Even skilled customers can discover it arduous to inform some iPhones aside. Apple updates the iPhone yearly, nevertheless it doesn’t at all times change the design – typically the numerous modifications are on the within, reminiscent of quicker new parts. You is likely to be pondering that should you look on the again of an iPhone you will notice its title etched into the case, however no, Apple doesn’t even inscribe iPhones with “Designed in California” any extra. This could make it very troublesome to determine which mannequin you’ve received.
There are varied the explanation why you would possibly have to know which iPhone you’ve. Not everybody walks into an Apple store to purchase the most recent mannequin. You may need been handed down an iPhone from a member of the family who was unclear about which mannequin it’s, wherein case you is likely to be questioning if it could be a good suggestion to replace the iOS on it. This may be a difficulty, as a result of solely sure fashions can run the most recent model of iOS.
Or you would possibly need to know which iPhone you’ve since you’re planning to promote it and also you need to promote it correctly. Alternatively you is likely to be the one shopping for a used iPhone, wherein case it would be best to be sure you aren’t paying greater than you need to.
One problem is likely to be you can’t truly activate the iPhone to examine what mannequin it’s. To deal with that we talk about methods to inform what iPhone you’ve with out turning it on together with different methods to seek out out what iPhone you’ve.
If you’re struggling to determine certainly one of your different Apple units, we even have guides to discovering which iPad you’ve and which Mac you’ve. Read on to learn the way to inform which iPhone you’ve.
Option 1: Find out which iPhone you’ve in iPhone Settings
The easiest method to inform which iPhone you’ve is to open up Settings.
How to seek out the iPhone title inSettings
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General > About.
- In the highest financial institution of entries you’ll see Model Name, which tells you precisely which iPhone mannequin you’ve.
- Scroll right down to examine the capability of your iPhone, which is one thing it would be best to share if you’re pondering of promoting it.
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Option 2: iPhone mannequin quantity examine
Below Model Name additionally, you will see Model Number in Settings. This can inform you somewhat greater than the title of the gadget.
This is definitely somewhat complicated as a result of the quantity that’s displayed by default is definitely the half quantity – it begins with an M. If you pop that half quantity right into a search engine it’s going to inform you precisely which mannequin you’ve together with capability and color.
This half quantity is often known as the SKU – and should you’ve received a substitute mannequin it’ll most likely begin with an N.
There’s an enormous variety of doable M numbers – way over we will record right here. Check the iPhone Wiki for a full record.
How to seek out an iPhone half quantity in Settings
Here’s methods to discover that iPhone half quantity in Settings.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General > About.
- Below Model Name you will notice Model Number.
Option 3: Find your iPhone’s A quantity
The best method to determine an iPhone should you couldn’t flip it on was once to examine the ‘A’ mannequin quantity that was etched onto the again. But Apple hasn’t printed A numbers on the again for the reason that iPhone 7. If you’ve a current mannequin, or discover the quantity too small to learn, there are different methods to determine the iPhone A quantity, which we are going to talk about beneath.
This mannequin quantity may give you helpful info just like the nation it was bought in – which can be essential for guarantee causes. Another cause you would possibly have to know which area the iPhone was meant for is that not all iPhones help the identical mobile bands (for instance solely the US fashions help the 5G requirements sub‑6 GHz and mmWave). Some regional iPhone fashions don’t help Dual SIM or Dual eSIM and even Dual Nano SIM. Other areas disable sure options – reminiscent of FaceTime Audio in China. Other areas insist that their iPhones come preinstalled with sure apps.
How to seek out the A quantity
If you’ve an older iPhone – iPhone 7 and earlier) – you will notice this identification quantity printed on the again. It is a small quantity that begins with the letter A, and is labelled ‘Model’. It’ll be one thing like “A1203” or “A1634”.
When we are saying “small number” we actually do imply small, and you could discover it arduous to learn the quantity with the bare eye. A magnifying glass will assist should you’ve received one!
