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How to buy · Lidl Connect

Get your SIMWhere to buy Lidl Connect, and which SIM your phone needs

You can get Lidl Connect in two ways: a free eSIM installed in the Lidl Plus app, or a physical SIM card for €0.99 that is sold only in Lidl stores. Check which one your phone takes in the list of 115 phones below, then follow the steps, as a short walk-through or one step at a time.

  • €0eSIM, in the Lidl Plus app
  • €0.99physical SIM, Lidl stores only
  • 24Hto activate, at most
  • iOS 16 / Android 9minimum system (Samsung)
Check my phone See the buying steps

Last updated:

01

eSIM or physical SIM: which Lidl Connect SIM should you buy?

Choose the eSIM if your phone supports it: it is free, set up in the Lidl Plus app, and you never need to visit a shop. Choose the €0.99 physical SIM if your phone has no eSIM, or if you often move your SIM between phones. You can switch type later with Change my SIM in the app.

Pick this if your phone supports it

eSIM

€0Free

Where you get it
Installed from the Lidl Plus app
Best for
Unlocked phones with eSIM; compatible tablets
Keeping your number
Install it after the transfer completes
Not for
Smartwatches

Physical SIM

€0.99one-off

Where you get it
Lidl stores only, then activated in the Lidl Plus app
Best for
Phones without eSIM; moving the SIM between phones
Keeping your number
Keep the old SIM in until the app says the transfer is done
  1. 01Is your phone unlocked?

    A phone bought on contract may be locked to its network: ask that provider to unlock it first.

  2. 02Is its system new enough?

    Lidl gives iOS 16 for iPhone and Android 9 for Samsung as the minimum.

  3. 03Does it support eSIM?

    Use the phone check below, or look in your settings for an option to add an eSIM.

  4. →Yes: eSIM. No: physical SIM

    You can change type later in the app with Change my SIM.

02

Check your phone model: does my phone support eSIM?

Type your phone model to see whether it takes an eSIM, a physical SIM or both, and whether it meets Lidl's minimum system. Lidl publishes no list of phones, so these 115 models come from Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, OnePlus and Motorola's own pages for the version sold in Ireland or Europe.

AppleiPhone 13
Go for the eSIM: free, no store visit

This phone takes both. You can also buy the €0.99 physical SIM in a Lidl store.

eSIMYes
Physical SIMYes
Lidl's minimum systemMeets it

Whatever the SIM, the phone must be unlocked.

Source: Apple: Find out which type of SIM your iPhone or iPad uses (checked 2026-10-11)

