eSIM Compatible Phones in the Philippines

"May eSIM ba ang phone ko?" Ito ang unang tanong bago bumili ng kahit anong eSIM. A lot of people buy a QR code first and only then find out their phone can't use it. This guide shows you how to check in under a minute, and lists the models Smart and DITO name as eSIM-capable.

We used Smart's and DITO's published device lists, Globe's help pages and Apple's support pages, checked on 29 October 2026. Phone lists go out of date fast, so the quick tests below matter more than any list.

eSIMs.ph is an independent guide run by Dominet BV. We're not a mobile network, telco or eSIM seller, and we don't sell, activate or register SIMs. Some links on this site may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them. Telcos and phone makers we mention don't pay us anything. That never changes what we write. Read our affiliate disclosure. Your network has the final say on whether your phone works with its eSIM.

Three quick ways to check

1. Dial *#06#

Smart Help gives this test for both iPhone and Android: open the phone app and dial *#06#.

• If the screen shows an EID (Embedded Identity Document), your phone supports eSIM.
• If it shows only IMEI numbers and no EID, it doesn't.

2. Look in Settings

Globe's help page suggests this: open Settings, go to Mobile Network or Cellular, and look for an option like Add eSIM, Add Cellular Plan or SIM Manager. If you see one, the phone supports eSIM. If you don't, it probably doesn't.

3. Run your network's checker

Globe says you can download the GlobeOne app and run its compatibility test. That test only tells you about Globe, but it's useful if Globe is the network you want.

Is your phone locked?

A phone can support eSIM and still refuse your SIM if it's locked to another network. Globe's help pages give these checks:

• iPhone: Settings, General, About, then Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means it's unlocked. Apple's support page says the same.
• Android: Settings, Connections, Mobile Networks, Network Operators, then Search Now. If several network names appear, it's unlocked.

Smart's FAQ adds two rules for Smart-issued phones: a Smart-locked phone can only take a Smart Prepaid eSIM, and an open-line phone works with Smart's eSIM as long as it's eSIM-capable. Globe says the same about iPhones from Globe: the SIM and eSIM are for Globe only unless the phone is unlocked.

If your phone came with a postpaid plan, ask that network whether it's open-line before you buy another network's eSIM.

iPhone: which models have eSIM

Apple's support page says eSIM needs an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR or later. Apple also lets you store up to eight or more eSIMs, and on supported models you can have two eSIMs active at once.

Two Apple notes to watch:

• Where the iPhone was sold matters. Apple says that in China mainland only a handful of the newest iPhone models support eSIM, and that some iPhone models sold in Hong Kong and Macao use two nano-SIM cards instead. If you bought an iPhone from one of those markets, check Settings before buying an eSIM.
• Some newer iPhones are eSIM-only. They have no SIM tray at all, so you'll need an eSIM from your network. All three main local networks offer one (see below).

Smart's list (as of March 2025) includes the iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 families, some iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad models. DITO's list covers iPhone XS, XR and iPhone 11 or later, plus iPad Pro 3rd gen and up, iPad Mini 5th gen and up and iPad Air 3rd gen and up. DITO notes that iPhones currently get 4G data only on its eSIM.

Samsung and other Android phones

There's no single rule for Android. Support depends on the model, the market it was sold in and sometimes the variant. These are the models each network lists.

Smart's list (as of March 2025)

Smart's eSIM page names these non-Apple devices:

• Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, S22, S23, S24 and S25 families, including FE models where listed
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip and Z Flip3 5G
• Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G and Note 20 Ultra 5G
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 5G, Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro and 13 Pro+, Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G and 14 Pro+

DITO's list

DITO's eSIM FAQ names:

• Google Pixel 3 or later
• Samsung S20 series or later, Z series, Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra 5G
• Honor Magic 4 Pro or later and the Honor 90 series
• Huawei P40, P40 Pro and Mate 40 Pro
• Motorola Razr 2019 or later, Edge series and Moto G Stylus 5G 2024
• Nokia XR21, X30 and G60 5G
• Oppo Find series, Reno 5A and Reno 9A
• Sharp Aquos Sense 6s or later, Aquos R7, R8 and R8 Pro
• Sony Xperia 10 III Lite or later
• Xiaomi 12T Pro or later, Blackshark 3 and Note 13 Pro+

Globe

Globe doesn't publish a single device list on the help pages we checked. It points you to the GlobeOne compatibility test and the Settings check above, and says compatibility depends on the phone model, where it was made and your carrier.

What about budget phones?

People often ask about cheaper phones, such as Samsung A-series and Infinix models. None of the networks' lists we checked named specific budget models, so we can't say which ones work. Support varies by model and by the market the phone was made for, and two phones with the same series name can differ. Use the *#06# test or check the maker's spec page for the exact model number before you buy the phone, not just the series name.

Phone supports eSIM, but it still won't install

Check these before you contact your network:

• No free eSIM slot. Globe says the number of eSIMs you can store depends on the phone. Smart says most phones store about 8 to 10. DITO says many Android phones store about 5 to 7 with one active. Remove eSIMs you no longer use, but only after confirming you won't need them.
• Two lines already active. Smart says you can usually run only two numbers at a time: one physical plus one eSIM, two eSIMs, or two physical SIMs on dual-slot phones.
• No internet during install. The phone downloads the profile, so connect to Wi-Fi first.
• Old software. Smart says iPhones need iOS 12.4 or later for its SIM manager steps. Update your phone first.
• Locked phone. See the lock check above.

Dual SIM with eSIM: how it works

On a phone with one physical slot and eSIM, you can keep your main SIM in the tray and add a second network as eSIM. That's the most common setup in the Philippines, for example Smart in the tray for banking OTPs and DITO or Globe as eSIM for data.

Once both lines are on, pick which one handles mobile data. Globe's help page explains how on iPhone (Settings, Cellular, Cellular Data) and on Samsung, Pixel, Huawei, Honor and Oppo. If you leave the wrong line on data, you may get "no internet" even with full bars.

Buying a phone for eSIM

If eSIM matters to you, check these before paying for a new or second-hand phone:

1. Ask the seller to dial *#06# and show you the EID.
2. Check Settings for Add eSIM.
3. Check the carrier lock status.
4. For second-hand phones, make sure the old owner has removed their eSIM profiles.
5. Keep the box or receipt that shows the exact model number. If the network asks, you can show it, and it helps if you need to return a phone that turns out not to support eSIM.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my phone supports eSIM?

Dial *#06#. If you see an EID, it supports eSIM. You can also look for Add eSIM or SIM Manager under Settings, Mobile Network or Cellular.

Which iPhones have eSIM?

Apple says iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later. Some iPhones sold in China mainland, Hong Kong and Macao use physical SIMs only, so check Settings if yours came from there.

May eSIM ba ang Samsung ko?

Depende sa model. Smart and DITO list the Galaxy S20 and later, Z series and Note 20 models. For other Samsung models, dial *#06# and check for an EID.

Can I use an eSIM on a phone locked to another network?

Usually not. Globe says its prepaid eSIM won't work on a phone locked to another carrier, and Smart says a Smart-locked phone only takes Smart's eSIM. Ask the network that locked it about making it open-line.

How many eSIMs can my phone hold?

It depends on the phone. Smart says most hold about 8 to 10, DITO says many Android phones hold about 5 to 7, and Apple says iPhone can store eight or more. Usually only two lines can be active at the same time.