eSIM or Physical SIM Card? Choosing Between the Two Formats

First, a distinction: this isn't eSIM vs Pocket Wi-Fi

This guide compares two formats of the same thing (buying a travel data plan), not three different ways of getting online. If you want to compare eSIM, Pocket Wi-Fi, and carrier roaming as connectivity methods, see our other guide, “eSIM, Pocket Wi-Fi, or Carrier Roaming?”

What we're covering here: the same travel data plan can come in two forms — one printed onto a physical card you insert into your phone's SIM tray, and one that's a digital profile you install by scanning a QR code.

Which phones support eSIM?

Not every phone supports eSIM. The quickest way to check is to dial *#06# — if you see an EID entry, your phone supports it; no EID means the hardware doesn't.

Generally speaking, iPhone XS/XR or later, Samsung Galaxy S20 or later, and Google Pixel 3 or later mostly support eSIM, though certain regional variants (such as some mainland China iPhone models) don't have the feature enabled. See our “Compatible devices” page for a detailed model list.

Comparing the two formats

Which one fits which traveller

• Your phone supports eSIM and you want to save time → Go with eSIM. It activates instantly after payment, no waiting for delivery, ready to use the moment you land.
• Your phone doesn't support eSIM (e.g. some mainland China iPhone models) → Go with a physical SIM card — same functionality, you just need to receive it in advance.
• You want to leave an old or spare phone with a family member abroad → Older phones often don't support eSIM, and a physical SIM works more broadly, so just buy a card for it.
• You only discover your phone doesn't support eSIM right before you leave → Switch to a physical SIM right away, and allow for 1–3 working days of shipping time within Hong Kong.

Choosing at checkout

On each destination page's selector, the “SIM type” axis lets you choose eSIM or physical SIM (some plans only offer one format — go by whichever option is actually selectable at the time). If you're not sure whether your phone supports eSIM, dial *#06# to check before ordering, or refer to the model list on our “Compatible devices” page.