THE JOURNAL

Straight answers for travelers who need to be online

Fixes when an eSIM will not connect, comparisons with dated prices, and the basics explained once. Each article answers one question people actually search.

  • Problemfixes, in the order support tries them
  • Decisioncomparisons with dated prices and sources
  • Basicshow it works, which phones, what to expect
BASICSHow to transfer an eSIM to a new phone (iPhone and Android)

Start on the new phone: Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM on iPhone, Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM on Pixel, or Connections > SIM manager > Add eSIM on Galaxy, then confirm on the old phone. iPhone to iPhone needs iOS 18.4; Android to iPhone needs iOS 26, Android 16 and a supported carrier. If your carrier is not supported, it issues a new eSIM instead. Travel eSIMs cannot be transferred: install the QR code on the new phone.

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BASICSeSIM Android phones in 2026: Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi, OnePlus

Most Android flagships since 2020 support eSIM: Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, every Galaxy Z foldable, Google Pixel 3a and newer, the Xiaomi 15 series and OnePlus 11 and newer on global models. Many mid-range Galaxy A, Redmi and OnePlus Nord phones do not, and China-market units usually lack it. Dial *#06#: an EID line means your phone has eSIM.

8 min readBASICSeSIM Android phones in 2026: Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi

Android phones with eSIM in 2026 include every Samsung Galaxy S model from the S20 to the S26, the Galaxy Z foldables, the A36, A55 and A56, every Google Pixel from the 3a on, and recent OnePlus and Xiaomi flagships such as the OnePlus 13 and 15 and the Xiaomi 15. The exact regional version matters: Chinese-market phones and some US and Korean Galaxy units have no eSIM. Dial *#06# and look for an EID line to check yours in 30 seconds.

8 min readBASICSeSIM-compatible Android phones in 2026: Samsung, Pixel, Xiaomi

Every Samsung Galaxy S from the S20 on, every Galaxy Z foldable, the S23 FE and newer FE models, and a short list of A-series phones support eSIM. Google Pixel 3 and newer support it, and the US Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL are eSIM-only. Global Xiaomi 13 and newer, recent Redmi Note Pro 5G models, and the OnePlus 12 and 13 support it too. Where you bought the phone matters as much as the model.

8 min readPROBLEMeSIM not working on Samsung? What to check, in order

On a Samsung Galaxy, a travel eSIM that shows no data is usually switched off in SIM manager, has Data roaming off, or is not set as the mobile data SIM. Fix those three first, then toggle Airplane mode and pick the network by hand. Check the APN, restart, update and, as a last step, reset network settings. Never delete the eSIM while troubleshooting.

10 min readBASICSWhich iPhones support eSIM (XR to 18 Pro) and which are eSIM-only

Every iPhone from the XS, XS Max and XR (2018) up to the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo (2026) supports eSIM; the iPhone X and older do not. The iPhone Air and Duo have no SIM tray anywhere, the iPhone 14 to 16e have none in the US, and the 17 range, 17e and 18 Pro have none in the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico and six Gulf countries. Phones sold in China mainland and many sold in Hong Kong or Macao are the main exceptions.

8 min readPROBLEMeSIM not working on iPhone? 9 fixes that actually work

When a travel eSIM shows no signal or "No Service" on an iPhone, the cause is almost always one of three settings, not a broken eSIM: Data Roaming is off for that line, the eSIM is not the line chosen for Cellular Data, or the phone is still clinging to the wrong network. Work through the nine checks below in order; most phones are online by step 3, and steps 4 to 7 cover carrier settings, a network reset and a carrier-locked iPhone. Checked on October 22, 2026 against Apple's own support pages.

8 min read