How to determine if iPhone 4S is Verizon or AT&T model?

Agent-P · Dec 9, 2012

I have a Verizon iPhone 4S and I wanted to swap it for an AT&T model iPhone 4S, but how do I tell whether or not I am looking at an AT&T model or not?

I won't have access to a working AT&T sim card to test it out (I have an old one laying around, if that will work).

.

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 9, 2012

AT&T iPhones don't have the antenna band on them (the little sliver on the side of the phone) because they're GSM compatible. Verizon's iPhones do.

Michael CM1 · Dec 9, 2012

Unless I'm mistaken the hardware in the phones is exactly the same on the 4S. I don't know what would happen if you had an AT&T locked one and tried to use it on Verizon. I know they can be unlocked by the carrier, but usually that requires the contract to expire.

jekyoo · Dec 9, 2012

Michael is right, the 4S are identical so there's no way to tell physically. Best way to tell is to go into Settings > General > About > Look @ the Carrier.

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 9, 2012

jekyoo said:
Michael is right, the 4S are identical so there's no way to tell physically. Best way to tell is to go into Settings > General > About > Look @ the Carrier.

You can tell the difference by looking at the antenna band on the side of the phone. See below:

tymaster50 · Dec 9, 2012

SnowLeopard OSX said:
You can tell the difference by looking at the antenna band on the side of the phone. See below:

Image

Those are iPhone 4's not 4S's. There is no way to tell except going to the carrier.

Beeplance · Dec 9, 2012

I thought Verizon's iPhone don't have SIM cards?

And I also thought the antenna band difference is only for the iPhone 4? The iPhone 4S should be the same for both AT&T and Verizon.... isn't it?

acorntoy · Dec 9, 2012

Every iPhone 4S made is identical.

The carrier is locked to it through software.

MultiFinder17 · Dec 9, 2012

SnowLeopard OSX said:
You can tell the difference by looking at the antenna band on the side of the phone. See below:

Image

Image

That is true for the iPhone 4, but not the 4S.

For the 4S, go into Settings --> General --> About and look at the model number. Then compare it to this (lovingly lifted from Everymac.com)

MC918LL/A is the order number for the 16 GB configuration in black locked to AT&T with a two-year contract. With 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, in black, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC919LL/A and MD269LL/A. With 16, 32, or 64 GB of storage, in white, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC920LL/A, MC921LL/A and MD271LL/A.

Locked to Verizon, in black, the order numbers respectively are MD276LL/A, MD278LL/A, and MD280LL/A. Locked to Verizon, in white, order numbers are MD277LL/A, MD279LL/A, and MD281LL/A.

Locked to Sprint, in black, the order numbers are MD377LL/A, MD379LL/A, and MD381LL/A. Locked to Sprint, in white, order numbers are MD378LL/A, MD380LL/A, and MD382LL/A.

Finally, the order numbers for unlocked models are MD234LL/A, MD241LL/A, and MD257LL/A in black and MD237LL/A, MD244LL/A, and MD260LL/A in white for 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, respectively. Although the unlocked model is a "world phone," Apple unfortunately has disabled its CDMA capability in software.

For example, see the screenshot from my phone. It's a white, 32GB AT&T 4S with a model number of MC921LL, just as it shows up in that list

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 10, 2012

MultiFinder17 said:
That is true for the iPhone 4, but not the 4S.

For the 4S, go into Settings --> General --> About and look at the model number. Then compare it to this (lovingly lifted from Everymac.com)

MC918LL/A is the order number for the 16 GB configuration in black locked to AT&T with a two-year contract. With 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, in black, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC919LL/A and MD269LL/A. With 16, 32, or 64 GB of storage, in white, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC920LL/A, MC921LL/A and MD271LL/A.

Locked to Verizon, in black, the order numbers respectively are MD276LL/A, MD278LL/A, and MD280LL/A. Locked to Verizon, in white, order numbers are MD277LL/A, MD279LL/A, and MD281LL/A.

Locked to Sprint, in black, the order numbers are MD377LL/A, MD379LL/A, and MD381LL/A. Locked to Sprint, in white, order numbers are MD378LL/A, MD380LL/A, and MD382LL/A.

Finally, the order numbers for unlocked models are MD234LL/A, MD241LL/A, and MD257LL/A in black and MD237LL/A, MD244LL/A, and MD260LL/A in white for 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, respectively. Although the unlocked model is a "world phone," Apple unfortunately has disabled its CDMA capability in software.

