Quick answer
Mostly no. LG never adopted eSIM broadly before it exited the phone business in 2021, so the great majority of LG handsets are physical nano-SIM only — and no software update can change that, because eSIM requires a chip fitted at the factory. A small number of later models shipped with eSIM hardware in some regions, chiefly the V60 ThinQ, the Velvet 5G, and the Wing. Even for those, support depends on the market and carrier variant your specific unit came from.
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This is the only answer that is actually reliable, because it reads the hardware rather than the model name:
- Open the phone dialler and enter *#06#.
- Look at what appears. You will see an IMEI on every phone.
- If an EID number is also listed, your phone has an eSIM chip and can use a travel eSIM.
- If there is no EID, your phone is physical-SIM only. Nothing will change that.
- Alternative route: Settings, then About phone, then Status — look for an EID field.
LG model-by-model
| LG model | eSIM? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LG V60 ThinQ | Some variants | The most likely LG to have it; depends on carrier and region variant |
| LG Velvet 5G | Some variants | International 5G models are the ones reported to carry eSIM hardware |
| LG Wing | Some variants | Region-dependent, same as the Velvet |
| LG G8 ThinQ | No | Standard G8 is nano-SIM only in most markets |
| LG G8S / G8X ThinQ | Some variants | Certain European and Asian releases only |
| LG V50 / V40 and earlier | No | Pre-date LG shipping eSIM |
| LG K series (budget) | No | No eSIM hardware in any generation |
| LG Stylo series | No | Physical SIM only |
| LG G7 and older | No | Physical SIM only |
The reason this table has so many "some variants" entries is not vagueness on our part — it reflects how LG actually shipped these phones. Identical model numbers were sold with different SIM hardware in different regions, so the EID check above beats any list.
Why is LG eSIM support so patchy?
Timing. eSIM only became a mainstream phone feature around 2018 to 2020, exactly when LG's mobile division was losing money and shrinking its lineup. LG announced its exit from smartphones in April 2021, before eSIM became standard. Samsung, Apple, and Google carried on and rolled it across their ranges; LG simply stopped. There will be no future LG phones with eSIM, and existing ones cannot be retrofitted.
Your LG has no eSIM. Now what?
You have three realistic options for data abroad, in rough order of value:
- Buy a local physical SIM on arrival. Still widely available, usually cheap, and works in any unlocked LG. The downsides are the airport queue, ID registration in some countries, and losing your home number while it is in the tray.
- Use a travel eSIM on a different device you already own. If you have an eSIM-capable tablet or a spare phone, put the travel plan there and tether your LG to it over Wi-Fi hotspot. This works well and is what a lot of people end up doing.
- Enable roaming with your home carrier. The most expensive route by a wide margin, but the only zero-effort one. Check the daily rate before you fly.
One option to be careful with: adapter products that fit a physical SIM-sized card into the tray and emulate an eSIM. They exist and some people report success, but they add a failure point on a trip and are not supported by travel eSIM providers, so if something goes wrong there is nobody to ask.
If you are replacing the phone anyway, essentially every current handset from Apple, Samsung, and Google supports eSIM — and if you buy in the US, iPhone 14 and later have no SIM tray at all, so eSIM stops being optional.
Frequently asked questions
Does the LG Velvet support eSIM?
Some LG Velvet 5G variants shipped with eSIM hardware, but it depends on the region and carrier version you own. Dial *#06# — if an EID number appears alongside the IMEI, your Velvet has eSIM; if not, it is physical-SIM only.
Does the LG V60 ThinQ support eSIM?
The V60 ThinQ is the LG model most likely to have eSIM, but support varies by carrier and regional variant rather than applying to every unit. Check for an EID via *#06# before buying a travel eSIM.
Does the LG G8 support eSIM?
The standard LG G8 ThinQ does not support eSIM in most markets — it is nano-SIM only. Some G8S and G8X units released in Europe and parts of Asia do include the hardware, so run the *#06# EID check on your specific phone.
Can I add eSIM to my LG phone with an update?
No. eSIM requires a physical chip soldered in during manufacturing. If your phone shipped without one, no software or firmware update can add it.
How do I know for certain if my LG has eSIM?
Dial *#06# on the keypad. Every phone shows an IMEI; only eSIM-capable phones also show an EID. You can also check Settings, About phone, Status for an EID entry. This reads the hardware directly and is more reliable than any compatibility list.
What can I use for travel data if my LG has no eSIM?
Buy a local physical SIM on arrival, or put a travel eSIM on another device you own — a tablet or spare phone — and tether the LG to it over Wi-Fi hotspot. Home-carrier roaming works too but usually costs several times more.
Sources & further reading
Daniel Reyes
eSIM & Mobile Networks Writer
Daniel is a telecoms writer who has covered mobile networks and eSIM technology since 2019. He breaks down carrier coverage, device compatibility, and activation step by step.