ASUS and eSIM
ASUS started including eSIM with the recent flagships — ROG Phone 8 and Zenfone 11 Ultra onward. The earlier compact Zenfones are physical SIM only.
| Model | eSIM | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenfone 12 Ultra | Yes | 2025 | Market dependent |
| Zenfone 11 Ultra | No | 2024 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
| ROG Phone 9 Pro | Yes | 2024 | Market dependent |
| ROG Phone 9 | Yes | 2024 | Market dependent |
| ROG Phone 8 Pro | No | 2024 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
| ROG Phone 8 | No | 2024 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
| Zenfone 10 | No | 2023 | Two physical SIM slots, no eSIM |
| Zenfone 9 | No | 2022 | Two physical SIM slots, no eSIM |
How to check on the phone
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
- Tap Add SIM and see whether Download a SIM instead is offered
- ROG Phones have an X Mode that suspends some connectivity — if the SIM menu vanishes, switch it off first
Things to know
- ASUS does not roll eSIM out to every market at once, so a Thai-market unit and a European one of the same model can differ.
- ASUS tablets and laptops with built-in 5G are a separate line from the phones — read each model's spec sheet on its own.
What ASUS's own spec page confirms
ASUS Global's Tech Specs page for the Zenfone 12 Ultra lists Dual-SIM / Dual-Standby with two Nano SIM slots and states eSIM support under SIM Cards. For other models in the table, such as the ROG Phones, open that model's Tech Specs page on the ASUS site for the country you bought it in and check the SIM Cards section for eSIM.
Where the eSIM menu sits on ASUS
Zenfone and ROG Phone software stays close to stock Android. The route to try is Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM, then Download a SIM instead. On a ROG Phone, if X Mode is on and the SIM menu has disappeared, switch X Mode off first.
Check your own ASUS before you buy a plan
- Open the Phone app and dial *#06#. If the screen shows an EID (a 32-digit number), the handset has an eSIM chip. If you see only IMEI numbers, treat it as unconfirmed and carry on with the next check, because some phones do not show the EID on this screen.
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs. If there is a button to add or download an eSIM, the software for your unit's market has the feature switched on.
- Find the model code under Settings → About phone and compare it with the manufacturer's spec page for the country you bought it in. The model code is more reliable than the marketing name, because one name can cover several market variants.
- If the phone is second-hand or imported, ask the seller whether it is network locked. A unit locked to an overseas carrier usually refuses another operator's profile even when an EID is present.
Installing an eSIM on a ASUS, step by step
- 1Install in Thailand before you flyConnect to stable Wi-Fi and install the eSIM while you are still at home. If the scan fails you still have time to contact the shop, which beats troubleshooting at the arrival airport with no data.
- 2Open the add-eSIM menuOn a ASUS, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM or + → Download a SIM instead and choose to scan the QR code. If the QR code is on the same phone and you cannot scan it, choose to enter the activation details by hand (the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your email).
- 3Label the lineRename the new line, for example Travel or the country name, so you do not mix it up with your Thai SIM when choosing the data line.
- 4Leave it off until you landIf the plan's validity starts on first network connection, keep the eSIM line switched off and turn it on only when you reach the destination.
- 5Turn on data roaming for the eSIM lineMost travel eSIMs run as roaming on a local network. If the line shows signal but no data, switch on Data roaming in that eSIM line's settings.
Switching the data line while travelling
On a dual-SIM ASUS, calls and texts can use a different line from mobile data. The setting to change is the mobile data line, found at Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Mobile data.
- Set mobile data to the travel eSIM and keep your Thai SIM for calls and texts, so bank OTP messages still arrive.
- Switch off Data roaming on the Thai SIM, so the phone cannot fall back to it and run up roaming charges.
- If the menu offers automatic data switching during calls (labelled Mobile data switching or similar), turn it off while abroad.
- Back in Thailand, move mobile data back to the Thai SIM, then turn off or delete the expired eSIM line.
Common problems on ASUS
| Problem | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Download a SIM instead option | A Zenfone 9 or 10, which lack eSIM | Use a physical travel SIM |
| SIM menu missing on a ROG | X Mode suspends some connectivity | Turn X Mode off and reopen the menu |
| Signal but no data | Roaming off or wrong data line | Turn on roaming and set it as the data line |
| Error after scanning | Weak connection or the QR code was already used | Reconnect to Wi-Fi, then contact the shop |
FAQ
Does the Zenfone 12 Ultra have eSIM?+
ASUS Global's Tech Specs page states eSIM support. Confirm on a Thai unit with *#06#, because ASUS does not launch every market at once.
Does the Zenfone 10 support eSIM?+
According to the table on this page, the Zenfone 10 and 9 have two physical SIM slots and no eSIM.
What does X Mode on a ROG Phone have to do with eSIM?+
X Mode suspends some connectivity for gaming. If the SIM menu vanishes or the eSIM will not connect, turn X Mode off before checking anything else.
Can I use two physical SIMs and an eSIM at once?+
ASUS states Dual-Standby, meaning two active lines. Pick two of the three and switch the unused one off while travelling.
Sources
- Zenfone 12 Ultra - Tech Specs — ASUS, October 10, 2026
- Implement eSIM — Android Open Source Project, October 10, 2026
- Multiple enabled profiles — Android Open Source Project, October 10, 2026