Max PankratovThe question sounds simple: how many eSIMs fit on a phone? In practice, the answer depends on two separate things, how many profiles the device can store in memory, and how many of those can be active at the same time. These are different numbers, and they get confused more often than you’d expect.
Take the iPhone 13: it stores up to 8 eSIM profiles, but only two can be active simultaneously, and only one of those handles mobile data at any given moment. Understanding this distinction matters if you travel with multiple numbers, use different plans for different countries, or just want to know how many carriers you can add without deleting old ones.
How many eSIM profiles can a smartphone hold
Modern smartphones support between 1 and 8 eSIM profiles in device memory, with the exact number depending on the manufacturer and model. At any one time, only 1–2 of those profiles can be active. Two terms are worth keeping separate:
- –Profile storage (eSIM installation) the number of eSIM profiles you can download and save to the phone’s memory. Inactive profiles don’t consume data or incur charges; they simply wait until you switch them on.
- Simultaneous activation how many eSIMs are working right now: receiving calls, transferring data, using a plan. Most phones support 1–2 active lines at the same time.
The practical upside: you can load eSIM profiles for ten countries, use only one at a time, and switch between them as needed, no physical card swaps required.
eSIM on iPhone: how many can you add
Apple introduced eSIM support with the iPhone XS in 2018. Each generation since has expanded the capabilities, both the number of profiles that can be stored and the number of lines that can be active simultaneously. General rules that apply to all eSIM-capable iPhones:
- Up to 8 eSIM profiles can be stored in device memory (up to 12 on newer models)
- 2 lines can be active simultaneously, this can be a physical SIM and eSIM, two eSIMs, or eSIM only, depending on the model
- Mobile data runs through one line at a time; when two SIMs are active, only the selected one handles internet traffic
Full list of eSIM-compatible iPhones in our compatible models overview.
How many eSIM profiles each iPhone model supports
Current data by generation. The table shows the number of profiles that can be stored and the maximum number of simultaneously active lines.
| iPhone model | eSIM profiles in memory | Simultaneously active | Physical SIM | Notes |
| iPhone XS / XS Max / XR | Up to 8 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes | First generation with eSIM |
| iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes | Dual SIM: nano-SIM + eSIM |
| iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes | Dual eSIM supported in select countries |
| iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 2 eSIM (no physical) or 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes | First model to support two active eSIMs simultaneously |
| iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 2 eSIM simultaneously | Non-US versions only | US version: eSIM only, no physical SIM tray |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 2 eSIM simultaneously | Non-US versions only | US: eSIM only. Other markets: nano-SIM + eSIM |
| iPhone 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max | Up to 8 | 2 eSIM simultaneously | Non-US versions only | Same as iPhone 15 |
| iPhone 17 (expected) | Up to 12 (estimated) | 2 eSIM simultaneously | US: eSIM only | No official data yet; current trend expected to continue |
The iPhone 11 was the first widely distributed model with eSIM support in Russia and the CIS. Like the XS, it supports two active lines simultaneously, one physical and one eSIM. Switching between stored profiles takes seconds: Settings → Cellular → select the profile.
The iPhone 13 expanded this: for the first time, two eSIMs could be active without any physical card. This matters for users who don’t have a nano-SIM or want to go fully digital.
The iPhone 14 in its US version removed the physical SIM tray entirely, eSIM only. International versions (the majority sold in Europe and Asia) still support nano-SIM + eSIM.
How many eSIM profiles Android supports
Android devices have no universal standard, each manufacturer decides how many eSIM profiles its flagship supports.
Samsung Galaxy
Samsung has supported eSIM since the Galaxy S20 (2020). Most flagship and mid-range models store up to 5–10 profiles and support 2 active lines simultaneously, either a physical SIM and eSIM, or two eSIMs depending on the model.
| Samsung model | eSIM profiles in memory | Simultaneously active | Physical SIM |
| Galaxy S20 / S20+ / S20 Ultra | Up to 5 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes (nano-SIM) |
| Galaxy S21 / S22 / S23 | Up to 5 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes (nano-SIM) |
| Galaxy S24 / S25 | Up to 10 | 2 lines (eSIM + physical or 2 eSIM) | Yes (nano-SIM) |
| Galaxy Z Fold / Z Flip series | Up to 5 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes |
| Galaxy A series (A54, A55, etc.) | Up to 2 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical | Yes |
Full list of eSIM-compatible Samsung models in our Samsung eSIM phones overview.
