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iPhone Q&A

Update Published October 27, 2022

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Does the iPhone have a SIM card? Which iPhone models use which types of SIM cards? Which support eSIM? How do you remove the SIM?

All iPhone models -- with the exception of the iPhone 4 (CDMA) (A1349) -- use SIM cards, but the type and size varies significantly between models.

Specifically, the iPhone models use these SIM card types:

iPhone Model

SIM Card Type

Original iPhone

Mini SIM

iPhone 3G

Mini SIM

iPhone 3GS

Mini SIM

iPhone 4 (GSM)

Micro SIM

iPhone 4S

Micro SIM

iPhone 5

Nano SIM

iPhone 5c

Nano SIM

iPhone 5s

Nano SIM

iPhone 6

Nano SIM

iPhone 6 Plus

Nano SIM

iPhone 6s

Nano SIM

iPhone 6s Plus

Nano SIM

iPhone SE

Nano SIM

iPhone 7

Nano SIM

iPhone 7 Plus

Nano SIM

iPhone 8

Nano SIM

iPhone 8 Plus

Nano SIM

iPhone X

Nano SIM

iPhone XS

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone XS Max

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone XR

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 11

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 11 Pro

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone SE (2nd Gen)

Nano SIM & eSIM†

iPhone 12 mini

Nano SIM & eSIM†

iPhone 12

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 12 Pro

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Nano SIM & eSIM*

iPhone 13 mini

Nano SIM & eSIM x2†

iPhone 13

Nano SIM & eSIM x2*

iPhone 13 Pro

Nano SIM & eSIM x2*

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Nano SIM & eSIM x2*

iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

Nano SIM & eSIM†

iPhone 14

Nano SIM & eSIM x2‡

iPhone 14 Plus

Nano SIM & eSIM x2‡

iPhone 14 Pro

Nano SIM & eSIM x2‡

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Nano SIM & eSIM x2‡

* These models all have dual SIMs. Most models have one physical Nano SIM and a secondary software-based eSIM, but models sold in China (and Hong Kong when applicable) have dual hardware Nano SIM cards. The iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max models alternately support dual eSIMs.

‡ iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max models sold in the US have dual eSIMs but do not support a hardware Nano SIM.

The China/Hong Kong-specific models with two physical Nano SIMs are:

† The China-only iPhone SE (2nd Gen) (A2298), iPhone 12 mini (A2400), iPhone 13 mini (A2629), and iPhone SE (3rd Gen) (A2785) only have one physical Nano SIM card slot. These iPhone models do not support an eSIM.

The difference between Mini SIM, which often is just called a SIM card, as well as the newer Micro SIM and Nano SIM standards largely is size.

If you are not sure which iPhone you have, see EveryiPhone.com's iPhone Identification section.

How to Remove iPhone SIM Card

The SIM card in all applicable iPhone models can be removed with an unfolded paper clip or the SIM eject tool that shipped with the iPhone itself, as shown below:


Photo Credit: MacLife Magazine (Original iPhone)

It also is worth noting that the hole to push out the SIM card is on the bottom of the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS and is on the right hand side toward the middle of the device for the GSM-equipped iPhone 4 as well as the iPhone 4S and all subsequent models.

How can I upgrade from an older iPhone to a new iPhone?

Apple has posted a useful support document that covers upgrading from an older iPhone model to a new one. This document provides step-by-step instructions to backup your older iPhone and restore the backup to the new model, which allows one to seamlessly migrate saved SMS messages, email accounts, photos, notes, and other personal settings.


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