Run these five checks in order
- Find the exact model number.
Open Settings → General → About, then tap the part number to reveal the hardware model.
- Confirm the sales market.
The same iPhone family can have different SIM hardware and eSIM rules depending on where it was sold.
- Look for Add eSIM.
Open Settings → Cellular. A visible option is useful evidence, but it does not prove the phone is unlocked.
- Check Carrier Lock.
In Settings → General → About, look for “No SIM restrictions.” Contact the selling carrier if another status appears.
- Read the package activation policy.
Install on stable Wi-Fi before departure when allowed, but turn on the line according to the provider’s validity rule.
The 2026 mainland-China distinction
Apple currently lists iPhone Air model A3518 and iPhone 17e model A3635 as the iPhones that support eSIM from mainland Chinese network providers. That local-provider rule is different from installing an international travel eSIM on a visitor’s phone.
Apple also says that on those mainland-purchased models, an eSIM from a provider outside mainland China cannot be installed while the phone is located in mainland China. If you plan to use a travel profile, confirm the exact model and install it before arrival when the provider permits.