For example, see the screenshot from my phone. It's a white, 32GB AT&T 4S with a model number of MC921LL, just as it shows up in that list

Yeah, you're right. I don't know why I misread OP's question as the iPhone 4 as opposed to the iPhone 4S.

takeshi74 · Dec 10, 2012

Beeplance said:
I thought Verizon's iPhone don't have SIM cards?

True for the 4 but not for the 4S or the 5. The latter wouldn't be world phones without GSM support.

Applejuiced · Dec 10, 2012

Best thing to do is spend a $1 and get an AT&T microsim on ebay or somewhere. The old deactivate AT&T sim will work too.
This way you will know 100% if it works with AT&T its an AT&T iphone.
Sim not supported its verizon or Sprint or locked to another carrier.

617aircav · Dec 10, 2012

Agent-P said:
I have a Verizon iPhone 4S and I wanted to swap it for an AT&T model iPhone 4S, but how do I tell whether or not I am looking at an AT&T model or not?

I won't have access to a working AT&T sim card to test it out (I have an old one laying around, if that will work).

.

So you won't test the phone to verify that it's working correctly? Risky move.

Agent-P · Dec 10, 2012

MultiFinder17 said:
That is true for the iPhone 4, but not the 4S.

For the 4S, go into Settings --> General --> About and look at the model number. Then compare it to this (lovingly lifted from Everymac.com)

MC918LL/A is the order number for the 16 GB configuration in black locked to AT&T with a two-year contract. With 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, in black, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC919LL/A and MD269LL/A. With 16, 32, or 64 GB of storage, in white, locked to AT&T, the order numbers are MC920LL/A, MC921LL/A and MD271LL/A.

Locked to Verizon, in black, the order numbers respectively are MD276LL/A, MD278LL/A, and MD280LL/A. Locked to Verizon, in white, order numbers are MD277LL/A, MD279LL/A, and MD281LL/A.

Locked to Sprint, in black, the order numbers are MD377LL/A, MD379LL/A, and MD381LL/A. Locked to Sprint, in white, order numbers are MD378LL/A, MD380LL/A, and MD382LL/A.

Finally, the order numbers for unlocked models are MD234LL/A, MD241LL/A, and MD257LL/A in black and MD237LL/A, MD244LL/A, and MD260LL/A in white for 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB, respectively. Although the unlocked model is a "world phone," Apple unfortunately has disabled its CDMA capability in software.

For example, see the screenshot from my phone. It's a white, 32GB AT&T 4S with a model number of MC921LL, just as it shows up in that list

That's very helpful and pretty much exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this.

Applejuiced said:
Best thing to do is spend a $1 and get an AT&T microsim on ebay or somewhere. The old deactivate AT&T sim will work too.
This way you will know 100% if it works with AT&T its an AT&T iphone.
Sim not supported its verizon or Sprint or locked to another carrier.

So even with the old unactivated micro sim, it will still show up as with AT&T bars on the correct model and an error in the other two models?

617aircav said:
So you won't test the phone to verify that it's working correctly? Risky move.

That's why I was asking if the old sim would work. I'm swapping this for someone else, and I personally don't have AT&T. However if need be, I can pick up a prepaid sim from AT&T just to see if this will work.

Applejuiced · Dec 10, 2012

Yes, once you pop in the AT&T sim it will bring you to the welcome screen to activate it.
You might need to be connected to wifi though in order to see if it will activate or it will display sim not supported.
Even if the sim is inactive its ok, as long as its an AT&T sim you will know what's up.

Agent-P · Dec 10, 2012

Applejuiced said:
Yes, once you pop in the AT&T sim it will bring you to the welcome screen to activate it.
You might need to be connected to wifi though in order to see if it will activate or it will display sim not supported.
Even if the sim is inactive its ok, as long as its an AT&T sim you will know what's up.

Cool. That'll allow me to further confirm it's the correct model. Thanks.

iRetired · Dec 11, 2012

You don't even have to turn it on.

On the back of the phone, GSM AT&T models have the FCC, Xed trash can, and CE symbols. The CDMA version does not.

Nothlit · Dec 11, 2012

iRetired said:
You don't even have to turn it on.

On the back of the phone, GSM AT&T models have the FCC, Xed trash can, and CE symbols. The CDMA version does not.

This is true for the iPhone 4, but not the iPhone 4S.

Applejuiced · Dec 11, 2012

Nothlit said:
This is true for the iPhone 4, but not the iPhone 4S.

Not only that but you know how easy and cheap it is to change that back plate on an iphone 4 and 4S

Mr Hill · Dec 11, 2012

I know this is already resolved but another way is to go into the settings check where the IMEI is. Verizon models also have an ESN. I believe it's labeled MEID on the iPhone 4S.

How to determine if iPhone 4S is Verizon or AT&T model?

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