eSIM Supported Phones Australia: Check Your Device

Most phones store between 5 and 10 eSIM profiles but activate only one or two at a time. iPhones before the 13 store up to 8 profiles and run one at a time. iPhone 13 and newer run two active eSIMs at once with no physical SIM needed. Samsung phones typically store 5 to 7 profiles. Switching between stored HelloRoam profiles requires no new QR code scan.

Dual SIM and eSIM are different things. Dual SIM means a phone accepts two SIM cards, whether two physical cards or one physical card plus one eSIM. An e-sim is a digital SIM built into the phone's hardware with no physical card needed. Many modern phones combine one physical slot with one eSIM slot, so you can keep your Telstra or Optus number active while HelloRoam handles your data overseas.

eSIM availability depends on your carrier and handset. In Australia, Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone AU all support eSIM on compatible phones. HelloRoam works across 199+ mobile networks in 185+ countries, independently of your home carrier. Your phone just needs eSIM hardware and a carrier-unlock to get sorted.

The Honor 400 Lite does not support eSIM. Honor reserves eSIM for select international flagship models. Budget devices in the Honor Lite range use physical SIM cards only. If you're planning a trip to Bali, Japan, or New Zealand and want to use HelloRoam, you'll need an eSIM compatible handset. Check our full device list for compatible options.

iPhones from the XS onwards are eSIM compatible, covering every iPhone 11 through 16 model and the SE (2020 and 2022). To confirm your specific model, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look for an EID number. If an EID appears, your iPhone has the hardware. You'll also need iOS 12.1 or later and a carrier-unlocked phone, meaning not locked to Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone AU.

The LG V60 ThinQ supports eSIM only on the T-Mobile US variant. Other regional V60 ThinQ models use physical SIM cards only. LG stopped making smartphones in 2021, so no further software support is coming. If you have the T-Mobile V60 ThinQ, check your lock status before buying a HelloRoam plan and confirm your exact regional model number.

Android phones with eSIM include Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 2 and newer, OnePlus 9 and newer, Motorola Razr series, and select Xiaomi, Oppo, and Sony Xperia flagships. eSIM support varies by manufacturer, model, and the region where the handset was sold. Chinese and some Hong Kong variants often drop eSIM even when the global version includes it. Check your exact model before buying a HelloRoam plan.

eSIM compatible devices include smartphones such as iPhone XS and newer and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, tablets like iPad Pro from 2018 and iPad Air from 2019, cellular smartwatches from Apple Watch Series 3 onwards, and select Windows 10 and 11 laptops with LTE or 5G. Devices must be carrier-unlocked and not tied to Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone AU to use HelloRoam plans across 185+ countries.

An eSIM cannot be moved to a different phone once it is installed. Your HelloRoam eSIM stays tied to the original device where you activated it. If you swap phones, contact HelloRoam support with your order number and our team can re-issue a new activation code if your plan is still active. Keep your order confirmation email handy so we can find your account quickly.

Switching between your eSIM and a physical SIM is easy. Go to your phone's cellular settings, choose your preferred line as the default data connection, and toggle as needed. No restart is required and no hardware to swap out. You can keep your Telstra or Optus physical SIM in the tray while HelloRoam eSIM handles your data across 185+ countries when you travel.

Smartwatch eSIM plans work with your home carrier account, not with international travel providers like HelloRoam. When you're in Bali, Japan, or London, your Apple Watch connects to your iPhone's HelloRoam eSIM data via Bluetooth for calls, texts, and notifications. Standalone international plans for Apple Watch from Australian carriers typically cost an extra 10 AUD or more per month as a separate add-on.

Cellular iPads and Android tablets with eSIM hardware work with HelloRoam data-only plans. Compatible iPad models include iPad Pro from 2018 onwards, iPad Air from 2019, iPad mini from 2019, and the standard iPad from 2019. Wi-Fi-only tablets have no cellular hardware and cannot use eSIM. Confirm you have the Wi-Fi plus Cellular version before buying a HelloRoam plan.

An eSIM not supported error usually means the handset is carrier-locked to Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone AU, a software update is pending, or the regional variant doesn't include eSIM hardware. Dial *#06# and check whether an EID appears. If no EID shows, the device has no eSIM hardware and cannot be upgraded. Contact HelloRoam support to confirm compatibility before you buy a plan.

To check whether your phone is carrier-unlocked on iPhone, go to Settings, General, About, and look at Carrier Lock. If it reads No SIM restrictions, you're sorted. On Android, insert a SIM from a different network. If the phone connects, it's unlocked. In Australia, Telstra processes unlock requests through My Telstra online or by calling 132 200. Optus handles unlocks through the My Optus app or by calling 133 937. Vodafone AU processes requests via your My Vodafone account. All three typically take 2 to 5 business days for fully paid-off devices. Phones bought outright from JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks, or Apple directly arrive unlocked with no wait needed.

If your eSIM is not being recognised, restart your phone and install any pending software updates first. Then confirm the eSIM profile is set to active in your cellular settings. Most recognition issues clear up after a restart. If the problem continues, contact HelloRoam support with your device model and order number. Our team can re-verify or re-issue your activation code.

To check if your phone is carrier-unlocked, open Settings, tap General, then About, and scroll to Carrier Lock. If it reads No SIM restrictions, your handset is unlocked and ready for a HelloRoam eSIM. You can also dial *#06# to display your IMEI alongside an EID. On Android, go to Settings, Connections, SIM Card Manager and look for a carrier lock indicator. If your phone is locked, contact Telstra via My Telstra or 132 200, Optus via My Optus app or 133 937, or Vodafone AU via My Vodafone online. Each carrier unlocks fully paid-off devices within 2 to 5 business days at no charge. Phones bought outright at JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks are unlocked from purchase.

To check if an iPhone is carrier-unlocked, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look for Carrier Lock near the bottom of the screen. If it reads No SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked. A second method: insert a SIM from a different carrier. If it connects, the phone is unlocked. You can also dial *#06# to view your IMEI and check eSIM chip status via EID. Your iPhone must be carrier-unlocked to install a HelloRoam eSIM plan.

iPhone 11 eSIM is fully supported on all three models: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple added eSIM to the iPhone XS and XR in 2018, and every iPhone from the 11 series onwards includes it. Your iPhone 11 eSIM setup requires iOS 12.1 or later and a carrier-unlocked device. The iPhone 11 runs one physical nano-SIM alongside an eSIM, so your Telstra or Optus number stays active while HelloRoam handles travel data in 185+ countries.