How to seek out the A quantity within the SIM tray
There is one other method to discover the A quantity should you can’t flip your iPhone on and it’s not on the again, however you could want a magnifying glass!
Assuming you’ve a type of instruments for eradicating a SIM tray helpful pop it out and look very rigorously on the slot the place the SIM card goes and you’ll see the A quantity.
How to seek out the A quantity if it’s not on the again
However, the iPhone 8 and later do not need this quantity printed on the again. If you’ll be able to’t discover something right here you at the very least know that your iPhone is an iPhone 8 or later.
If your iPhone doesn’t have something etched on the again then you will have to show to Settings once more.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General > About
- Tap the place you see Model Number.
- The Model Number part will now reveal the A quantity.
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Once you’ve recognized the A quantity pop it right into a search engine and you will discover out which area the iPhone is from.
Option 4: Identify iPhone by sight
If you merely can’t flip the iPhone on to examine Settings for the data above, don’t fear. You can nonetheless inform which form of iPhone you’ve received by checking its construct, exterior options and so forth. Simply examine it towards this information, which incorporates all fashions of iPhone.
If you’re attempting to determine a bricked gadget or one you’ll be able to’t unlock, this visible identification information part is for you.
iPhone 13
Introduced in 2021, the iPhone 13 shares that very same design language as its predecessor the iPhone 12, however there are a number of simple methods to distinguish them.
The iPhone 13 has squared edges, a glass again, and a 6.1-inch show. The notch on the prime of the panel that homes the Face ID digicam is shorter than on earlier fashions, however the best method to know if it’s an iPhone 13 is to show it over and have a look at the digicam part. Here you’ll see two lens which can be positioned diagonally from one another, slightly than one on prime of one another as per the earlier era. The colors are completely different from the iPhone 12: there’s purple, blue, inexperienced, purple, white and black this time round.
iPhone 13 mini
The iPhone 13 mini is virtually similar to the iPhone 13, however because the title suggests it’s a bit smaller.
As with its bigger sibling you’ll discover the squared-off edges, glass again, however this time the show is a extra diminutive 5.4-inch. You’ll know its a mini as quickly as you decide it up, as a result of this stays the smallest iPhone within the Apple catalogue (together with the iPhone 12 mini). Again, the best method to inform its an iPhone 13 mini is the diagonally organized cameras on the rear.
Dominik Tomaszewski
iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro is similar to the iPhone 12 Pro, making it somewhat difficult to identify which is which purely by them. But, there are a few key indicators.
The iPhone 13 Pro options the identical steel development and matt glass again as on the iPhone 12 Pro, with just a few completely different color choices to separate them. The 13 Pro is available in Graphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue and Alpine Green, with the lighter blue and inexperienced liveries unique to this era. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR show is once more the identical, however the 13 Pro has a shorter notch on the prime of the display. On the again there are three cameras, making it instantly obvious that this can be a Pro mannequin and never the usual two digicam mannequin (above). The iPhone 12 Pro additionally has the identical lay out of three cameras, however they take up much less area on the again than they did within the earlier era.
Dominik Tomaszewski
iPhone 13 Pro Max
The flagship iPhone has some jaw dropping specs and appointments, with a number of issues that make it simple to determine.
You can inform an iPhone 13 Pro Max by its enormous 6.7-inch show, the most important accessible on iPhone. There are squared-off edges on the steel body, whereas the rear panel is a textured matt glass that makes it much less slippery than another fashions. A triple digicam array on the rear lets you already know that it’s a Pro, as these are the one iPhones that get so many lenses. While the iPhone 13 Pro Max shares most of the identical design cues because the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple did introduce the brand new inexperienced and lighter hues of the Sierra Blue color schemes as an choice on the 13-series and shortened the size of the Face ID digicam notch on the prime of the show.
Dominik Tomaszewski
iPhone SE (third Generation)
The ‘budget’ iPhone was revamped in 2022 with the arrival of the iPhone SE (third Generation), nevertheless it retained the identical type issue because the mannequin that arrived in 2020. If your iPhone has a Home button likelihood is it’s an iPhone SE – however which one?
