You've but bought yourself an iPhone – welcome to the order! Even so, while you idea you'd simply be able to popular your existing SIM card into your iPhone, you might be wrong. That'due south dependant on not only which size SIM card you lot accept, but model of iPhone you lot take also, as older iPhones use standard SIMs while more recent iPhones opt for the Micro- or Nano-SIM. Here, we explain the differences between SIM, Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM, and explicate which size SIM you'll need for your iPhone.

Read adjacent: How to find the SIM number (ICCID) on your iPhone | How to unlock an iPhone

Which size SIM do I demand for my iPhone: SIM, Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM

Earlier we explain which size SIM your iPhone requires, we thought we'd explicate a little bit nigh the different sizes bachelor. Allow's commencement off with the total-size SIM card, measuring in at 85.6 x 53.98mm, making information technology the largest currently available. While the standard SIM card had in one case been the become-to size for SIM cards, the recent trend in making engineering in smartphones every bit compact as possible means that smartphones tin can't provide enough room for the standard SIM – this is particularly true of iPhones.

That's why, starting with the iPhone four, Apple decided to switch from the standard SIM to the Micro-SIM. The Micro-SIM was much smaller than the standard SIM measuring in at fifteen x 12mm, making it ideal to fit into more compact smartphones. However, while the Micro-SIM is small, Apple (and other smartphone manufacturers) needed something smaller, so the Nano-SIM was developed.

The smallest SIM currently bachelor, the Nano-SIM measures in at merely 12.3 x viii.8mm, and is the standard for many 2016/2017 smartphones as information technology allows smartphone manufacturers to use as much available space as possible.

Now nosotros've explained a picayune virtually the three types of SIM carte available in the UK, let's take you through the iPhone requirements to make sure you've got the right size SIM for your telephone.

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Which size SIM do I demand for my iPhone: iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS

For those with the original iPhone, an iPhone 3G or 3GS, yous'll demand a standard SIM card. Yous can either phone call your mobile carrier and asking one (they may accuse you lot for this) or alternatively, you lot can buy a SIM card adaptor that'll allow yous fit a Micro- or Nano-SIM into a standard SIM slot.

Which size SIM do I need for my iPhone: iPhone four, iPhone 4s

Merely what about those with an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s? You'll demand a Micro-SIM to use the smartphone, the second-smallest SIM card available. Those with a Nano-SIM that require a Micro-SIM can utilise a SIM menu adaptor to crash-land it upward, but what about those with a standard SIM? If you don't want to speak to your mobile carrier most being sent a Micro-SIM, you can cut the standard SIM downward to size. We tin talk you through that process, simply caput hither: How to cutting a SIM bill of fare for the iPhone

Which size SIM do I need for my iPhone: iPhone v, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone seven and iPhone 7 Plus

For those with an iPhone 5 or after, the Nano-SIM is the SIM bill of fare yous'll demand. Different with the above options, users tin can't opt for an adaptor because information technology's larger than the size information technology needs to be. This means that you're left with two options – cut it yourself, or call your carrier and request a Nano-SIM.