Google Pixel
Google Pixel has supported eSIM since the Pixel 3 (2018). Current Pixel 7, 8, and 9 models store up to 8 profiles and support 2 active lines, physical nano-SIM + eSIM. The Pixel 9 sold in the US ships without a physical SIM tray, eSIM only, following the same approach as the US iPhone 14.
Huawei
Huawei’s eSIM support is limited to premium models: P40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro, P50 Pro, and a few others. Most budget and mid-range Huawei devices don’t support eSIM. Details in our Huawei eSIM phones overview.
Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus
eSIM on Xiaomi is available in select flagship models and varies by region, most devices sold in Russia and the CIS don’t support it. The OPPO Find X5 Pro, OnePlus 9 Pro, and some other flagships support eSIM, but availability depends on the market and firmware version.
Can you use a physical SIM and eSIM at the same time
Yes. This is called Dual SIM, running two active numbers on a single device. Most modern smartphones support a combination of a physical nano-SIM and an eSIM. See how it works in practice:
- Both numbers are active and receive calls and SMS.
- Mobile data runs through one line, you choose which one in settings.
- Switching between lines takes a few seconds with no reboot required.
Scenarios where this genuinely helps:
- Travel. Keep your home number on the physical SIM so you don’t miss calls or lose access to accounts tied to that number, and activate a travel eSIM for affordable local data. This is exactly the use case Yesim plans are built for: activate before your flight, connect when you land.
- Separating work and personal life. One corporate number, one personal number. Both on one phone, switch between them at any moment.
- Different plans for different needs. Primary carrier for calls, a second with a better data package.
eSIM limits explained
Limits fall into two categories: hardware limits (set by the manufacturer) and software limits (set by the carrier or Apple/Google).
| Device | Max profiles in memory | Simultaneously active |
| iPhone XS, iPhone 12 | Up to 8 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical SIM |
| iPhone 13, iPhone 16 | Up to 8 | 2 eSIM (or 1 eSIM + 1 physical) |
| Samsung Galaxy S20–S23 | Up to 5 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical |
| Samsung Galaxy S24–S25 | Up to 10 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical (or 2 eSIM) |
| Google Pixel 3–6 | Up to 5 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical |
| Google Pixel 7–9 | Up to 8 | 1 eSIM + 1 physical |
Some carriers block eSIM use on locked devices — if an iPhone was purchased on a carrier instalment plan and hasn’t been unlocked. In most Western markets, iPhones are sold unlocked, but it’s worth checking before buying a travel eSIM.
Apple also restricts transferring an eSIM profile from one device to another, when you change phones, the profile needs to be reissued by the carrier or provider. With Yesim, this takes a few minutes through support.
How to choose a travel eSIM given your device’s limits
Before buying a travel eSIM, it’s worth checking a few things:
- Does your phone support eSIM. The full and up-to-date device list is on our compatible devices page. If the phone was bought before 2018, it most likely doesn’t have eSIM.
- Is the phone unlocked. A carrier-locked iPhone may not accept an eSIM from a different provider.
- How many eSIMs are already active. If two lines are already active (say, your home carrier as an eSIM and a work number on a nano-SIM), you can’t add a third without deactivating one of the existing ones.
- How to switch between profiles. On iPhone: Settings → Cellular → select profile → enable. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Card Manager. Switching takes seconds and doesn’t require a reboot.
More on how eSIM works in our article What is eSIM.
The bottom line
The number of eSIM profiles you can add to a smartphone is determined by the device model and the key is not to confuse profile storage with simultaneous activation. Most modern iPhones store up to 8 profiles and support two active lines at once. Samsung Galaxy supports 2–10 profiles depending on the series. Google Pixel supports up to 8.
For travel, the most practical setup is one where your home number sits alongside several travel eSIM profiles for different countries, activate the right one before departure, the rest wait in memory. That’s exactly how Yesim plans work: activate before you fly, connect when you land, no queues, no physical cards.
