On iPhone the rule is simple: XS and newer works. On Samsung and Google Pixel it is much less clean — two phones with the same name can differ depending on where they were bought.
Samsung Galaxy
- Galaxy S22 and newer — supported.
- Z Flip and Z Fold — supported.
- Note 20 — supported.
- Galaxy S20 and S21, including the FE variants — depends on model and region. US Snapdragon builds have no eSIM at all. This is the most common trap: the model is "supposed" to work, but your particular handset does not.
Google Pixel
- Pixel 4 and newer — supported.
- Pixel 3 — only the Google and Verizon builds.
- Pixel 3a — supported except the Japan, South-East Asia and Verizon builds.
Check it in two minutes
Do not trust the marketing name: check the device in your hand.
- Dial *#06# on the phone keypad. If an EID appears alongside the IMEI, the device supports eSIM. No EID means no eSIM.
- Or use settings: on Samsung, Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. On Pixel, Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add eSIM. If the option is not there, the device does not support it.
Our compatibility page walks through the same steps.
The second trap: carrier lock
A phone that supports eSIM but is locked to a carrier will refuse to install a foreign profile. If your handset came with a subsidised contract, confirm it is unlocked before you travel — it is usually free, but it can take a few days.
If your phone is not compatible
There is no software workaround: the eSIM is a physical chip soldered into the device. The realistic options are a local SIM card bought on arrival, or tethering from another phone in your group — our plan allows hotspot on every duration, and shared data comes out of the same daily full-speed allowance.
If your phone is supported, pick your duration and install the QR code before you fly: validity only starts on your first connection in Egypt.