Does my phone support eSIM?

Most iPhones from the XR and XS onward, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later support eSIM. The phone must also be carrier-unlocked. The quickest check: dial *#06#. If an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM.

Three ways to check

Dial *#06# and look for an EID.
iPhone: Settings → General → About. An "Available SIM" or "Digital SIM" line means eSIM is supported.
Android: Settings → Connections (or Network) → SIM manager. An "Add eSIM" option means it is supported.

Is my phone unlocked?

Phones bought through a US carrier on a payment plan are often locked to that carrier. On an iPhone, go to Settings → General → About and check "Carrier Lock": it should say "No SIM restrictions". If it does not, ask your carrier to unlock the phone before you travel.

Supported devices

Apple

iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air
iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, 16e
iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS, XS Max, XR
iPhone SE (2020 and 2022)
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), cellular models only

iPhones sold in the US since the iPhone 14 have no SIM tray and use eSIM only. iPhones bought in mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau often have two physical SIM slots and no eSIM; check with *#06#.