eSIM Supported Phones NZ: Check Your Device

Reno 14 international variants support eSIM in markets outside China as of early 2026. Chinese domestic models of the Reno 14 typically lack eSIM hardware. Check the regional version of your handset before buying. HelloRoam works with Reno 14 models that are carrier-unlocked and have eSIM enabled in Settings.

The LG V40 ThinQ does not support eSIM. LG never included eSIM hardware in the V40 series, and LG shut down its smartphone business in 2021. No future update adds eSIM support. If you need an e-sim supported phone for your OE or a trip to Australia, you need an Apple, Samsung, or Google device.

Checking eSIM compatibility takes about 30 seconds. On iPhone, open Settings, then General, then About, and look for an EID number. On Android, dial *#06# and check whether an EID appears alongside your IMEI. An EID confirms the phone has eSIM hardware. Your device also needs to be carrier-unlocked to run a HelloRoam plan.

Most phones store between 5 and 10 eSIM profiles but run only 1 or 2 at once. iPhones before the 13 store up to 8 profiles and activate one at a time. iPhone 13 and newer run two active eSIMs with no physical SIM required. Samsung Galaxy phones typically hold 5 to 7 profiles. You can swap between stored HelloRoam profiles without scanning a new QR code each time.

Dual SIM and eSIM are two different things. Dual SIM means a phone holds two physical SIM cards in separate slots. eSIM is a chip built into the phone that downloads SIM profiles digitally, with no card to insert. Many phones combine both: a physical SIM tray plus an eSIM chip. HelloRoam uses the eSIM slot for travel data while your physical SIM keeps your Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees number active.

eSIM is not available on every carrier. In New Zealand, Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees all support eSIM on compatible handsets. Coverage varies widely by country and network outside New Zealand. HelloRoam provides its own eSIM data plans that work independently of your home carrier across 185+ countries. Your phone just needs eSIM hardware and a carrier-unlock to get started.

The Honor 400 Lite does not currently support eSIM. Honor reserves eSIM for premium flagship models sold outside China. Budget and mid-range Honor phones, including the 400 Lite, use physical SIM cards only. Check our full eSIM compatible phones list for a device that works with HelloRoam before your next trip.

iPhones from the XS onwards are eSIM compatible, covering every iPhone 11 through 16 model and the SE (2nd and 3rd generation). To check your specific iPhone, go to Settings, General, About, and look for an EID number. If an EID appears, your iPhone has eSIM hardware. Your iPhone must also be carrier-unlocked and running iOS 12.1 or later to install a HelloRoam plan. In China mainland, only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17e and Air support eSIM, and certain Hong Kong and Macao variants use two nano-SIM cards.

The LG V60 ThinQ does not support eSIM. LG discontinued its smartphone range in 2021, and the V60 uses a physical nano-SIM only. No software update can add eSIM hardware to any LG model. If you need travel data for a trip to London, Tokyo, or Fiji, you need a compatible device from Apple, Samsung, or Google to use HelloRoam.

Android phones with eSIM include Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 4 and newer, and OnePlus 9 series and newer. Select flagship models from Motorola, Sony, and Xiaomi international variants also support eSIM. Most budget and mid-range Android phones do not have eSIM hardware. Chinese and Hong Kong regional variants often lack eSIM even when the global version supports it. Check your exact model before buying a HelloRoam plan.

eSIM compatible devices cover four categories: smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and laptops. Phones with esim include iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and Google Pixel 4 and newer. Every i phone from XS through 16 is on the list. Cellular iPads from 2019 onwards and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S9 support eSIM for data-only travel plans. Apple Watch Series 3 and newer plus select Windows laptops with LTE or 5G also include eSIM. HelloRoam plans suit the unlocked phones and tablets on this list, across 185+ countries.

An eSIM is not transferable to a new phone once installed. The HelloRoam eSIM profile stays tied to the device where you first activated it. Until it connects to a network your plan covers at your destination, email help@helloroam.com and we can issue a new eSIM. After that, we can't issue a new one for a phone swap. Don't delete it from your old phone. Keep your order confirmation email so we can find your account quickly.

Switching between eSIM and a physical SIM is straightforward. Open your phone's cellular settings, pick the line you want as your default data connection, and toggle between eSIM and physical SIM as needed. You do not need to restart or remove any hardware. Both can stay installed at the same time, so your Spark or One NZ number stays active while HelloRoam covers travel data.

Apple Watch eSIM works with your home carrier plan, not with travel eSIM providers like HelloRoam. When you travel to places like London, Tokyo, or Bali, your Apple Watch connects to your iPhone's HelloRoam eSIM data over Bluetooth for calls, texts, and app notifications. Standalone international watch plans from Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees typically cost extra as a separate monthly add-on.

Cellular iPads and Android tablets with eSIM hardware work with HelloRoam data-only plans. Compatible iPad models start from the iPad Pro (2018), iPad Air (2019), iPad mini (2019), and the standard iPad (2019). Wi-Fi-only tablet models cannot use eSIM. Confirm you have the Wi-Fi plus Cellular version of your tablet before you buy a plan.