See the eSIM steps ↓
All 115 phones in the check
PhoneTakes
iPhone 18 ProeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone 18 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone AireSIM only · eSIM only in every country.
iPhone 17eSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone 17 ProeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone 17 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone 17eeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and some other countries take eSIM only.
iPhone 16eSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 16 PluseSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 16 ProeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 16 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 16eeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 15eSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 15 PluseSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 15 ProeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 15 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 14eSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 14 PluseSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 14 ProeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 14 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM · Irish versions take both; models bought in the United States have no SIM tray and take eSIM only.
iPhone 13eSIM + SIM
iPhone 13 minieSIM + SIM
iPhone 13 ProeSIM + SIM
iPhone 13 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM
iPhone 12eSIM + SIM
iPhone 12 minieSIM + SIM
iPhone 12 ProeSIM + SIM
iPhone 12 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM
iPhone 11eSIM + SIM
iPhone 11 ProeSIM + SIM
iPhone 11 Pro MaxeSIM + SIM
iPhone SE (3rd generation)eSIM + SIM
iPhone XSeSIM + SIM
iPhone XS MaxeSIM + SIM
iPhone XReSIM + SIM
iPhone SE (2nd generation)SIM only · No eSIM: nano-SIM only.
iPhone XSIM only · No eSIM: nano-SIM only. It does run iOS 16.
iPhone 8SIM only · No eSIM: nano-SIM only. It does run iOS 16.
iPhone 8 PlusSIM only · No eSIM: nano-SIM only. It does run iOS 16.
iPhone 7Too old
iPhone 7 PlusToo old
iPhone 6sToo old
iPhone 6s PlusToo old
iPhone SE (1st generation)Too old
Galaxy S25eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S25+eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S25 UltraeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S25 FEeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S24eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S24+eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S24 UltraeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S24 FEeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S23eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S23+eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S23 UltraeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S22eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S22+eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S22 UltraeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S21eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S21+eSIM + SIM
Galaxy S21 UltraeSIM + SIM
Galaxy S20eSIM + SIM · Hybrid tray: the second slot takes a SIM or a microSD card.
Galaxy S20+eSIM + SIM · Hybrid tray: the second slot takes a SIM or a microSD card.
Galaxy S20 UltraeSIM + SIM · Hybrid tray: the second slot takes a SIM or a microSD card.
Galaxy Z Fold7eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Flip7eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Fold6eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Flip6eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Fold5eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Flip5eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Fold4eSIM + SIM
Galaxy Z Flip4eSIM + SIM
Galaxy A56eSIM + SIM
Galaxy A55eSIM + SIM
Galaxy A36eSIM + SIM · Samsung lists eSIM for the European, North American and Korean versions; Irish phones are European versions.
Galaxy A35eSIM + SIM · Samsung lists eSIM for the European, North American and Korean versions; Irish phones are European versions.
Galaxy A26SIM only · No eSIM on UK and Irish versions (some have it only in North America or Japan).
Galaxy A25 5GSIM only · No eSIM on UK and Irish versions (some have it only in North America or Japan).
Galaxy A16 5GSIM only · No eSIM on UK and Irish versions (some have it only in North America or Japan).
Galaxy A15SIM only · No eSIM on UK and Irish versions (some have it only in North America or Japan).
Galaxy A15 5GSIM only · No eSIM on UK and Irish versions (some have it only in North America or Japan).
Pixel 10eSIM + SIM · European versions take both; US versions take eSIM only.
Pixel 10 ProeSIM + SIM · European versions take both; US versions take eSIM only.
Pixel 10 Pro XLeSIM + SIM · European versions take both; US versions take eSIM only.
Pixel 10 Pro FoldeSIM + SIM
Pixel 9eSIM + SIM
Pixel 9 ProeSIM + SIM
Pixel 9 Pro XLeSIM + SIM
Pixel 9 Pro FoldeSIM + SIM
Pixel 9aeSIM + SIM
Pixel 8eSIM + SIM
Pixel 8 ProeSIM + SIM
Pixel 8aeSIM + SIM
Pixel 7eSIM + SIM
Pixel 7 ProeSIM + SIM
Pixel 7aeSIM + SIM
Pixel 6eSIM + SIM
Pixel 6 ProeSIM + SIM
Pixel 6aeSIM + SIM
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 (4G)SIM only · The SIM line of the spec page lists no eSIM. The 4G and 5G versions are different phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 5GSIM only · The SIM line of the spec page lists no eSIM. The 4G and 5G versions are different phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro (4G)SIM only · The SIM line of the spec page lists no eSIM. The 4G and 5G versions are different phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 5GeSIM + SIM
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 (4G)SIM only · The SIM line of the spec page lists no eSIM. The 4G and 5G versions are different phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro (4G)SIM only · The SIM line of the spec page lists no eSIM. The 4G and 5G versions are different phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5GeSIM + SIM
Xiaomi 14eSIM + SIM
Xiaomi 14TeSIM + SIM
Xiaomi 15eSIM + SIM
OnePlus 12eSIM + SIM
OnePlus 13eSIM + SIM
OnePlus Nord 4SIM only · The Irish spec page lists dual nano-SIM and no eSIM.
Motorola moto g85 5GeSIM + SIM
Motorola motorola edge 50eSIM + SIM
Motorola moto g54 5GCheck version · Motorola's German spec page lists an eSIM; its Italian and Spanish pages list two nano-SIMs.

Check eSIM support on an iPhone

Open Settings › Mobile Service (or Mobile Data). If you see "Add eSIM", your iPhone supports eSIM. A SIM tray on the side means it also takes a physical SIM.

Check eSIM support on Android

Open Settings › Connections (or Network) › SIM manager. An option to add an eSIM or download a SIM means your phone supports eSIM. Menu names differ between makers.

Phone not in the list?

Look up your exact model on the maker's specifications page: one model can come in different versions in different countries. Whatever the SIM, the phone must be unlocked; see Lidl Connect eSIM for unlocking rules.

03

How do you buy Lidl Connect, step by step?

