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Even skilled customers might find it troublesome to distinguish some iPhones from 1 another. Apple updates the iPhone yearly, but it surely would not at all times change the design, which might make it very troublesome to decide which model you have.
You could also be questioning which iPhone you have as solely sure fashions can use the newest model of iOS. Or you may have to know as a result of you plan to promote. You might even have an issue along with your iPhone and want to know what model it’s so Apple or a 3rd celebration repairman can recommend an answer.
There are many the explanation why you may have to see the distinction between completely different iPhones, and we’re right here to assist.
How to see which iPhone you have
The simplest way to determine an iPhone was to check the ‘A’ model quantity on the again, and on this article we listing the A numbers for every iPhone. But Apple now not prints A numbers, so for these with latest fashions or who find the quantity too small to read, there are different strategies: you can check settings or take a look at the phone’s form and exterior options and an identification utilizing the descriptions and images under.
If you’re struggling to determine any of your different Apple gadgets, we have additionally bought guides on discovering which iPad you have and which Mac you have.
Look in Settings for the model identify and quantity
The easiest methodology these days is to look in Settings.
- Open the Settings app and go to General> About.
- In the highest row of entries you see Model Name, with iPhone XS or no matter subsequent to it.
- This web page additionally tells you the capability of the system, which is talked about just a little additional on.
Some older iPhones do not show iPhone model identify right here. For instance, this iPhone 6s as a substitute shows a mix of letters and numbers; that’s the model quantity and you can use it to determine the iPhone.
You will even see the model quantity below the model identify on newer iPhones. By default, Settings shows Them quantity (also called the SKU – and if you have a alternative model it should in all probability begin with an N), however, you can faucet it to show the A quantity, which can be used to decide which iPhone model you have.
However, Them quantity / N quantity / SKU itself is sort of helpful, because it supplies more correct identification than the A quantity and even the model identify (it specifies storage capability and even colour). There is a big variety of doable M numbers – a lot more than we will listing right here. See the iPhone Wiki for an entire listing.
Settings, as we will see, are extraordinarily useful in figuring out an iPhone. But it has the minor drawback that it requires your system to be practical and accessible to you; if you’re attempting to determine a bricked system or 1 you cannot unlock, it will not be of a lot use and you’d higher skip to the visible identification card within the subsequent part.
Look on the again for the A quantity
Older iPhones have an identification quantity on the again. This is a small quantity that begins with the letter A and is labeled ‘Model’. It can be 1 thing like “A1203” or “A1634”.
When we are saying “small number” we imply actually small and it may be troublesome to read the quantity with the bare eye. A magnifying glass helps if you have 1!
However, the iPhone 8 and later didn’t print this quantity on the again. If you cannot find something right here, at the very least you know your iPhone is an iPhone 8 or later.
For comfort, we name this the A quantity, in contrast to Them quantity within the settings mentioned above, and the for much longer IMEI identification quantity, which is exclusive to your particular person handset.
Once you have the A quantity, check this listing to see which model you have. (Note that for some iPhones there are a number of A numbers. These refer to variations for various areas, community requirements, and so forth. And even the latest iPhones have A numbers – they’re merely not straightforward to find.)
- A1203: Original iPhone
- A1241: iPhone 3G
- A1303: iPhone 3GS
- A1332, A1349: iPhone 4
- A1387: iPhone 4S
- A1428, A1429: iPhone 5
- A1456, A1507, A1526, A1529 or A1532: iPhone 5c
- A1453, A1457, A1528, A1530 or A1533: iPhone 5s
- A1549, A1586 or A1589: iPhone 6
- A1522, A1524 or A1593: iPhone 6 Plus
- A1633 or A1688: iPhone 6s
- A1634 or A1687: iPhone 6s Plus
- A1723, A1662 or A1724: iPhone SE
- A1660, A1778 or A1779: iPhone 7
- A1661, A1784 or A1785: iPhone 7 Plus
- A1863, A1905 or A1906: iPhone 8
- A1864, A1897 or A1898: iPhone 8 Plus
- A1865, A1901 or A1902: iPhone X
- A1984, A2105, A2106 or A2108: iPhone XR
- A1920, A2097, A2098 or A2100: iPhone XS
- A1921, A2101, A2102 or A2104: iPhone XS Max
- A2111, A2223 or A2221: iPhone 11
- A2160, A2217 or A2215: iPhone 11 Pro
- A2161, A2220 or A2218: iPhone 11 Pro Max
How to distinguish iPhones from 1 another by sight
Don’t fear if the above methodology would not work for any cause. You can nonetheless see what kind of iPhone you have by checking the construct, exterior features and so forth. Simply evaluate it with this guide that covers all iPhone fashions.
