The cheapest phone with eSIM, and how to find it

What is the cheapest phone with eSIM?

The honest answer is that no single model is always the cheapest, because prices depend on the country, the second-hand market, the condition of the unit and the date. So this guide does not quote prices. It ranks phones by tier, telling you where to start looking, and leaves you to compare current retail and second-hand prices in your own country.

Every model named here comes from our own device dataset. We do not claim eSIM support for any model that is not in it.

What is the cheapest iPhone with eSIM?

The cheapest starting point is generally the oldest iPhone that supports eSIM. In our dataset the first eSIM iPhones are the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max from 2018, followed by the iPhone 11 family (2019) and the iPhone SE 2nd gen (2020) and 3rd gen (2022), which are smaller, more modest models than the flagships of the same era.

Do cheap Android phones have eSIM?

Some do, but not all, and budget lines are where eSIM most often depends on the sales market. In our dataset the Pixel family from the Pixel 6 onward is easy to use with travel eSIMs, including the a-series models: Pixel 6a, 7a, 8a and 9a. The Samsung Galaxy A55 and A56 list eSIM but depend on the sales market, and the Galaxy A54 mostly ships without eSIM.

Older Samsung Galaxy S models, such as the S21 through S23, are also listed with eSIM and are a common second-hand route. The FE models (S21 FE, S23 FE, S24 FE, S25 FE) are market dependent as well.

Check whether your phone supports eSIM

Which budget eSIM phone families should I look at first?

This table is drawn only from our device dataset and is not sorted by price, because prices keep changing. Use it as a starting shortlist and compare current prices yourself.

Does the iPhone SE support eSIM?

Yes. In our dataset the iPhone SE 2nd gen (2020) and 3rd gen (2022) both list eSIM, but variants sold in mainland China commonly ship without it, so check the actual unit in your hand. We have no data on earlier SE models, so we do not claim they support eSIM.

What should I check before buying a used eSIM phone?

Run through these five checks before paying every time, because an unusually cheap unit often fails on one of them.

1. Carrier lock: a phone bought through a carrier may be locked and refuse a plan from another network. Ask the seller to confirm it is unlocked and, if you can, try a different network's eSIM before you pay.
2. Blacklist: a phone reported lost or stolen, or with unpaid instalments, can be blocked on networks. Ask for the IMEI and check it with your country's checking service.
3. iCloud and Activation Lock: on an iPhone, the seller must sign out of their Apple ID, turn off Find My and erase the phone in front of you, or it can become unusable. Android phones have a similar Google account lock.
4. Region variant: some markets ship without eSIM, for example iPhone models for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Confirm the model and market with the seller, and read our help page on country variant restrictions.
5. Verify eSIM yourself: dial *#06# in front of the seller and look for an EID (see the next section). For refurbished or imported units, read our dedicated guide first.

Read the refurbished and imported phones guide

Is a second-hand iPhone with eSIM safe to buy?

It can be, if you run the checks. The eSIM technology is no riskier than a physical SIM. The risk is in the handset: carrier lock, blacklisting, Activation Lock and variants without eSIM. Buy from a seller with a warranty or return policy, and go through the checklist above before you pay.

How do I check that a phone really supports eSIM?

The fastest way is to dial *#06# in the phone app. If the phone has an eSIM, it shows an EID in addition to the IMEI. If you see no EID, treat the phone as not having eSIM until proven otherwise. You can also check in the Settings menus.

1. 11. Dial *#06#Open the phone app, dial *#06#, and see whether an EID appears.
2. 22. Check the iPhone menusGo to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) and see whether there is an option such as Add eSIM or Add Cellular Plan. If so, the phone supports eSIM.
3. 33. Check the Android menusOn a Pixel, go to Settings > Network & internet > SIMs and look for an option to add or download a SIM. Menu names differ by brand and version, so search Settings for eSIM if you cannot find it.
4. 44. Use our device checkerType the model name into our device checker to see eSIM support for that model and any market-specific caveats.

Why does dual SIM or dual eSIM matter for travel?

If a phone can run a travel eSIM alongside your main SIM, you keep your regular line for verification texts and incoming calls while a cheaper data eSIM handles internet abroad. That is the most common travel setup. Our eSIMs are data-only, with no phone number, calls or SMS, so they pair well with this arrangement.

Dual-SIM behaviour differs from model to model. Some phones take one physical SIM plus one eSIM, and some store several eSIM profiles but can only keep a limited number active at once. Check the specifications of the exact model you plan to buy, and read our explainer on dual SIM settings.

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