Nothing Phone (3a) & eSIM — What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Plan

Ultimo aggiornamento: 2026-10-15

Does the Nothing Phone (3a) support eSIM?

Here's the honest answer, because it matters before you buy anything: the standard Nothing Phone (3a) does not support eSIM. It uses two physical nano-SIM slots only — there's no eSIM built in.

The confusion is understandable, because there are two similar phones:

• Nothing Phone (3a) — dual nano-SIM, no eSIM
• Nothing Phone (3a) Pro — dual nano-SIM plus eSIM (supports Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM)

So if you have the Pro, you're good — you can use a travel eSIM. If you have the standard Phone (3a), a travel eSIM won't install on it, and you'll want a different option for data abroad (covered below).

Some third-party "compatibility" sites incorrectly list the standard Phone (3a) as eSIM-capable. We'd rather tell you the truth than sell you a plan your phone can't use.

How to tell which model you have

Not sure whether you have the (3a) or the (3a) Pro? Two quick checks:

1. Dial \*#06#. If an EID number appears (alongside the IMEI), your phone has eSIM — that's the (3a) Pro. If there's no EID, it's the standard (3a) with no eSIM.
2. Check Settings. Go to Settings → Network & internet → SIMs (or Connections → SIM manager). If there's an Add eSIM / Download a SIM option, you have eSIM. If you only see physical SIM slots, you don't.

The \*#06# check is the most reliable — no EID means no eSIM, full stop.

If you have the standard Phone (3a) — your options abroad

A travel eSIM isn't an option on the standard (3a), but you're not out of luck. To get data when you travel, you can:

• Buy a local physical SIM at your destination and pop it into one of the nano-SIM slots. Cheap in many countries, but it means finding a shop, sometimes showing ID, and swapping your home SIM out.
• Use a portable Wi-Fi hotspot (pocket router) with its own data plan, and connect your phone over Wi-Fi.
• Turn on international roaming with your home carrier — the simplest option, but usually the most expensive.
• Rely on Wi-Fi at hotels, cafés and airports for lighter trips.

If you travel often and want the convenience of an eSIM (buy online, scan, connect on landing — no SIM swapping), your next phone with eSIM support makes that possible. Nearly every recent flagship — including the Nothing Phone (3), Phone (3a) Pro, recent Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S and A series, and iPhone — supports eSIM.

If you have the Phone (3a) Pro — you're all set

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro supports eSIM alongside its two physical nano-SIM slots, so you can keep your home number and add a travel data plan. Setup takes about two minutes — do it at home on Wi-Fi before you fly:

1. Buy an eSIM plan for your destination — your QR code arrives by email (and is saved on your profile page)
2. Open Settings → Network & internet → SIMs
3. Tap Download a SIM instead? (or + Add SIM → Download a SIM)
4. Scan the QR code from your email
5. Wait a few seconds while the profile downloads — stay on Wi-Fi
6. Name the eSIM (e.g., "Travel data")

When you land, open your travel eSIM under SIMs and turn Data roaming ON for it (travel plans connect through local partner networks, which counts as roaming), turn roaming OFF on your home SIM, set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line, and keep calls and texts on your home SIM. Our full Android eSIM setup guide walks through every screen. And here's how the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro handles eSIM in detail.

What about calls and texts (on the Pro)?

An eSIM-Now travel plan is data-only: fast mobile internet, but no phone number, so it can't make regular calls or receive SMS/OTP codes by itself. On the dual-SIM (3a) Pro, keep your home SIM active for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, Google Meet, Signal or Telegram to call and message over data.