eSIM Compatible Phones in Pakistan: How to Check Yours

Before you pay for a travel eSIM, spend one minute on your phone. Two things must both be true: the phone has eSIM hardware, and it is not locked to a carrier. Many phones sold in Pakistan fail one of the two, especially budget Android models and "JV" iPhones.

Our eSIMs are data only: no phone number, calls or SMS. You keep your Jazz, Zong or Ufone SIM for those, including former Telenor SIMs now that Telenor has merged into Ufone's company (Dawn). The menus below were checked on 2 November 2026 against Apple's support pages for iOS 26, Samsung's Pakistan and UK eSIM pages (which don't name a One UI version) and Google's Pixel Help (which doesn't name an Android version). Phone lists change, so treat them as correct as of November 2026.

How do I check if my phone supports eSIM?

Open your phone's SIM settings and look for an option to add an eSIM. On iPhone, look under Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data); on Samsung, Settings > Connections > SIM manager; on Pixel, Settings > Network & internet > SIMs. If the option is there, the hardware is ready. Then check that the phone is carrier-unlocked.

On Samsung, an "Add eSIM" (or "Add Mobile Plan") button in SIM manager is a good sign. That is our reading of Samsung's setup steps, not a test Samsung states.

What about dialling *#06#?

On many phones, dialling *#06# shows an EID if the phone has an eSIM. Telstra, an Australian carrier, lists this method and says a device only has an EID if it supports eSIM (Telstra). But Samsung's own help says *#06# shows the IMEI and does not mention the EID (Samsung Gulf), and Apple's and Google's ID pages don't mention the code at all. So if you see an EID, good. If you only see an IMEI, don't decide yet: use the Settings check above.

Is an EID enough?

No. An EID shows the hardware is there. To use another provider's eSIM, the phone must also be carrier-unlocked (Apple). The iPhone check is below.

Which iPhones support eSIM?

Apple says eSIM needs an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later (Apple). That covers the iPhone 11 to 17 series, 16e, 17e, 18 Pro, Air and Duo. The iPhone X and older don't have it. The exceptions are most iPhones made for mainland China, and any iPhone locked to a carrier, which cannot add another network's eSIM.

In mainland China, Apple lists only the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air as eSIM models. Certain models sold in Hong Kong and Macao use two nano-SIMs instead (Apple).

Whether your iPhone also has a SIM tray depends on where it was bought (Apple):

One model is unclear: the iPhone SE (2nd generation, 2020). Apple's SIM page lists it as nano-SIM only (Apple), but its tech specs page says "Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)" (Apple). If you have one, use the Settings check above before buying.

Bought your iPhone in Dubai or Saudi Arabia?

Check this if you or a relative bought the phone in the Gulf. An iPhone 17 or 18 Pro bought in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain or Oman has no SIM tray (Apple), so your Jazz or Zong SIM card won't fit. Your Pakistani number would need to be on an eSIM too. Jazz, Zong and Ufone issue eSIMs after in-person biometric verification (Jazz, Zong, Ufone). Using any Pakistani SIM or eSIM in the phone also means it must be PTA-registered through DIRBS (PTA DIRBS). With a travel eSIM added, that is two eSIMs: iPhone 13 and later can run two active eSIMs at once (Apple).

Is my iPhone carrier-locked, and what about JV iPhones?

Go to Settings > General > About and look next to Carrier Lock. "No SIM restrictions" means the iPhone is unlocked (iOS 14 and later) (Apple). If you see anything else, treat it as locked and ask the carrier. A locked iPhone cannot use another carrier's eSIM while travelling (Apple), and JV iPhones are usually locked.

"JV" is local market slang for carrier-locked iPhones imported through unofficial channels (Daily Pakistan). In plain terms, a JV iPhone usually cannot add our eSIM, or any other network's eSIM, at home or abroad. Apple is clear that only the carrier can unlock an iPhone, not Apple (Apple). We don't recommend third-party unlocking services.

PTA status is a separate question. PTA's DIRBS system is about using a phone on Pakistani mobile networks (PTA DIRBS). A travel eSIM is for use abroad and does nothing to change a phone's PTA status in Pakistan. Our guide to travel eSIMs on non-PTA and JV iPhones explains the difference.

Which Samsung Galaxy phones support eSIM in Pakistan?