Pick a route. With a physical SIM you first buy the €0.99 card in a Lidl store, then sign up in the Lidl Plus app. With an eSIM everything happens at home in the app. Either way you choose your SIM, keep your number or get a new one, pay with Lidl Pay, then install it.

Lidl's requirements
Before you start
Unlocked phone
iOS 16 (Apple) / Android 9 (Samsung) or later
18 or over, with a Lidl Plus account
01 · Before you go

Check your phone

Your phone must be unlocked and run at least iOS 16 (Apple) or Android 9 (Samsung). You must be 18 or over with a Lidl Plus account. Take this route if your phone has no eSIM.

Lidl Ireland · checked 2026-10-10

Step 1 of 7Hover over the phone to enlarge it. The screen shows the key points and the names Lidl has published, not screenshots of the Lidl Plus app. The person and places are illustrations.

Step by step, with pictures

The same route as the walk-through above; switching route changes both.

  1. Illustration: a woman in a green jumper on a sofa, looking at her phone
    Before you go

    Step 1: Check your phone

    Your phone must be unlocked and run at least iOS 16 (Apple) or Android 9 (Samsung). You must be 18 or over with a Lidl Plus account. Take this route if your phone has no eSIM.

    Lidl's requirements
    Before you start
    Unlocked phone
    iOS 16 (Apple) / Android 9 (Samsung) or later
    18 or over, with a Lidl Plus account
    Lidl Ireland · checked 2026-10-10
  2. Illustration: she walks along a street towards a supermarket
    To the store

    Step 2: Go to a Lidl store

    Physical Lidl Connect SIM cards are sold only in Lidl stores.

    Lidl Ireland customer service · checked 2026-10-10
  3. Illustration: at the checkout she holds up a small SIM card pack
    In store

    Step 3: Buy a SIM card for €0.99

    A one-off charge. The card only works once you activate it in the Lidl Plus app.

    Physical SIM
    €0.99, one-off
    How a store SIM links to your account is not stated by Lidl: follow the app
    “available exclusively in Lidl stores and must be activated via the Lidl Plus app”
    Lidl Ireland customer service · checked 2026-10-10
  4. Illustration: she uses her phone at a kitchen table
    Lidl Plus app

    Step 4: Sign up in Lidl Plus

    Open Lidl Connect and follow the three steps lidl.ie lists: choose your SIM, keep your number or get a new one, then install. To keep your number, enter it; bill pay customers also need the account number from their last bill.

    Three steps on lidl.ie
    Lidl Plus app › Lidl Connect section
    Sign up
    1
    Choose your SIMPick the physical SIM
    2
    Keep your number or get a new oneOr choose Get a new number
    3
    Install or share itInstall it, or give the line to someone on your account
    Lidl Ireland, Lidl Ireland customer service · checked 2026-10-10
  5. Illustration: a phone in her hand and a bank card face down on the table
    Lidl Pay

    Step 5: Pay with Lidl Pay

    Pay in Lidl Pay with a debit or credit card. If you keep your number, the contract starts only once the transfer completes.

    Payment
    Lidl Plus app › Lidl Connect section
    Lidl Pay
    Debit or credit card
    Keeping your number: the contract starts when the transfer completes
    “You pay through Lidl Pay in the Lidl Plus app.”
    Lidl Ireland, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited) · checked 2026-10-10
  6. Illustration: hands slide a SIM tray into the side of a phone
    Insert the SIM

    Step 6: When to put the new SIM in

    New number: insert it when the app tells you to. Keeping your number: leave the old SIM in to receive the security code; your old service keeps working during the transfer. Do not remove it until the app says the transfer is complete.

    Keeping your number
    During the transfer
    The old SIM keeps working and must receive the security code by text
    Do not remove it until the app says the transfer is done
    Porting hours: 8am–6pm Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm at weekends; usually the same day
    Lidl Ireland customer service, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited) · checked 2026-10-10
  7. Illustration: she talks on her phone on a hill above a village, a mast in the distance
    Live

    Step 7: Active within 24 hours

    The Lidl Plus app notifies you when the transfer completes, then an email confirms you are fully active. Make a call, send a text and browse with WiFi off to check everything works.

    Done
    How you know
    Transfer complete: a notification in Lidl Plus
    Fully active: an email
    Activation takes up to 24 hours; the app shows its status
    Lidl Ireland customer service, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited) · checked 2026-10-10
04

Where to buy a Lidl SIM card in Ireland?

