eSIM Supported Phones South Africa: Full List

The Oppo Reno 14 supports eSIM on its international variant. Oppo's global flagship and mid-range models, including the Reno 14 series, support eSIM in markets outside China. Chinese domestic versions do not. Oppo and Vivo devices require ColorOS 12 or later for eSIM functionality. Always confirm your specific regional variant before buying a HelloRoam plan.

The LG V40 ThinQ does not support eSIM. LG's eSIM hardware was limited to the LG G8 ThinQ and select US carrier models. The V40 was not included. LG stopped making smartphones in 2021, so no future update will add eSIM support. If you need a travel e-sim for Mauritius, the UK, or Dubai, you will need a handset from a brand on the eSIM supported phones list.

Your phone shows eSIM support through a quick settings check. On iPhone, go to Settings, General, About, and look for an EID number. On Android, dial *#06# and check whether an EID appears next to your IMEI. An EID confirms your phone has eSIM hardware. South African handsets bought from Vodacom, MTN, or Cell C may still be carrier-locked, so verify your unlock status before buying a HelloRoam plan.

Most phones store between 5 and 10 eSIM profiles but can only run 1 or 2 at one time. iPhones before the 13 store up to 8 profiles and activate one at a time. iPhone 13 and newer can run two active eSIMs without a physical SIM card. Samsung phones typically store 5 to 7 profiles. You can switch between saved HelloRoam profiles instantly without scanning a new QR code each time.

Dual SIM and eSIM are different things. Dual SIM means the phone can hold two lines at once, either two physical cards or one physical card plus one eSIM. An eSIM is a chip embedded in the phone's hardware that stores SIM profiles digitally with no physical card needed. Phones like the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S21 support both at once. This means you can keep your Vodacom or MTN number active on your physical SIM while your HelloRoam e-sim plan handles data abroad.

eSIM is not available on all carriers. In South Africa, Vodacom and MTN support eSIM on eligible handsets, while Cell C support is more limited. You can activate your Vodacom or MTN eSIM in settings without visiting a store. Internationally, major networks in the UK, UAE, USA, and Australia support eSIM. HelloRoam provides its own eSIM data plans that work independently of your home carrier across 185+ countries. Your handset just needs eSIM hardware and a carrier-unlock to get started.

The Honor 400 Lite is not confirmed to support eSIM. Honor typically keeps eSIM for premium flagship models sold outside China. Budget models in the Honor 400 range use physical SIM cards only. Check the Honor specifications page for your exact model before purchasing. For travel data, browse our full eSIM compatible device list to find a handset that works with HelloRoam.

Your iPhone is eSIM compatible if it is an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR, or any model released from September 2018 onward. Open Settings, then General, then About, and check for an EID number. If an EID appears, your iPhone has the eSIM chip. Your iPhone must also run iOS 12.1 or later and be carrier-unlocked to install a HelloRoam plan. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM.

The LG V60 ThinQ supports eSIM on select US carrier variants, specifically models sold through AT&T and Verizon in the United States. Models purchased in South Africa or other regions may not include eSIM hardware. LG stopped making smartphones in 2021, so no future software updates will add eSIM to unsupported variants. Confirm your specific model before buying a HelloRoam plan.

Android phones with eSIM support include Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 4 and newer, OnePlus 9 series and newer, Motorola Razr 40 and Edge 50 series, and select global Xiaomi 13 and 14 variants. In South Africa, Samsung A-series models (A52, A53, A54, A55) are best-sellers but they do not have eSIM hardware. You need a Galaxy S-series from the S20 onward. Budget and mid-range Android models generally do not have eSIM hardware. Chinese domestic versions of even flagship phones typically lack eSIM. Always check your exact model before buying a plan.

eSIM compatible devices include smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and certain 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 onward qualifies, from the iPhone 11 through to the 16 series. Compatible tablets include cellular iPads from 2019 onward and Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and S9 LTE models. Compatible smartwatches include Apple Watch Series 3 cellular and newer, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and newer. HelloRoam works on the phones and tablets here once they are carrier-unlocked, across 185+ countries.

An eSIM is not transferable to a different phone once installed. The profile is tied to the original device and cannot be moved directly. If your eSIM has not yet connected to a covered network at your destination, email help@helloroam.com and we can issue a new one. After that first connection, its code cannot be reused and we do not issue a new eSIM for a phone change. Do not delete the eSIM from your old phone. Keep your order confirmation email so we can find your account quickly.

Switching between an eSIM and a physical SIM is straightforward. Go to your phone's cellular settings, choose which line handles your default data, and toggle between your physical SIM and your eSIM as needed. No restart is needed and you do not have to remove any hardware. Both lines stay installed at the same time, so your Vodacom or MTN number stays active while your HelloRoam eSIM handles data abroad.

eSIM activation on HelloRoam takes about 2 minutes. Scan the QR code with your phone camera, your device downloads the eSIM profile, and the plan activates automatically. eSIM activation works the same on any compatible i phone or Android phone from the list. No store visit and no SIM card in the post. Do not wait until you reach OR Tambo International or Cape Town International. Install the plan at home a day before you fly. Vodacom and MTN customers can keep their home number on the physical SIM while the HelloRoam e-sim handles data abroad, saving you from Vodacom's R29 per MB charges.