Samsung Pakistan lists eSIM on the Galaxy S20 to S26 series, the S23 FE, S24 FE and S25 FE, the Z Fold and Z Flip models up to the Fold7 and Flip7, and the A55 and A56. It lists the A35, A36 and A54 only for other regions, and says support may vary by region, so check your own phone.

Samsung's Pakistan page was updated on 15 October 2026 (Samsung Pakistan). Samsung's UK page lists a few newer models that the Pakistan page doesn't yet show, such as the S26 FE, A57, A37, Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 (Samsung UK).

Samsung also warns that, depending on the country of origin, eSIM may not be supported even if your model is listed (Samsung UK). Our reading of Samsung's region notes is that an A54 or A35 sold in Pakistan may not have eSIM, though some Pakistani lists, including Onic's, do include them (Onic). The SIM manager check settles it.

Do Google Pixel phones support eSIM?

Yes. Google says every Pixel from the Pixel 4 onwards works with eSIM. The Pixel 3 and 3a support it except some carrier and country versions, the Pixel 2 only when bought with Google Fi, and the original 2016 Pixel not at all (Google). Check the carrier lock if your Pixel came from a US carrier.

US-bought Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL phones are eSIM-only. The same models sold elsewhere have a nano-SIM slot as well as eSIM (Google). You can see the EID under Settings > About phone > SIM status (Google).

Do Tecno, Infinix, Itel, Redmi, Vivo and Oppo phones support eSIM?

Most budget and mid-range phones sold in Pakistan don't. Onic, a digital mobile brand of Ufone's parent company PTML, says Infinix, Tecno and Itel phones lack eSIM. Its list names only certain higher-end Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme and OnePlus models. Redmi phones are not on it. Check your exact model, because versions of the same phone can differ by region.

Onic's list was last updated on 9 September 2026 (Onic). Onic sells eSIMs itself, and PTA has said no new operator was licensed for it: it is a digital product of PTML (PTA). It names, for example, the Xiaomi 13 to 15 series (global versions) and the Oppo Find X7 and X8.

To check one of these phones yourself:

1. Open Settings and look in the SIM card or mobile network menu for an option to add or download an eSIM.
2. If there is none, find your exact model number (Settings > About phone) and look it up on the maker's own specifications page.
3. If neither shows eSIM, assume the phone can't take one. Don't buy until you're sure.

Can I use an eSIM and my Jazz SIM together?

Yes, on most eSIM phones that have a SIM tray. Keep your Jazz, Zong or Ufone (including former Telenor) SIM card in for calls and SMS, and use the travel eSIM for data. Only one line carries mobile data at a time. Phones without a tray, such as the iPhone Air, need your home number on an eSIM too.

Who supports a SIM card plus an eSIM:

• iPhone XS, XR and later, if your model has a tray (Apple).
• Pixel 3a and later, except a Pixel 3a bought in Japan; US-bought Pixel 10 and 11 models are eSIM-only (Google).
• Galaxy: Samsung says dual SIM and eSIM work on "select" Galaxy devices, naming the S22 to S25 series among them (Samsung Gulf).

If your Pakistani number is itself an eSIM, check how many eSIMs your phone can run at once:

• iPhone 13 and later: two active eSIMs (Apple).
• Pixel 7 and later: two eSIMs at once if the carrier allows it (Google).
• Most Galaxy phones: Samsung says only one eSIM can be active at a time (Samsung Gulf). You would have to switch between your home eSIM and the travel eSIM.

WhatsApp stays on your Pakistani number whichever line carries the data. Our guide to keeping your WhatsApp number abroad explains the settings, and how to install a travel eSIM walks through setting the data line.

My phone doesn't support eSIM: what are my options?

You still have three options: a roaming bundle from your Pakistani operator, a local SIM card bought on arrival, or sharing data from a family member's phone that has a travel eSIM, since hotspot is allowed on our eSIMs. Don't buy an eSIM for a phone that lacks eSIM or is carrier-locked: it won't work.

A local SIM card also needs an unlocked phone. On a locked or JV phone, roaming on your Pakistani SIM is usually the only option of the three that works on the phone itself.

Our refund policy gives a full refund if the eSIM doesn't activate on a carrier-unlocked, eSIM-capable phone. It does not cover phones that are locked or have no eSIM hardware, which is why the one-minute check matters.

If you are weighing a roaming bundle instead, our Jazz, Zong and Ufone Umrah package comparison sets out the trade-offs. Once your phone passes both checks, the setup guide shows how to install the QR code.