Physical Lidl Connect SIM cards are sold only in Lidl stores in Ireland, for a one-off €0.99, and must then be activated in the Lidl Plus app. The eSIM is not sold anywhere: you get it free inside the app. Either way, the plan itself is bought and paid for only in the Lidl Plus app.

Lidl Plus app

Choosing a SIM, keeping your number, paying with Lidl Pay and installing the eSIM all happen here. There is no separate Lidl Connect app. You must be 18 or over.

Lidl stores

Only the physical SIM is bought in a store, for €0.99, and then activated in the app.

If something goes wrong

Follow the app first. If the eSIM will not install, Lidl suggests calling customer care on +353 1 9203010.

Lidl's help page says the physical SIM is "available exclusively in Lidl stores and must be activated via the Lidl Plus app". Lidl does not say how a store SIM is linked to your account, for example by a code or a scan; the app guides you through it.

There is no website sign-up: lidl.ie sends you to the Lidl Plus app, and payment goes through Lidl Pay with a debit or credit card. See how to sign up for every detail of the sign-up itself.

Ready? Sign up on the official page

IrishSim collects nothing and cannot sign you up.

Get Lidl Connect at lidl.ie ↗

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a Lidl SIM card online?

No. Lidl says physical SIMs are available exclusively in Lidl stores. If you would rather not go to a store, use the free eSIM, which you install from the Lidl Plus app.

What is the Lidl SIM card price?

A physical Lidl Connect SIM costs €0.99, a one-off charge. The eSIM is free, and 1GLOBAL's price list says there is no activation or connection fee. The monthly plan price is separate; see Lidl Connect.

Does an iPhone SE support eSIM?

The iPhone SE (3rd generation) supports eSIM and a nano-SIM. Apple lists the iPhone SE (2nd generation or earlier) as nano-SIM only, so with Lidl Connect those need the physical SIM. The 1st generation also cannot run iOS 16, which Lidl gives as its minimum.

Which Samsung phones support eSIM in Ireland?

Samsung UK lists the Galaxy S20 to S25 ranges, Z Fold4 to Fold7, Z Flip4 to Flip7, and the A56, A55, A36 and A35. It says the A26, A16 5G and A25 5G have eSIM only in North America or Japan, so the Irish versions take a physical SIM.

Can I switch from a physical SIM to an eSIM later?

Yes. In the Lidl Plus app, on WiFi, use Change my SIM. Your previous SIM is deactivated automatically when the new one becomes active. To move to a physical SIM, buy one in a Lidl store first.

Where these facts come from

Every fact on this page comes from one of these sources. We opened each one on the date shown.

  1. Lidl Connect, Lidl Ireland (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  2. Are there any extra costs for a physical SIM?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  3. Where can I get the physical SIM?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  4. How much does the eSIM cost?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  5. Lidl Connect mobile price list, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited), 2026-09-04 (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  6. Can I already install my eSIM before my number transfer is complete?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  7. Where do I find my account number?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  8. What do I need to consider before moving my number?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  9. How do I know when my number has been moved?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  10. When does my Lidl Connect service start?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  11. How do I change my SIM type?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  12. Can I use my smartwatch with the eSIM?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  13. Can I use the eSIM in my tablet?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  14. What should I do if I can’t set up the eSIM?, Lidl Ireland customer service (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  15. Lidl Connect Service Description, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited), 2026-10-01 (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  16. Lidl Connect Portability FAQ, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited), 2026-10-01 (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  17. Lidl Connect Terms and Conditions, 1GLOBAL (TP Ireland Operations Limited), 2026-09-29 (checked 2026-10-10)Official
  18. Find out which type of SIM your iPhone or iPad uses, Apple, 2026-09-19 (checked 2026-10-11)
  19. iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 are compatible with these devices, Apple, 2023-11-05 (checked 2026-10-11)
  20. iPhone Air technical specifications (Ireland), Apple (checked 2026-10-11)
  21. Galaxy eSIM and supported network carriers, Samsung UK, 2026-09-16 (checked 2026-10-11)
  22. Pixel phone hardware tech specs, Google (checked 2026-10-11)
  23. Product specifications, Xiaomi UK (checked 2026-10-11)
  24. Product specifications, OnePlus Ireland (checked 2026-10-11)
  25. Product specifications (Europe), Motorola (checked 2026-10-11)