In truth it appears to be like like most of the telephones that got here earlier than Apple launched the iPhone X with the well-known 4.7-inch LCD show and Home button association that’s immediately recognisable the basic design that Apple has continued to recycle for the very best a part of a decade. Since it debuted on the iPhone 6 in 2014, the shape issue has remained virtually unchanged.
The SE (third Gen), which arrived in 2022, tweaks issues somewhat in comparison with the predecessor by including a slight variation within the colors used. Admittedly they’re mainly Red, Black and White, which is identical because the iPhone SE (2nd Generation), however the hues have been toned down somewhat. Admittedly, it’s virtually unattainable to inform the distinction between them until you already know the exact colors, so that you’ll be higher served checking the software program route outlined above to determine the mannequin.
Dominik Tomaszewski
iPhone 12
The iPhone 12 arrived in 2020 and, like all of the 12-series handsets, has sharp, squared-off edges slightly than the curved edges seen on the 11-series and plenty of earlier fashions. It has a 6.1in display (with a notch), two digicam lenses on the again and no Home button, and is available in black, white, purple, gentle inexperienced, darkish blue and purple (pictured). The key distinction between an iPhone 12 and 13 is the structure of the cameras – the iPhone 12 cameras are laid out one on prime of the opposite, the iPhone 13 cameras are diagonal.
iPhone 12 mini
The 12 mini appears to be like identical to the iPhone 2, however has a smaller 5.4in display (additionally with a notch on the prime) and the identical sq., sharp-edged sides as the remainder of the 12-series handsets. It hasn’t received a Home button.
It has two digicam lenses on the rear, however these sit to the left of a bigger sq. digicam module; there’s a small flash on the righthand aspect of this. (You can see what this module appears to be like like within the image of the iPhone 12.) The again is glass.
iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro was launched in 2020 and Apple stopped promoting it in 2021. It was simple to determine by its mixture of triple digicam lenses on the rear, sharp, squared-off edges and a 6.1in display. It got here in silver/white, gold, black and darkish blue (aka Pacific Blue).
The digicam lay out was just like the iPhone 13 Pro, however there’s a distinction when it comes to the scale of the sq. the lenses are positioned on. The iPhone 12 Pro digicam part is smaller than that of the iPhone 13 Pro.
iPhone 12 Pro Max
The iPhone 12 Pro Max appeared identical to the Pro, nevertheless it was a whopper, with a 6.7in display and triple digicam lenses on the rear. There’s a notch on the prime of the display and no Home button, and the sides are sharp as on the remainder of the 12-series handsets. As with the 12 Pro and 13 Pro, the way in which to inform in case your’s is a 13 or 12 Pro Max is the scale of the realm the place the digicam lenses are laid out: the part is smaller on the 12 Pro Max.
iPhone 11
Three iPhone 11-series fashions have been launched in autumn 2019. The most cost-effective of those was the iPhone 11 (there was no iPhone 11 mini).
The 11 appeared the identical because the iPhone XR from a 12 months earlier, with curved edges slightly than the sq. ones on the iPhone 12 or 13 ranges. It had two cameras on the rear, organized in a vertical configuration inside a sq. block.
The iPhone 11 got here in white, black, inexperienced, yellow, purple and purple, and had a plastic slightly than a glass casing. It additionally had a 6.1in display with no Home button.
iPhone 11 Pro
There are a number of variations between the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro – most notably the latter had three cameras on the rear. The materials it’s created from was additionally completely different
You can inform the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max aside as a result of the Max is greater. The 11 Pro has a 5.8in display (measured diagonally, from nook to nook) and measures 144mm x 71.4mm.
iPhone 11 Pro Max
The 11 Pro Max additionally had three digicam lenses on the rear, however contains a 6.5in display and measures 158mm x 77.8 mm.
iPhone SE (2nd Generation)
Apple revived the favored SE
in 2020, nevertheless it was much less compact than its 2016 predecessor. This time Apple put (most of) the parts of the iPhone 11 within the curved-edge chassis of the iPhone 8.
