Is the ENC Mobile US SIM any good? Data, renewals and when the number is cancelled: 10 beginner questions (2026)
In one line: the ENC Mobile US T-Mobile physical SIM is a real +1 mobile number, $28 shipped to China, with 30 minutes of US calls and 100 texts in the first month. It has no data and sends and receives texts over Wi-Fi Calling. Renewals go through support, and the number is cancelled after 30 days suspended. It suits people with an iPhone 6S or later who need a US number for texts but cannot easily go to the US to activate one. Here are the 10 questions beginners ask most.
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With giffgaff disconnecting numbers, PayGo getting pricier and scarcer, and new Tello lines needing US use before roaming, many people are looking at ENC. What you read online varies: some say $3 a month, some say $10, some say you can top up yourself, others say only resellers can. The reason is that ENC's direct accounts and channel SIMs follow different rules.
This guide covers only the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC) sold by LarkSIM, based on the product information as of 17 October 2026. Follow the product page on the day you order.
What ENC Mobile is
ENC Mobile is a US mobile carrier aimed mainly at Chinese-speaking residents and students in the US. It runs on the T-Mobile network, has Chinese and English websites, and offers English, Mandarin and Cantonese support plus a China support line. "ENC SIM" and its Chinese brand name 迎客 refer to its SIM cards.
LarkSIM sells its T-Mobile network physical SIM. Key details:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Network and number | T-Mobile network, US +1 mobile number, physical SIM, not VoIP |
| Price | $28 (about ¥199), first-month plan included, shipped to an address in China |
| First-month plan | 30 minutes of US calls + 100 US texts, no data |
| Phones | iPhone 6S or later, Chinese or international model, unlocked |
| How it works | Connect to Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi Calling; no signal after inserting it is normal |
| Number | Randomly assigned by the carrier, possibly previously used, cannot be chosen or changed |
| Renewal | No self-service top-up; support tops up; the number is cancelled after 30 days suspended |
| After-sales | Special item, cannot be returned or exchanged once shipped |
Who it suits and who it does not
| Suits | Does not suit |
|---|---|
| You need a US +1 number to receive texts for your own accounts | You want mobile data or to call numbers in China |
| You are in China and cannot easily go to the US to activate a SIM | You need texts to arrive even away from Wi-Fi |
| You have an unlocked iPhone 6S or later | Your phone is locked, jailbroken or uses a SIM adapter |
| You will remember to renew through support each month | You want a SIM you can leave without renewing |
If the left column describes you, Buy the US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC); the $28 (about ¥199) includes the first-month plan.
Getting started (3 steps, about 5 minutes)
- 1
Connect to Wi-Fi
Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi and make sure you are in an overseas network environment (required the first time). - 2
Insert the SIM and turn on Wi-Fi Calling
Insert the SIM, open Settings > Cellular > Wi-Fi Calling (on some iOS versions Settings > Phone), select the US number and turn it on. - 3
Wait 3–5 minutes
When Wi-Fi appears next to the carrier name in the status bar, you can send and receive texts and make US calls.
If it will not turn on, work through the 7 troubleshooting steps for an ENC SIM with no signal.
Renewals and cancellation: two numbers to remember
- check_circleFirst month: the $28 includes the first-month plan, 30 minutes and 100 texts.
- check_circleRenewal: this SIM cannot be topped up by yourself. Before expiry, email support with your order number and US number and support tops it up. Renewal is the same monthly plan (30 minutes + 100 texts) at ¥66–99 a month, depending on the tax for the US ZIP code entered at activation.
- check_circleZIP code: the US ZIP code entered at activation is not your delivery address; it sets later taxes. A lower-tax state helps.
- check_circleCancellation: after 30 days suspended, the number is cancelled, and accounts linked to it may stop receiving texts.
Compared with PayGo, Red Pocket and Tello
| Item | ENC (LarkSIM) | Ultra Mobile PayGo | Red Pocket | Tello |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can you get and activate it in China? | Yes, shipped to China; first Wi-Fi Calling activation needs an overseas network environment | Mainly through marketplaces and resellers in China | Officially bought and activated only within the US | A new line must be used in the US before roaming |
| Price to get started | $28 (about ¥199), first month included | From ¥368 on JD.com plus shipping | Annual, from the equivalent of $5 a month | Monthly plans from $5 |
| Receiving texts in China | Wi-Fi Calling over Wi-Fi | Roaming texts directly, $0.10 each | GSMA plans with roaming enabled in the US beforehand | Roaming charged to PAYG credit, or Wi-Fi Calling |
| Renewal | Topped up by support | Wallet top-ups, $3 every 30 days | Renew the 360-day plan before expiry | Monthly renewal online |
| When the number lapses | Cancelled after 30 days suspended | Suspended if the wallet is under $3 at the end of a cycle | When the paid term ends without renewal | PAYG-only credit expires 3 months after purchase |
In short: keep PayGo if you have it; in the US, a Red Pocket annual plan is cheapest; in China and not travelling to the US, ENC is the simplest. For the full comparison, see giffgaff disconnected or Tello banned: which SIM next. Official pages: Ultra Mobile PayGo and the Red Pocket help centre.
5 things to accept before ordering
- check_circleNo Wi-Fi, no texts: in China this SIM works only over Wi-Fi Calling.
- check_circleYour network decides: failing to connect Wi-Fi Calling for network reasons is not a SIM fault.
- check_circleCodes are not guaranteed: ordinary texts work, but whether a service sends you a verification code depends on its rules and your IP environment.
- check_circleYou do not choose the number: it is random, may have been used before and cannot be changed.
- check_circleCarrier rules are outside LarkSIM's control: number checks, suspensions and validity are decided by the carrier and channel, and we cannot promise the number will work forever.
10 beginner questions
Is the ENC Mobile SIM any good? Is it reliable?expand_more
Does the ENC SIM have mobile data?expand_more
No signal after inserting it. Is it faulty?expand_more
Can I call numbers in China?expand_more
Does it work on a Chinese-model iPhone? On Android?expand_more
Can I choose my number?expand_more
How do I renew, and how much is it?expand_more
When is the number cancelled if I do not renew?expand_more
Will it receive verification codes?expand_more
ENC or PayGo: which is better?expand_more
Real +1 number · T-Mobile network · Card checked before dispatch
US T-Mobile physical SIM (ENC)
A real US +1 mobile number, not VoIP, delivered as a physical SIM to your address in China. Check the current price, Wi-Fi Calling and keep-number notes on the product page before ordering.