How to know if your phone supports eSIM

Two things have to be true: the phone has to support eSIM, and it has to be carrier unlocked. Both are quick to check.

On iPhone

Open Settings, General, About, and scroll to the bottom. If you find an entry with an EID number, the phone supports eSIM. In practice, iPhone XR and newer support it.

On Android

Open Settings and search for "SIM". If you see an option to add an eSIM or a downloaded SIM, it is supported. Most recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models, Google Pixel from 3 onwards and Motorola models from the last few years support it.

The second condition: carrier unlocked

A phone locked to a carrier will not accept another operator profile. Phones bought outright are normally unlocked; phones that came with a carrier plan may not be, and the carrier can unlock it on request.

If it does not support eSIM

Then a physical SIM is the way for this trip. It is the only case where the physical card still wins.

Check before you buy, not at the gate. It takes a minute and it is the difference between a two minute install and a trip without data.