Samsung eSIM in the US: which Galaxy phones support it and how to set up

Which Samsung models support eSIM in the US

Samsung's eSIM support is less uniform than Apple's. Not every Galaxy phone includes it, and the feature can vary even within the same model line depending on the carrier and firmware version. Here is the practical breakdown for US buyers:

• Galaxy S series (S21 and later): the S21, S22, S23, S24, and S25 all support eSIM. This includes the Plus and Ultra variants.
• Galaxy Z series: the Z Flip 3 and later, and the Z Fold 3 and later, all support eSIM.
• Galaxy A series (select models): the A54, A55, and A56 include eSIM. The A34 and A35 do not on most markets. Budget models below the A50 range generally lack eSIM entirely.
• Galaxy Note series: the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra support eSIM. Earlier Notes do not.

If you are unsure, the quickest check is to open Settings > Connections > SIM card manager on your phone. If there is an option to add an eSIM, you are covered. If that option is missing, your model does not support it.

Setting up a travel eSIM on Samsung

1. On Wi-Fi, open Settings > Connections > SIM card manager.
2. Tap Add eSIM.
3. Choose Scan QR code and point the camera at your travel eSIM QR code, or follow the provider's app instructions.
4. Once downloaded, the phone may ask you to set data and call preferences. Assign mobile data to the travel eSIM and keep your US line for calls and texts.
5. Toggle off data roaming on your US SIM to prevent surprise charges.

The download needs internet, so do this before you leave. On One UI, Samsung's interface, the eSIM setup is straightforward but the menu labels can change slightly between software versions. If you cannot find the option, search "eSIM" in the Settings search bar.

What Smart Switch does not do

Smart Switch is Samsung's migration tool and it handles nearly everything when you upgrade to a new Galaxy: apps, photos, messages, contacts, wallpapers, and settings all copy over. But it does not transfer your eSIM. When you turn on the new Samsung after a Smart Switch, you get your phone back exactly as it was -- except it has no active mobile line.

This is not a Samsung limitation. It is a security rule across the entire mobile industry: an eSIM profile is cryptographically bound to one device at a time. Moving it requires deactivating the old profile and provisioning a new one, which only your carrier (or a dedicated transfer mechanism) can authorize.

After Smart Switch, you need to reactivate your carrier eSIM manually (Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add eSIM, then transfer from the old device or scan a new QR code from your carrier) and reinstall your travel eSIM from the provider app or QR code. Check the provider's reinstallation policy before deleting anything from the old phone.

Carrier lock: the hidden blocker

In the US, many Samsung phones are sold on installment plans through carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon. These phones are often carrier-locked, meaning they may reject eSIM profiles from other providers -- including travel eSIMs.

Check your lock status in Settings > Connections > SIM card manager or Settings > About phone (the exact path varies). If the phone is locked, contact your carrier and request an unlock. Most carriers will do this for free once the device is paid off and the account is in good standing. Start the process well before your trip, because unlocking requests can take a few business days.

Dual SIM or dual eSIM?

Most Samsung phones in the US market support one physical nano-SIM plus one eSIM. That gives you two active lines, which is exactly what a traveler needs: home line for calls, travel eSIM for data.

Starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung introduced support for dual eSIM on some models and carriers -- meaning two eSIM profiles active at the same time, with no physical SIM needed at all. Whether this works on your specific device depends on the carrier firmware. If you plan to rely on dual eSIM, verify that your carrier has enabled it before you go.

Switching Samsung phones before a trip

If you are upgrading to a new Galaxy right before traveling, timing matters. Run Smart Switch to move your data first, then immediately handle the eSIM situation -- do not assume it carried over. Reactivate your carrier line through the SIM card manager, and reinstall your travel eSIM from the provider app or QR code.

Do this at home with Wi-Fi and at least a day of margin. If the carrier needs to issue a new QR code, the process can take hours. Discovering that at the airport departure gate is a problem you can avoid entirely by starting early.

Keep the old Samsung around for a few days as a safety net. If something goes wrong with the new device, you can fall back to the old one while you sort it out -- much better than troubleshooting from a foreign country with no data connection.

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