM?
Three usual reasons: the model has no eSIM chip, a US carrier still has it locked, or it's a version sold for another market, such as most iPhones sold in mainland China. An EID number rules out the first one. Your carrier can tell you about the second.
Can you have two eSIMs on one phone?
Yes, and on an iPhone 13 or later, an iPhone SE (3rd generation) or a Pixel 7 or later, both can run at once (on a Pixel, if your carrier allows it). Older models with eSIM run one eSIM next to a physical SIM card.
Ubigi for Japan10 GB, 30 days, $16.50
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