iPhone 5 Confirmed to Use New Nano-SIM Standard

MacRumors · Sep 12, 2012, 03:02 PM

As had been rumored and shown in leaked images, the iPhone 5 does indeed use the new Apple-backed nano-SIM standard that is 40% smaller than the micro-SIM standard found in the iPhone 4 and 4S. Apple did not mention the change during its media event, but the company has confirmed it in an iPhone model comparison.

The iPhone 5 appears to be the first device to use the new nano-SIM standard, and carriers had reportedly begun stockpiling the new cards as long ago as July before starting to distribute them to retailers earlier this month in anticipation of the iPhone 5 introduction.

Article Link: iPhone 5 Confirmed to Use New Nano-SIM Standard

Evmanw · Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM

cool!

BanterClaus · Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM

Dammit. This is good overall but it means i'm going to have to get a new contract if I get a new iPhone.

Unless mobile carriers somehow come up with a way for you to transfer sim data.

chrmjenkins · Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM

Which means it's going to be a PITA for anyone who buys unsubsidized and can't swap their old SIM in.

kirky29 · Sep 12, 2012, 03:06 PM

Will I be able to get a new nano sim card from my carrier (o2 uk) if I buy outright unlocked from Apple and I'm already in a contract?

chrmjenkins · Sep 12, 2012, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirky29

Will I be able to get a new nano sim card from my carrier (o2 uk) if I buy outright unlocked from Apple and I'm already in a contract?

Probably. AT&T does it without question for customers. The issue is getting in a store on launch day.

fabian9 · Sep 12, 2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirky29

Will I be able to get a new nano sim card from my carrier (o2 uk) if I buy outright unlocked from Apple and I'm already in a contract?

When the micro SIM was introduced with iPhone 4, this wasn't a problem for me on o2 simplicity. I imagine it'll be similar for nano SIMs now…

They actually sent me my micro SIM before the iPhone got delivered, so I'd be ready to rock by the time it arrived.

KdParker · Sep 12, 2012, 03:10 PM

Hope apple made enough phones for the inital launch.

kirky29 · Sep 12, 2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabian9

When the micro SIM was introduced with iPhone 4, this wasn't a problem for me on o2 simplicity. I imagine it'll be similar for nano SIMs now…

They actually sent me my micro SIM before the iPhone got delivered, so I'd be ready to rock by the time it arrived.

Ahh this is helpful, thanks! I'll call them at some point when they know about the iPhone themselves and see what they can do

needfx · Sep 12, 2012, 03:39 PM

meat slicers at the ready!

flipshot · Sep 12, 2012, 03:51 PM

T-Mobile UK, think they will have Nano-sims available in their stores on 21st September and you will have to go in store to swap to one. They apparently don't do it the same as O2 where they send the SIM and you swap it online, they can only switch it in person or over the phone.

Newjackboy · Sep 12, 2012, 03:59 PM

It looks like a regular or microsim CANNOT be cut down to this new nano sim size.

Also, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to use an adaptor with your new nano sim and use that inside a iPhone 4s or regular sim phone

This is really bad news for travellers.

And terrible for people who need to switch sims between devices

intelliot · Sep 12, 2012, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrmjenkins

Probably. AT&T does it without question for customers. The issue is getting in a store on launch day.

Doesn't AT&T charge you for a new SIM card, though? Something like $5-10.

Xenc · Sep 12, 2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newjackboy

It looks like a regular or microsim CANNOT be cut down to this new nano sim size.

Also, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to use an adaptor with your new nano sim and use that inside a iPhone 4s or regular sim phone

This is really bad news for travellers.

And terrible for people who need to switch sims between devices

You can use an adaptor to change the profile of a nano SIM to its micro and regular counterparts.

chrmjenkins · Sep 12, 2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelliot

Doesn't AT&T charge you for a new SIM card, though? Something like $5-10.

I've never been charged and I've done it at least 5 times.

Newjackboy · Sep 12, 2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenc

You can use an adaptor to change the profile of a nano SIM to its micro and regular counterparts.

You cannot. The gold parts are significantly smaller. That's the main problem.

Xenc · Sep 12, 2012, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirky29

Will I be able to get a new nano sim card from my carrier (o2 uk) if I buy outright unlocked from Apple and I'm already in a contract?

Contact O2 and ask for a nano SIM to be posted to you, or visit one of their stores on the day of the iPhone 5 release. They should be able to provide you with a complimentary nano SIM.

golf1410 · Sep 12, 2012, 04:14 PM

Am I good at cutting? I guess not.

Xenc · Sep 12, 2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newjackboy

You cannot. The gold parts are significantly smaller. That's the main problem.

The contacts points are identical between the different form factors. The 4FF was designed to be backward compatible.

cvaldes · Sep 12, 2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newjackboy

You cannot. The gold parts are significantly smaller. That's the main problem.

This is false. The micro SIM and nano SIM contacts have the same placement.

One true difference is the thickness of the cards. The nano SIM (0.67mm thick) is 0.09mm thinner than the micro/mini/standard SIM (0.76mm thick). One could probably shave this off in a minute with some sandpaper or an emery board.

