iPhone 14 eSIM Only – Curious about eSIMs and the iPhone 14? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re already an iPhone user or thinking about switching from Android to iOS, eSIM might be a new concept for you.
The iPhone 14 lineup was released as eSIM only phones in the US. Other countries still have the sim card slot. Whether this means all mobile technology is headed to a sim-less feature is yet to be seen, it is important to understand what an eSIM is, whether it is for you, and how can you adopt the change.
Let’s find out more about the iPhone 14 eSIM only in this post and other important things to learn about this.
What is an eSIM?
eSIM is a digital SIM card that doesn’t require a physical chip, but it still has all the features of a regular SIM card. However, not all phones are compatible with eSIM. To use it, you’ll need to purchase the eSIM online or through an app from your carrier. They’ll then send you a QR code or pin to download and install the eSIM on your phone.
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How does eSIM work on the iPhone 14?
Now, let’s talk about the iPhone 14 and eSIM. In the US, iPhone 14 models will be activated exclusively with eSIM, making them incompatible with traditional SIM cards. This applies to the A2650, A2651, A2649, and A2632 models, which can be activated with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.
For other countries, the iPhone 14 models will support both eSIM and nano-SIM.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will also have dual eSIM technology (along with nano-SIM and eSIM), but they won’t work with existing micro-SIM cards. In the US, these models can only be activated with eSIM.
If you’re considering an iPhone 14 and want to use eSIM in your country, check if your carrier offers the service. Some popular carriers that provide eSIM are Movistar (in LATAM and Spain), AT&T (in Mexico and the US), VIVO (in Brazil), and Vodafone (in several European countries, Australia, and the UK).
All iPhone 14 models can function as dual SIM devices, either eSIM + nano-SIM or dual eSIM (in Pro models). So, you’ll have the flexibility to use one or both, depending on your preferences. If you purchase an iPhone 14 in the US and return to your home country, you should be able to use it with a local eSIM carrier as long as the necessary bands are available.
Other Phones with the eSIM Compatibility
eSIM-enabled Apple devices
- iPhone 11 series
- iPhone 12 series (including the upcoming iPhone 12 mini in the US)
- iPhone 13 series
- iPhone 14 series
- iPhone XS and XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2020)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro (3rd generation)
- iPad Mini (5th generation)
eSIM-enabled Android devices
- Samsung Galaxy series (Fold, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note 20+, S21, S21+ 5G, S21+ Ultra 5G,
- Samsung Galaxy series (Z Fold3 5G)
- Google Pixel series (2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4 XL, 4A 5G, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro)
- Motorola Razr 2019
- Huawei P series (P40, P40 Pro, P50 Pro) and Mate 40 Pro
- Nuu Mobile X5
- Other Android devices: Gemini PDA, Rakuten Mini, Oppo Find X3 Pro, Oppo Reno 5A, Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G, Sony Xperia 10 III Lite
eSIM-supported laptops and tablets
- ACER (Swift 3, Swift 7, TravelMate P2, TravelMate Spin P4, TravelMate P6)
- ASUS (Mini Transformer T103HAF, NovaGo TP370QL, Vivobook Flip 14 TP401NA)
- Dell Latitude series (7210 2-in-1, 9410, 7310, 7410, 9510, 5410, 5411, 5511)
- HP (Spectre Folio 13, Elite x2 G2/G3, Envy x2, EliteBook G4/G5, Probook G3/G4/G5, Zbook G4/G5,
- Zbook Studio G5, mt32 Mobile Thin Client)
- LENOVO (Yoga C630, Miix 630, Yoga 520, Yoga 720, ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga 2-in-1, ThinkPad
- X1 Carbon Gen 9, ThinkPad X1 Fold, ThinkPad X1 Nano, ThinkPad X12 Detachable, Flex 5G)
- Samsung tablets (Galaxy Book, Galaxy Book 2)
- Microsoft (Surface Go, Surface Go 2, Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 5 LTE Advanced, Surface Pro 7+, Surface Neo)
Devices lacking eSIM support – eSIM Compatible
- iPhones from China and Hong Kong (dual physical SIMs, no eSIM)
- Pixel 3a from Southeast Asian countries
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Hybrid Dual SIM (specific dual SIM version for select markets)
- Huawei P40 Pro+ (no eSIM support)
- LG, HTC, Xiaomi, Honor, RealMe, OnePlus, Vivo (no eSIM support yet)
- US phones with eSIM adoption projections for 2022
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.