eSIM and a physical SIM in an iPhone

iPhone Air and iPhone Duo ship with eSIM only. For iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, 17e, 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max it depends on the country: versions for the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE and the Gulf are eSIM only, Hong Kong and Europe get a nano-SIM tray plus eSIM, and mainland China’s iPhone 17 and 17 Pro take two nano-SIMs.

The version is read from the model number; see the article on LL/A, ZA/A and CH/A. eSIM-only models are covered in “eSIM-only iPhone”.

• New phone. A SIM is moved across. An eSIM moves by QR code, in the operator’s app or with eSIM Quick Transfer.
• Broken phone. An intact SIM goes into another handset. An eSIM stays in the broken one, and the operator restores the number.
• Travel. With a tray, a local SIM goes in. With eSIM, a travel package is added and the home number stays.
• Number of lines. Two lines are active either way; the iPhone can store eight or more eSIM profiles.

Dual SIM is in both versions. With a tray: nano-SIM plus eSIM or, from iPhone 13, two eSIMs. Without a tray: two eSIMs. Calls and SMS reach both numbers; mobile data runs on one line at a time.

Lines from two different operators work only on an unlocked phone. The status is in About, the Carrier Lock row: “No SIM restrictions”.

• eSIM Quick Transfer, if the operator supports it. Both iPhones nearby, Bluetooth on, iOS 18.4 or later, the same Apple Account. Once the new phone activates, the old eSIM switches off.
• QR code. At Beeline one QR code scans up to 10 times: the eSIM is deleted from the old phone and the same code is scanned on the new one. A lost code is restored in the Janymda app.
• The operator’s app. Kcell has an “eSIM transfer” service in the Kcell app.

Beeline: with no access to the phone or the app, the office issues a plastic SIM that disables the lost eSIM, and it is then swapped for a new eSIM in the app. Kcell: a SIM swap in the app takes a document scan and a selfie. A number registered to someone else can be restored only by its owner.

Apple’s setup: the home number on one line, a travel package on the other; iOS 26 has a separate setup flow for travel eSIMs. Since July 2026 Beeline sells Travel eSIM in Janymda: country, duration, data volume.

Conditions: the iPhone is on Wi-Fi and not carrier-locked; a phone brought from abroad goes through IMEI verification. The profile is added in Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM by scanning the QR code.

• Beeline — the Janymda app: a new number, switching with your own number, or replacing a SIM with eSIM. Quick identification, then a QR code. A store visit is needed only when there’s no access to the phone or app.
• Kcell — the Kcell app, with a document and selfie check. activ subscribers use the activ app.
• Tele2 — the Tele2 app or a Telegram bot: a new number, porting from another operator, replacing a plastic SIM.
• Altel — same as Tele2: the Altel app or a Telegram bot, with the QR code delivered in the app.