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

The Samsung Galaxy S21 supports eSIM on all three models: S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra. Samsung added eSIM hardware from the Galaxy S20 series onward, and every flagship Galaxy S since then includes it. Your S21 must be carrier-unlocked to install a third-party eSIM plan. Go to Settings, About Phone, and confirm no carrier lock is shown. HelloRoam eSIM plans work on the S21 across 185+ countries.

Getting your handset carrier-unlocked in South Africa means contacting your network directly. Vodacom, MTN, and Cell C process unlock requests within 2 to 5 business days for devices that are fully paid off. Submit the request through their online portals or by calling customer service. On iPhone, check Settings, General, About, then Carrier Lock. If it reads 'No SIM restrictions', your phone is ready for a HelloRoam eSIM plan. On Android, dial *#06# and check for an EID. No EID means no eSIM hardware regardless of lock status.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 supports eSIM across all variants: S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra. Samsung includes eSIM hardware in every Galaxy S flagship from the S20 onward. Your S22 must be carrier-unlocked to add a HelloRoam plan. Go to Settings, About Phone, Status, and look for an EID number to confirm eSIM hardware is present. S22 users can run a physical SIM and an eSIM at the same time, keeping their home number active while using travel data abroad.

To know if your phone is unlocked, check the carrier lock status directly 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; an EID listed alongside the IMEI confirms your phone has eSIM hardware. On Android, go to Settings, Connections, SIM Card Manager, and look for a carrier lock indicator. If your phone is locked, contact Vodacom, MTN, or Cell C and request a device unlock. South African networks typically process these requests within 2 to 5 business days.

To check if an iPhone is 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 carrier-unlocked. A second method: insert a SIM card from a different carrier. If it activates, the phone is unlocked. You can also dial *#06# to view your IMEI number; Apple's IMEI check tool at checkcoverage.apple.com shows lock status. 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 onward 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, keeping your home number active while HelloRoam handles travel data in 185+ countries.

The 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) onward, and the iPhone 12 is no exception. Your iPhone 12 must be carrier-unlocked to install a HelloRoam eSIM. To confirm, 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 the United States, no. Does iPhone 16 have sim card capability at all? Only via eSIM: there is no physical nano-SIM tray on US models. All iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max sold in the US are eSIM-only. In international markets, iPhone 16 includes a physical SIM tray alongside eSIM. US iPhone 16 users rely entirely on eSIM for their phone number and data. HelloRoam works on all iPhone 16 models and activates in minutes by scanning a QR code.

You can't move an installed HelloRoam eSIM directly onto another iPhone, because the profile stays tied to the phone you put it on. To use your HelloRoam plan on a new iPhone, email help@helloroam.com before the eSIM connects in your destination, and we can issue a new eSIM. After that connection, we don't issue a new one for a phone swap. Keep your order confirmation email for quicker help. Quick Start transfer on iOS 16 and later only moves your home network's lines, not a travel eSIM. 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 replaces the removable SIM card tray on newer iPhones. The chip stores multiple eSIM profiles that you download digitally by scanning a QR code. On iPhones sold in the US from the iPhone 14 onward, the physical SIM tray is removed entirely. You can verify your phone has the eSIM chip by dialing *#06#: an EID number listed alongside your IMEI confirms the chip is present.

How to remove SIM card from iPhone models with a physical tray (iPhone 13 and earlier in most markets): insert the SIM ejector tool or a small paper clip into the pinhole on the side of the phone and press firmly until the tray pops out. How to take out SIM card on iPhone SE, 12, or 13: slide the tray out and lift the nano-SIM by its edges. How to eject SIM card iPhone 14 US models: there is no tray. These phones are eSIM-only and do not have a physical SIM slot at all. iPhone 14 and newer sold in the US do not need SIM removal for travel. Install a HelloRoam eSIM instead by scanning a QR code in seconds.

Does Vodacom support eSIM? Yes, Vodacom activates eSIM on compatible handsets through the My Vodacom app or in store. Does MTN support eSIM? Yes, MTN supports eSIM on flagship phones through their app and service centres. Does Cell C support eSIM? Cell C has introduced eSIM on select devices, though support is more limited than Vodacom and MTN. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked to add a third-party eSIM. HelloRoam is a separate travel eSIM that works independently of your South African carrier. Keep your Vodacom, MTN, or Cell C number active for calls while HelloRoam covers data across 185+ countries with no roaming charges. To unlock your phone for eSIM use, contact your carrier once the device is fully paid off.

Your IMEI number is a 15-digit code that uniquely identifies your phone on mobile networks. To find your IMEI, dial *#06# on any phone and it will appear on the 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 check eligibility for unlocking. HelloRoam does not require your IMEI number to purchase or activate an eSIM plan.