It has a 4.7in display and a single digicam lens on the rear. It had a Home button with Touch ID inbuilt, and the again was glass.
iPhone XS
A tough one, this, as a result of the iPhone XS appears to be like similar to the iPhone X. What are the doable giveaways? It got here in a brand new color – gold – and provided a 512GB storage capability on the prime finish, should you’re one way or the other in a position to decide that with out getting access to the Settings app.
Other bodily upgrades from the X are primarily unattainable for a shopper to examine. The glass again was strengthened to make it much less to liable to cracking, and the waterproof score was elevated from IP67 to IP68, however in neither case must you take a look at to destruction merely to determine your cellphone.
iPhone XS Max
The XS Max, just like the XR, may be recognized by its display dimension, which was a mighty 6.5in. Bear in thoughts that this ought to be measured between the theoretical corners the place the display edges would converge if the corners weren’t rounded off, if that is smart. Anyway, it’s an enormous outdated display – that’s what we’re telling you.
Like the opposite X-series handsets it hasn’t received a Home button, and its display has a notch on the prime. It got here in silver, gold and Space Grey.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR has a 6.1in display, however that’s additionally true of the iPhone 11, 12 and 12 Pro. More useful, then, are the three details that it didn’t have a Home button, had a notch, and got here with a single digicam lens on the rear.
iPhone X
The iPhone X was the primary iPhone to not have a Home button on the entrance, with the display coming down virtually to the underside of the chassis. It had a ‘notch’ taken out of the highest of the display, and had two cameras on the again organized vertically.
The iPhone X got here in simply two color choices – silver and Space Grey. The iPhone XS which appears to be like nearly the identical because the X and should current some identification points.
It got here in black, white, blue, yellow, Coral (a kind of orangey peach) and purple.
iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 was so much just like the iPhone 7: it too has a 4.7in display and no headphone jack. The major distinction from the 7 is that this mannequin has a glass again slightly than aluminium; if there’s no A quantity engraved on the again that too could also be a giveaway, as a result of it was at this level that Apple phased that out.
Still unsure? The 8 got here in 64GB or 256GB storage choices, whereas the 7 got here in 32GB, 128GB or 256 GB; examine Settings > General > iPhone Storage and see should you can get rid of one of many choices that method. And lastly, whereas the 7 got here in black, gold, Rose Gold, silver, purple and the ridiculously shiny Jet Black, the 8 solely got here in silver, Space Grey, a pinkish gold and purple.
iPhone 8 Plus
This one is so much just like the iPhone 7 Plus: the 8 Plus had a 5.5in show and a twin-lens digicam protruding barely from the again. And there was no headphone port.
But the again was glass as a substitute of aluminium, there wasn’t an A quantity engraved on the again (our UK mannequin simply says “iPhone/Designed by Apple in California/Assembled in China”), the storage choices have been 64GB and 256GB (versus 32GB, 128GB and 256GB on the 7 Plus) and the color choices have been silver, Space Grey, purple and the brand new pinky gold. No shiny Jet Black right here.
iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 had a 4.7in display, with a glass entrance and aluminium again. It was just like the 6 and 6s, however slimmer, and the again of the physique misplaced the horizontal strains on the prime and backside. It didn’t have a headphone jack on the backside: there was only a single Lightning port within the centre of the underside edge, with speaker grilles both aspect.
Check the entry for iPhone 8 above, as a result of that may be very comparable; the principle distinction is that the 7 has an aluminium again, whereas the 8 has a glass again.
It was accessible in six colors, and was the primary iPhone to return in purple.
iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 Plus was unsurprisingly just like the iPhone 7 – the principle distinction is the bigger 5.5in show. As with the 7, it boasted a glass entrance and steel again, which the digicam protruded from barely. It was additionally accessible in six completely different colors, together with purple (not proven beneath). And there was no headphone port.
