The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone SE (3rd generation), and newer models support eSIM. In the United States, iPhone 14 and newer models usually activate through eSIM only and do not have a physical SIM tray.
iPhone Models That Support eSIM
| iPhone model | eSIM support |
|---|---|
| iPhone XR | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone XS and XS Max | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone SE, 3rd generation | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone 12 series | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone 13 series | eSIM and nano-SIM |
| iPhone 14 series | eSIM supported; U.S. models are eSIM-only |
| iPhone 15 series | eSIM supported; U.S. models are eSIM-only |
| iPhone 16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max | eSIM supported; U.S. models are eSIM-only |
| iPhone 17e, 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max | eSIM supported; many regional versions are eSIM-only |
| iPhone Air | eSIM-only |
| iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max | eSIM supported; selected regional versions are eSIM-only |
Which iPhones Are eSIM-Only in the United States?
In the United States, the following iPhone models do not have a physical SIM tray:
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17e, 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max
These models use eSIM instead of a physical nano-SIM. Your wireless carrier must support eSIM activation.
Which iPhones Do Not Have eSIM?
The following iPhone models support a physical SIM only:
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G and 3GS
- iPhone 4 and 4s
- iPhone 5 series
- iPhone 6 series
- iPhone 7 series
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone SE, 1st and 2nd generation
Can an iPhone Use Two eSIMs?
Yes. The iPhone SE (3rd generation) and iPhone 13 or newer can use two active eSIMs at the same time.
The iPhone XR through iPhone 12 models usually support one eSIM alongside one physical nano-SIM.
Regional Differences in iPhone eSIM Support
The same iPhone model can have different SIM hardware depending on where it was purchased. Outside the United States, many models include both an eSIM and a physical nano-SIM. Some iPhones sold in Hong Kong and Macao use two physical nano-SIMs instead.
Mainland China has additional restrictions. Apple states that the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17e, and iPhone Air support eSIM in mainland China.
How to Check Whether Your iPhone Has eSIM
On your iPhone, open:
Settings → Cellular or Settings → Mobile Service
If you see Add eSIM, your iPhone supports eSIM. You can also open Settings → General → About and look for an EID number.
Your carrier must support eSIM, and a carrier-locked iPhone may have activation restrictions. Apple lists supported eSIM carriers and activation methods by country.