Bought your phone abroad?

Check where it was sold, not where you are going

Manufacturers can sell different SIM configurations under the same phone name. The original sales market and exact model number matter. Traveling to another country does not change the hardware inside your phone.

Start with the model number in Settings or on the original box. On iPhone, open Settings → General → About and tap the value beside Model Number to reveal the A-number. Match that number to the manufacturer’s specifications for the original sales market.

Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao need a closer look

Avoid the blanket rule that every iPhone bought in these markets lacks eSIM. Apple now documents specific eSIM-capable mainland-China models, while other models use different SIM arrangements. Hong Kong and Macao also have model-specific exceptions.

A mainland-China carrier eSIM and a travel eSIM are different products. Apple says supported mainland-China-purchased iPhones cannot install an eSIM from a non-mainland-China carrier while physically in mainland China. Its guidance allows installation while outside mainland China with Location Services enabled. Read the current Apple instructions for your exact model before buying.

Does your iPad support eSIM?

Android variants matter too

Samsung explicitly limits its Australian compatibility guide to Australian variants. Google also documents exceptions for older Pixel models sold through particular carriers or in particular countries. Treat a matching family name as a starting point.

Use the exact model’s local specification sheet, check for EID and Add eSIM on the phone, and confirm carrier unlocking. If those checks do not agree, ask the manufacturer to verify the model number rather than relying on a general list.