TCL and eSIM
TCL builds budget phones and tablets. The mainstream models are physical SIM, apart from some units sold through US carriers that do have eSIM enabled.
Author: Porsch Kunnipat Siramanakul · Co-founderReviewed by: Bob Kanokphon Thongdee
| Model | eSIM | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCL 50 series | No | 2024 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
| TCL 40 series | No | 2023 | Normally ships without eSIM — confirm in your handset's SIM menu. |
How to check on the phone
- Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
- If the page shows only physical slots and no download option, that model does not support it
- Dial *#06# and look for an EID — if one shows, the chip is really there
Things to know
- TCL sells the same hardware under different names by market, so the name on the box does not settle whether there is an eSIM.
- US carrier units are usually network locked and must be unlocked before another operator's profile will install.
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.
Where the SIM menu sits on a TCL
We could not find a TCL eSIM help page that we could verify today, so what follows is general Android guidance, not the manufacturer's own instructions, and we have added no models to the table. Use the search box in Settings if the menu names differ.
TCL runs near-stock Android, so the SIM menu is at Settings → Network & internet → SIMs. If it lists only physical slots with no download option, that model does not support eSIM.
Market caveats
- TCL sells the same hardware under different names by market, so the box name does not settle whether there is an eSIM.
- US carrier units with eSIM enabled are usually network locked and need unlocking first.
Check your own TCL 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.
If your TCL has no eSIM
- A physical travel SIM: put it in the second slot and keep your Thai SIM in the first for OTP messages.
- Share a hotspot from another device that does take eSIM, such as a tablet or a travel companion's phone.
- Your Thai operator's roaming pack: simplest, but usually dearer, so compare the daily price before turning it on.
Installing an eSIM on a TCL, 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 TCL, go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → the add-eSIM option 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 TCL, 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 → the mobile data SIM.
- 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 a TCL
| Problem | Usual cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No add-eSIM menu | A model with physical slots only | Use a physical travel SIM or a shared hotspot |
| Imported unit will not install | Network lock | Ask the original carrier to unlock it |
| 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 TCL 50 series have eSIM?+
According to the table on this page, normally not. Confirm with *#06# and the SIMs menu.
Will a TCL from a US carrier take a travel eSIM?+
Yes, if it shows an EID and is unlocked. While locked, other operators' profiles usually will not install.
Can a TCL tablet use eSIM?+
It depends on the model and market. Check for a SIMs page and an EID; we have not confirmed any tablet model.
Why is there no TCL guide linked?+
We could not find a TCL eSIM help page we could verify today, so the advice is general.
Sources
- Implement eSIM — Android Open Source Project, October 10, 2026
- Multiple enabled profiles — Android Open Source Project, October 10, 2026