Due to manufacturing and contact tolerances, the thickness issue may not be all that important.

chrmjenkins · Sep 12, 2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvaldes

This is false. The micro SIM and nano SIM contacts have the same placement.

One true difference is the thickness of the cards. The nano SIM (0.67mm thick) is 0.09mm thinner than the micro/mini/standard SIM (0.76mm thick). One could probably shave this off in a minute with some sandpaper or an emery board.

Due to manufacturing and contact tolerances, the thickness issue may not be all that important.

Pretty much this.

Some manufacturers change the way the contacts look and it can be confusing for some.

Will the average Joe want to shave off that thickness though?

Xenc · Sep 12, 2012, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrmjenkins

Pretty much this.

Some manufacturers change the way the contacts look and it can be confusing for some.

Will the average Joe want to shave off that thickness though?

The average Joe can get a free replacement SIM card from their mobile provider or Apple

chrmjenkins · Sep 12, 2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenc

The average Joe can get a free replacement SIM card from their mobile provider or Apple

Yes, but that could be construed as an inconvenience. And a dumb spectrum reseller like Straight Talk may have quite a delay getting that new SIM to you.

TEG · Sep 12, 2012, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelliot

Doesn't AT&T charge you for a new SIM card, though? Something like $5-10.

at&t doesn't charge for the SIM Cards, but if you get one from Best Buy or Radio Shack, you have to pay between $5 and $25 for them, and at&t won't refund the cost.

TEG

Gemütlichkeit · Sep 12, 2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrmjenkins

Yes, but that could be construed as an inconvenience. And a dumb spectrum reseller like Straight Talk may have quite a delay getting that new SIM to you.

I hope not

Sep 12, 2012, 03:02 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iPhone 5 Confirmed to Use New Nano-SIM Standard As had been rumored and shown in leaked images, the iPhone 5 does indeed use the new Apple-backed nano-SIM standard that is 40% smaller than the micro-SIM standard found in the iPhone 4 and 4S. Apple did not mention the change during its media event, but the company has confirmed it in an iPhone model comparison. The iPhone 5 appears to be the first device to use the new nano-SIM standard, and carriers had reportedly begun stockpiling the new cards as long ago as July before starting to distribute them to retailers earlier this month in anticipation of the iPhone 5 introduction. Article Link: iPhone 5 Confirmed to Use New Nano-SIM Standard
	0

Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM	#3
BanterClaus macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK	Dammit. This is good overall but it means i'm going to have to get a new contract if I get a new iPhone. Unless mobile carriers somehow come up with a way for you to transfer sim data. __________________ iPad 4 32GB iPhone 4 16GB iPod Touch 4 32GB 13" 2011 MacBook Pro \| i5 \| 8GB \| 120GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD & 320GB HDD Gaming PC \| Quad i5 3.3GHz \| 8GB \| 1TB \| AMD 6970 2GB
	2

Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM	#4
chrmjenkins macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2007	Which means it's going to be a PITA for anyone who buys unsubsidized and can't swap their old SIM in. __________________ Twitter: @anexanhume
	1

Sep 12, 2012, 03:06 PM	#5
kirky29 macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, England	Will I be able to get a new nano sim card from my carrier (o2 uk) if I buy outright unlocked from Apple and I'm already in a contract? __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 2.2GHz i7 2011, 8 GB RAM - iPhone 4S 16GB - iPad 2/3 - iMac 27, 16GB, 24" Cinema Display Apple Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Time Machine, Apple TV, Airport \| Check out my flickr \|
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Sep 12, 2012, 03:10 PM	#8
KdParker macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2010	Hope apple made enough phones for the inital launch. __________________ 16g iPhone5 Black ; 16g iPhone5 White; 15" retina - MBP 2.6 GHZ 16 RAM; iPad4 retina
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Sep 12, 2012, 03:04 PM	#2
Evmanw macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2010	cool!
	0

Sep 12, 2012, 03:39 PM	#10
needfx In Time-Out Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: macrumors apparently	meat slicers at the ready!
	0

Sep 12, 2012, 03:51 PM	#11
flipshot macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hertfordshire, UK	T-Mobile UK, think they will have Nano-sims available in their stores on 21st September and you will have to go in store to swap to one. They apparently don't do it the same as O2 where they send the SIM and you swap it online, they can only switch it in person or over the phone. __________________ Macbook Pro 2011: 2.3GHz Core i5, 8GB RAM, 500GB HD - OSX 10.7 MacBook Air 2011 11": 1.6Ghz Core i5, 4GB RAM, 128GB HD - OSX 10.7 iPhone 4S 32GB iPad 3 32GB WiFi
	0

Sep 12, 2012, 03:59 PM	#12
Newjackboy macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2012	Nano sim was my only disappointment today It looks like a regular or microsim CANNOT be cut down to this new nano sim size. Also, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to use an adaptor with your new nano sim and use that inside a iPhone 4s or regular sim phone This is really bad news for travellers. And terrible for people who need to switch sims between devices
	2

Sep 12, 2012, 04:14 PM	#18
golf1410 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA	Am I good at cutting? I guess not.
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