Original iPhone
The unique iPhone from 2007 is simple to acknowledge. It has a grey / silver again with a big black band throughout the underside. It appears to be like like this:
iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS
If your iPhone has a curved plastic again however, without the black band of the unique iPhone, you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS. This is what they seem like:
1 method to distinguish these 2 is colour – if it is white, you have a 3GS.
Both fashions had been bought in a black end, so if you have 1, check the gloss of the small print on the again. On the 3GS, the Apple emblem and the print under are the identical shiny silver; on the 3G, the print is much less shiny than the emblem.
Be cautious not to confuse these 2 fashions with the newer iPhone 5c (which is considerably related – see under to evaluate).
iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s
The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s each have a glass entrance and glass again and can be found in black or white. This is what they seem like:
Unfortunately, it’s troublesome to distinguish the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s. 1 possibility is to seek for a SIM card holder on the precise – if you cannot find a gap, take a look at (the CDMA model of) the iPhone 4, which was out there with or without a SIM card holder. The iPhone 4s at all times has a SIM card holder.
You can even check the storage capability, which can be a sign. The 4 was bought with a capability of 8, 16 and 32 GB; the 4s was out there in all of those, but additionally added a 64GB model. Check Settings> General> About, and if the capability is above 32GB then you have an iPhone 4s. (It will not be the total 64 GB, after all, as a result of a few of the marketed capability is taken up by firmware and the like.)
iPhone 5
The iPhone 5 is analogous to the iPhone 4 and 4s, however, comes with a bigger 4-inch display screen (measured diagonally, from nook to nook). This means it may well maintain 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). It appears to be like like this:
iPhone 5s
The iPhone 5s appears to be like largely equivalent to the iPhone 5, however, the giveaway is the Touch ID fingerprint scanner.
If you take a look at the Home button, you will find that it now not has a sq. on it – it is only a circle. On the white entrance fashions, you can see a shiny metallic ring across the edge; the black is totally black.
The colour schemes are additionally completely different, with gold, silver and area grey changing black and white.
Iphone 5c
It is simple to acknowledge. The iPhone 5c is available in a spread of brilliant plastic colours and has a curved plastic again.
It’s additionally greater and more sq. than different plastic fashions (just like the iPhone 3G and 3GS), so it is simple to spot.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s
The 6 era handsets have been fully redesigned, with rounded edges that exchange the sq. look of earlier phones. The screens are additionally bigger than earlier fashions: they measure 4.7 inches diagonally. The Plus fashions naturally have even bigger screens.
Here’s what the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s seem like. This is the iPhone 6s – you can tell as a result of it was pink, in addition to the silver, gold, and Space Gray provided by the iPhone 6.
Assuming you’re not fortunate sufficient to take a look at a pink (tech Rose Gold) model, which is a useless giveaway, search for the letter S on the again, below the phrase iPhone. (It is seen within the picture above.) This signifies that it’s an iPhone 6s, fairly clear.
iPhone 6 plus and iphone 6s plus
The iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus seem like the iPhone 6, however, are a lot bigger, with 5.5-inch screens (measured diagonally). They have room for 6 rows of icons on the space display screen, plus the dock row.
Again, simply the 6s Plus comes in Rose Gold, and the S model is recognized by a letter S on the again under the phrase iPhone.
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE makes use of the identical colour scheme because the iPhone 6 product line, however, has the identical design components because the iPhone 5s. Your finest guess to determine between a 5s and SE is to activate the iPhone or search for the SE stamp on the again.
It also needs to be famous that the SE comes in Rose Goldwhereas the 5s had been solely out there in Silver, Space Gray and Gold.
iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 has a 4.7-inch display screen, with a glass entrance and an aluminum again. It is analogous to the 6 and 6s however, slimmer and the again of the physique has misplaced the horizontal traces on the highest and backside. It would not have a headphone jack on the underside: the re’s solely a single Lightning port in the midst of the underside, with speaker grilles on either side.
Her available in 6 colors, and is the primary iPhone to are available purple.
