Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco: which models have eSIM (and the regional catch)

Xiaomi is the trickiest brand for eSIM questions. The same model name can ship with eSIM in one country and without it in another, because the hardware and firmware are configured per region. A spec sheet you found online may not describe the exact unit in your hand.

So skip the spec sheets. This guide shows the 10-second check that works on every Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco, what to do when the eSIM menu is missing, and how to install a travel eSIM before you fly.

The 10-second test: dial *#06#

Open the phone dialer on your Xiaomi, Redmi or Poco and type *#06#. You don't need to press call — a screen pops up automatically.

• You see IMEI numbers and also an EID (a long 32-digit code): the phone has eSIM hardware.
• You only see IMEI, no EID: that unit does not have a usable eSIM.

Second confirmation, inside the system: go to Settings > SIM cards & mobile networks and look for an option to add an eSIM or a digital SIM. On MIUI and HyperOS the wording changes between versions, so it may read "Add eSIM", "Convert to eSIM" or appear as an empty SIM slot you can tap.

If both checks come back negative, your Xiaomi is a physical-SIM-only unit. VoaSim does not sell physical SIM cards, so for that trip you would need a local SIM or your carrier's roaming plan.

The regional catch nobody warns you about

Xiaomi builds different versions of the same phone for different markets. Global, European, Indian and Chinese variants of one model can differ in connectivity features, and eSIM is one of the first things trimmed in some regions. That is why forum answers contradict each other: both people are right, about different units.

Three practical consequences:

• A review that says "model X has eSIM" may refer to the European variant while yours is the Indian or Chinese one.
• A grey-market or imported Xiaomi may run different firmware than the local version, with no eSIM menu.
• Software updates rarely add eSIM to a phone that shipped without it. It is a hardware and firmware decision.

As a rough guide, Xiaomi's chances of eSIM support are much better on flagship models from 2020 onward sold in Europe, which matches VoaSim's general rule for modern phones. But the *#06# result on your own device always beats any list.

Carrier lock: the other thing to check

An eSIM-capable Xiaomi still won't accept a travel eSIM if the phone is locked to a carrier. Locked units are common when the phone was bought on an installment plan or bundled with a contract.

How to tell: put a different carrier's physical SIM in the phone. If it asks for an unlock code or refuses service, it is locked. Only the carrier that sold it can unlock it, usually once the contract or installments are paid. Ask them before your trip — the process can take a few days.

One more habit worth checking on MIUI/HyperOS: some Xiaomi devices let you pick which SIM handles mobile data, calls and SMS separately. After installing a travel eSIM, set mobile data to the eSIM and leave calls and SMS on your physical SIM. That way your number stays alive for bank codes while the data runs on VoaSim. See the full setup guides if you want the screen-by-screen version.

Installing a VoaSim eSIM on a Xiaomi, step by step

Do this at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly.

1. Buy your plan in the price simulator. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
2. Open Settings > SIM cards & mobile networks and choose to add an eSIM.
3. Scan the QR code from another screen or a printout.
4. Name the line something obvious, like "VoaSim".
5. Leave the eSIM line switched off until you land. On Android, do not turn on the eSIM's mobile data before the trip.

Why the last step matters: your days start counting at the eSIM's first connection to a network at the destination, not at purchase. Switching it on at home can burn a day.

When you land, turn the eSIM line on, set it as the data SIM, and turn off data roaming on your home carrier so it can't charge you in the background. Your physical SIM keeps your number, so WhatsApp stays exactly as it is.

Price: one table, every destination

VoaSim charges by duration, not by country and not by gigabyte. Tokyo, Lisbon, São Paulo or Cape Town — same table, with today's 15% promo already applied.

Data is truly unlimited: no cap, no throttling, no hidden fair-use clause. Coverage spans 170 destinations, and the Europe plan covers 50 countries on one eSIM, including the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. Trips of 1 to 4 days pay the 5-day package; a second eSIM in the same order gets 10% extra off. Payment is by international card in USD via Stripe. No island Caribbean coverage for now.

No signal after landing? Run these checks in order

Most Xiaomi "eSIM not working" cases are settings, not hardware. Work through this list before contacting anyone:

1. Airplane mode on for 15 seconds, then off.
2. In SIM cards & mobile networks, confirm the VoaSim line is enabled and selected for mobile data.
3. Turn data roaming ON for the eSIM line — travel eSIMs connect to partner networks, so this switch must be on for the eSIM (and off for your home SIM).
4. Check the APN if the guide for your plan specifies one.
5. Set network selection to automatic; if it stays empty, pick a local operator manually from the list.
6. Restart the phone.

Still nothing? Use the free eSIM Rescue tool — it diagnoses an eSIM of any brand, not just ours. Human support answers at hola@voasim.com and on chat. If the eSIM will not connect and support cannot fix it, you get a 100% refund.

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