Apple and eSIM
iPhone has supported eSIM since the XS and XR. US-market iPhone 14 and later are eSIM only, with no SIM tray at all.
Author: Bob Kanokphon Thongdee · Co-founderReviewed by: Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul
| Model | eSIM | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Yes | 2025 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 17 Pro | Yes | 2025 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 17 | Yes | 2025 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone Air | Yes | 2025 | No SIM tray in any market — eSIM only. |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | Yes | 2024 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 16 Pro | Yes | 2024 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 16 Plus | Yes | 2024 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 16 | Yes | 2024 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 16e | Yes | 2025 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Yes | 2023 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 15 Pro | Yes | 2023 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 15 Plus | Yes | 2023 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 15 | Yes | 2023 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | Yes | 2022 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 14 Pro | Yes | 2022 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 14 Plus | Yes | 2022 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone 14 | Yes | 2022 | US units have no SIM tray and are eSIM only; mainland China units use two physical SIMs and have no eSIM. |
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) | Yes | 2022 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen) | Yes | 2020 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | Yes | 2021 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 13 Pro | Yes | 2021 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 13 | Yes | 2021 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 13 mini | Yes | 2021 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | Yes | 2020 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 12 Pro | Yes | 2020 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 12 | Yes | 2020 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 12 mini | Yes | 2020 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max | Yes | 2019 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 11 Pro | Yes | 2019 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone 11 | Yes | 2019 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone XS Max | Yes | 2018 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone XS | Yes | 2018 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPhone XR | Yes | 2018 | Mainland China variants commonly ship without eSIM — check your own handset's settings menu. |
| iPad Pro (M4) | Yes | 2024 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eSIM only — the SIM tray is gone. |
| iPad Air (M3) | Yes | 2025 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eSIM only — the SIM tray is gone. |
| iPad Air (M2) | Yes | 2024 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eSIM only — the SIM tray is gone. |
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | Yes | 2024 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eSIM only — the SIM tray is gone. |
| iPad (A16) | Yes | 2025 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models are eSIM only — the SIM tray is gone. |
| iPad Pro (M2) | Yes | 2022 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Pro (M1) | Yes | 2021 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Pro (2020) | Yes | 2020 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Pro (2018) | Yes | 2018 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Air (5th gen) | Yes | 2022 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Air (4th gen) | Yes | 2020 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad Air (3rd gen) | Yes | 2019 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad mini (6th gen) | Yes | 2021 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad mini (5th gen) | Yes | 2019 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad (10th gen) | Yes | 2022 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad (9th gen) | Yes | 2021 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad (8th gen) | Yes | 2020 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| iPad (7th gen) | Yes | 2019 | Wi-Fi + Cellular models only |
| Apple Watch Series 10 (Cellular) | Yes | 2024 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | Yes | 2023 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 9 (Cellular) | Yes | 2023 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Ultra | Yes | 2022 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 8 (Cellular) | Yes | 2022 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd gen, Cellular) | Yes | 2022 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 7 (Cellular) | Yes | 2021 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 6 (Cellular) | Yes | 2020 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch SE (1st gen, Cellular) | Yes | 2020 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 5 (Cellular) | Yes | 2019 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 4 (Cellular) | Yes | 2018 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
| Apple Watch Series 3 (Cellular) | Yes | 2017 | Cellular watches use an eSIM issued by the carrier paired with your phone — travel eSIM plans cannot be installed on them. |
How to check on the phone
- Open Settings, then Cellular or Mobile Service
- If you see Add Cellular Plan or Add eSIM, the device supports it
- Confirm it is unlocked under General → About → Carrier Lock
- Menu names shift between iOS versions — if you cannot find it, type eSIM into the Settings search field
Things to know
- iPhones bought in mainland China use two physical SIMs and do not support travel eSIM.
- Some older Hong Kong and Macau iPhones are also the two-physical-SIM build — trust your own Cellular menu.
- Set the eSIM as your data line and turn off data roaming on the primary line to avoid double charges.
- iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular models support eSIM too, and models from 2024 onward have no SIM tray at all.
- Cellular Apple Watches do have an eSIM chip, but they need a watch plan from the carrier paired with the iPhone — a travel eSIM cannot be loaded onto them.
Compatibility information is compiled from manufacturer specifications and public carrier documentation. We do not test every handset ourselves, and the same model can differ by sales market, so always check your own device's settings before buying a plan.
Model by model
Apple iPhone 17 Pro MaxApple iPhone 17 ProApple iPhone 17Apple iPhone AirApple iPhone 16 Pro MaxApple iPhone 16 ProApple iPhone 16 PlusApple iPhone 16Apple iPhone 16eApple iPhone 15 Pro MaxApple iPhone 15 ProApple iPhone 15 PlusApple iPhone 15Apple iPhone 14 Pro MaxApple iPhone 14 ProApple iPhone 14 PlusApple iPhone 14Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen)Apple iPhone SE (2nd gen)Apple iPhone 13 Pro MaxApple iPhone 13 ProApple iPhone 13Apple iPhone 13 miniApple iPhone 12 Pro MaxApple iPhone 12 ProApple iPhone 12Apple iPhone 12 miniApple iPhone 11 Pro MaxApple iPhone 11 ProApple iPhone 11Apple iPhone XS MaxApple iPhone XSApple iPhone XRApple iPad Pro (M4)Apple iPad Air (M3)Apple iPad Air (M2)Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)Apple iPad (A16)Apple iPad Pro (M2)Apple iPad Pro (M1)Apple iPad Pro (2020)Apple iPad Pro (2018)Apple iPad Air (5th gen)Apple iPad Air (4th gen)Apple iPad Air (3rd gen)Apple iPad mini (6th gen)Apple iPad mini (5th gen)Apple iPad (10th gen)Apple iPad (9th gen)Apple iPad (8th gen)Apple iPad (7th gen)Apple Watch Series 10 (Cellular)Apple Watch Ultra 2Apple Watch Series 9 (Cellular)Apple Watch UltraApple Watch Series 8 (Cellular)Apple Watch SE (2nd gen, Cellular)Apple Watch Series 7 (Cellular)Apple Watch Series 6 (Cellular)Apple Watch SE (1st gen, Cellular)Apple Watch Series 5 (Cellular)Apple Watch Series 4 (Cellular)Apple Watch Series 3 (Cellular)