Check the merchandise for iPhone 8 under as it is extremely related; the main distinction is that the 7 has an aluminum again, whereas the 8 has a glass again.
iPhone 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 Plus will not be surprisingly comparable to the iPhone 7 – the main distinction is the bigger 5.5-inch display screen. As with the 7, it has a glass entrance and a metallic again, the place the camera protrudes barely. It can also be out there in 6 different colors, together with purple (not proven under). And there isn’t any headphone port.
In reality, the true giveaway is the dual-lens horizontal rear camera:
Double check the entry for the very related iPhone 8 Plus under. The 7 Plus has an aluminum again, whereas the 8 Plus has glass.
iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 could be very related to the iPhone 7: it additionally has a 4.7-inch display screen and no headphone jack. The main distinction from the 7 is that this model has a glass again as a substitute of aluminum; if an A quantity will not be engraved on the again, it may be a giveaway, because it was at this level that Apple stopped that.
Still unsure? The 8 comes in 64 GB or 256 GB storage optionswhereas the 7 is available in 32 GB, 128 GB or 256 GB; check Settings> General> iPhone storage and see if you can eradicate any of the 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 is available in silver, Space Gray, a new rose gold (see under) and purple.
iPhone 8 Plus
It’s lots just like the iPhone 7 Plus: the 8 Plus has a 5.5-inch show and a dual-lens camera that protrudes barely from the again. And there isn’t any headphone port.
But the again is glass as a substitute of aluminum, there isn’t any A quantity engraved on the again (our UK model simply says “iPhone / designed by Apple in California / assembled in China”), the storage options are 64 GB and 256 GB (as opposed to 32 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB on the 7 Plus) and the colour choices are Silver, Space Gray, Red and the new rose gold. No shiny jet black right here.
iPhone X.
The iPhone X doesn’t have a Home button on the entrance, and the display screen comes nearly to the underside of the chassis. It has a ‘notch’ from the highest of the display screen and it has 2 rear cameras vertical. Have a glance:
The iPhone X got here in simply 2 colour choices – Silver and Space Gray – but it surely’s now not on sale. Also check the iPhone XS under, which appears to be like just about the identical and should pose some identification points.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR is the 1 iPhone ever with a 6.1-inch display screen (measured diagonally) on the time of writing, so if you have a tape measure useful, you’ll smile. More handy, nonetheless, are the 3 details that it would not have a Home button, has a notch, and comes with a single camera lens on the again.
It is available in black, white, blue, yellow, coral (a kind of orange peach) and purple.
iPhone XS
A difficult 1, as a result of the iPhone XS appears to be like equivalent to the iPhone X. What are the doable giveaways? It now is available in a new colour – gold – and presents a new 512GB storage on the highest, if you can someway decide that without having entry to the Settings app (which is definitely the intention).
Other bodily upgrades from the X are primarily not possible for a shopper to management. The glass again has been bolstered to make it much less susceptible to cracking and the waterproofing has been elevated from IP67 to IP68, however, in neither case ought to you take a look at for destruction to determine your phone.
iPhone XS Max
The XS Max, just like the XR, might be acknowledged by the display screen measurement, which is a mighty 6.5 inches. Keep in thoughts that this needs to be measured between Theoretical angles the place the display screen edges would meet if the corners weren’t rounded, if that is sensible. Either method, it is a large outdated display screen – that is what we tell you.
Like the opposite X collection handsets, it would not have a Home button and the display screen has a notch on the high. It is available in Silver, Gold and Space Gray.
iPhone 11
3 new fashions had been launched in autumn 2019. The least expensive of those is the iPhone 11.
The 11 appears to be like the identical because the iPhone XR from a 12 months earlier, with 1 easy-to-spot distinction: it has 2 rear cameras positioned vertically in a sq. block. No different iPhone has this rear camera configuration, so it needs to be straightforward to spot.
The iPhone 11 is available in white, black, inexperienced, yellow, purple and purple and has a 6.1-inch display screen without a Home button.
iPhone 11 Pro
The luscious 11 Pro has 3 rear cameras – on the time of writing, this solely applies to the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max (at the very least inside Apple’s attain).
You can distinguish the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max from 1 another as a result of the Max is bigger. The 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch display screen (measured diagonally, from nook to nook) and measures 144mm x 71.4mm.
iPhone 11 Pro Max
Finally we get to the 11 Pro Max. It additionally has 3 camera lenses on the again, however, has a 6.5 inch display screen and measures 158mm x 77.8mm.
For more recommendation on the completely different handsets Apple sells, check out our iPhone shopping for guide. And if you’re on the lookout for a cut price in your subsequent handset, check out our round-up of the most effective iPhone offers.