An 'eSIM not supported' message usually points to one of three things: a carrier lock, a software update waiting to install, or a regional device variant without eSIM hardware. Dial *#06# and check for an EID. No EID means no eSIM hardware and no fix exists. Contact HelloRoam support to confirm your device is compatible before purchasing a plan.

To check if your phone is carrier-free, go to Settings, General, About, and read the Carrier Lock field on iPhone. It should read 'No SIM restrictions.' On Android, try inserting a SIM from a different network. If it connects, the phone is unlocked. Spark, One NZ, and 2degrees typically process unlock requests within 2 to 5 business days for eligible handsets.

If your eSIM is not recognised, restart your phone and install any pending software updates first. Then confirm the eSIM profile is set to active in your cellular settings. eSIM activation issues on an i phone are usually fixed by going to Settings, Cellular, then selecting the HelloRoam plan and toggling it on. Most recognition issues clear after a restart. If the problem continues, contact HelloRoam support with your device model and order number. Our team will re-verify or re-issue your activation code, usually within 2 hours.

To know if your phone is unlocked, check the carrier lock status on your device. On iPhone, go to Settings, General, About, and scroll to Carrier Lock. If it reads 'No SIM restrictions', your phone is carrier-unlocked and ready for a HelloRoam eSIM. You can also dial *#06# to display your IMEI number alongside an EID, which confirms eSIM hardware. On Android, go to Settings, Connections, SIM Card Manager, and check for a carrier lock indicator. If your phone is locked, contact Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees and request a device unlock.

To check if an iPhone is unlocked, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look for Carrier Lock near the bottom. If it reads 'No SIM restrictions', your iPhone is carrier-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 number. 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 needs iOS 12.1 or later and must be carrier-unlocked. The iPhone 11 runs one physical nano-SIM alongside an eSIM, so your Spark or One NZ number stays active while HelloRoam covers travel data in 185+ countries.

iPhone 12 supports eSIM on all four models: iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max. Apple includes eSIM hardware in every iPhone from the XS (2018) onwards, and the 12 is no exception. Your iPhone 12 must be carrier-unlocked to install a HelloRoam eSIM. Go to Settings, General, About, and look for Carrier Lock. If it reads 'No SIM restrictions', your iPhone 12 is ready for a HelloRoam plan.

Does iPhone 16 have a SIM card? In New Zealand, yes. iPhone 16 models sold outside the United States include both a physical SIM tray and eSIM. All iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max models support eSIM. US models are eSIM-only with no physical tray. Kiwi travellers using an iPhone 16 can keep their Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees number on the physical SIM while HelloRoam covers travel data via eSIM.

An installed HelloRoam eSIM can't be moved straight to another iPhone, because the profile stays attached to the phone it was installed on. To use your HelloRoam plan on a new iPhone, send an email to help@helloroam.com before the eSIM connects at your destination, and we can issue a new eSIM. After it connects, we don't issue a new eSIM for a change of phone. Keep your order confirmation email so we can sort things out faster. Quick Start on iOS 16 and later only transfers lines from your home provider, not travel eSIMs. If you delete the eSIM by mistake, email help@helloroam.com with your order details.

The iPhone SIM chip is an embedded eSIM chip soldered to the logic board during manufacturing. It stores multiple eSIM profiles that you download by scanning a QR code. On iPhones sold in New Zealand and other international markets, newer models include both the eSIM chip and a physical SIM tray. You can verify your phone has the chip by dialling *#06#: an EID number alongside your IMEI confirms it is present.

To remove a SIM card from an iPhone with a physical tray (iPhone 13 and earlier in NZ markets): insert the SIM ejector tool or a small paper clip into the pinhole on the side and press firmly until the tray pops out. Slide the tray out and lift the nano-SIM by its edges. iPhone 16 models sold in New Zealand still have a physical SIM tray. US iPhone 14 and newer are eSIM-only with no tray at all. For travel, Kiwis can simply install a HelloRoam eSIM by scanning a QR code instead of swapping cards.

Does Spark support eSIM? Yes. Does One NZ support eSIM? Yes. Does 2degrees support eSIM? Yes. All three New Zealand carriers support eSIM activation on compatible handsets. HelloRoam is a separate travel eSIM that works independently of your home carrier. You keep your Spark, One NZ, or 2degrees plan active while HelloRoam covers data in 185+ countries, with no roaming charges and no new SIM card needed. To unlock your phone for eSIM use, contact your home carrier and request a device unlock once your phone is fully paid off.

Your IMEI number is a 15-digit code that identifies your phone on mobile networks. To find it, dial *#06# and it appears on screen, along with an EID number if your phone has eSIM hardware. On iPhone, you can also find the IMEI in Settings, General, About. On Android, check Settings, About Phone, Status. Carriers use your IMEI to confirm unlock eligibility. HelloRoam does not require your IMEI to purchase or activate an eSIM plan.