In truth, the actual giveaway was the horizontal twin-lens rear-facing digicam: right here’s what it appeared like:
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s
The 6-series handsets noticed a full redesign, with rounded-off edges changing the squarer look of earlier telephones. The screens have been bigger than earlier fashions, too: they measured 4.7in diagonally. The Plus fashions had nonetheless bigger screens, after all.
Here’s what the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s appeared like. Below you’ll be able to see is the iPhone 6s – you’ll be able to inform as a result of it got here in pink in addition to the silver, gold and Space Grey provided by the iPhone 6.
Assuming you’re not fortunate sufficient to be a pink (technically Rose Gold) mannequin, which is a useless giveaway, search for the letter S on the again, beneath the phrase iPhone. (It’s seen within the picture above.) This signifies that it’s an iPhone 6s, pretty clearly.
iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus
The iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus seem like the iPhone 6 however have been a lot bigger, with 5.5in shows (measured diagonally). They had room for six rows of icons on the Home display, plus the dock row.
Again, solely the 6s Plus got here in Rose Gold, and the S mannequin was designated by a letter S on the again, beneath the phrase iPhone.
iPhone SE (2016)
The unique iPhone SE used the identical color scheme because the iPhone 6 product line, however had the identical design components of the iPhone 5s. Your greatest guess to determine between a 5s and SE is to show the iPhone on or search for the SE stamp on the again.
It must also be famous that the SE got here in Rose Gold, whereas the 5s solely got here in Silver, Space Grey and Gold.
iPhone 5s
The iPhone 5s appeared largely similar to the iPhone 5, however the giveaway was the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
If you have a look at the Home button, you’ll discover that it now not has a sq. on it – it’s only a plain circle. On the white-front fashions you’ll be able to see a shiny steel ring across the edge; the black one is completely black.
The color schemes are additionally completely different, with Gold, Silver and Space Grey changing Black and White.
iPhone 5c
This one’s simple to identify. The iPhone 5c got here in a spread of shiny plastic colors and had a curved plastic again. The iPhone XR appears to have been impressed by this one.
It’s additionally taller and squarer than different plastic fashions (such because the iPhone 3G and 3GS), so it’s simple to determine.
iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 appeared just like the iPhone 4 and 4s, however got here with a taller 4in show (measured diagonally, nook to nook). This means it may match 5 rows of app icons (plus a sixth, the dock row, on the backside), whereas the iPhone 4s and earlier might solely match 4 rows (plus the dock). Here’s what it appeared like:
iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s
The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s each hada glass entrance and glass rear and got here in black or white. Here’s what they appeared like:
It’s arduous to inform the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s aside, sadly. One chance is to search for a SIM tray on the righthand aspect – should you can’t discover a gap then you definately’re (the CDMA model of) the iPhone 4, which was accessible each with and with no SIM tray. The iPhone 4s at all times has a SIM tray.
You can even examine the storage capability, which can provide a clue. The 4 was bought in 8, 16 and 32GB capacities; the 4s was accessible in all of those but additionally added a 64GB mannequin. Check Settings > General > About, and if Capacity is any larger than 32GB then you definately’ve received an iPhone 4s. (It received’t be the complete 64GB, after all, as a result of a number of the marketed capability is taken up with firmware and the like.)
iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
If your iPhone has a curved plastic rear however with out the black band from the unique iPhone, you’ve received an
iPhone 3G or
3GS. This is what they seem like:
One method of telling these two aside is color – if it’s white, you’ve received a 3GS.
Both fashions have been bought in a black end, nevertheless, so should you’ve received a type of, examine the shininess of the detailing on the again. On the 3GS, the Apple emblem and the imprint beneath are the identical shiny silver; on the 3G, the imprint is much less shiny than the emblem.
Original iPhone
The
unique iPhone from 2007 is straightforward to determine. It has a gray/silver rear with a big black band throughout the underside. It appears to be like like this:
For extra recommendation on the assorted handsets that Apple sells, check out our iPhone shopping for information. And should you’re seeking to decide up a cut price in your subsequent handset, examine our roundup of the greatest iPhone offers.
Source: www.macworld.com