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.

iphone 5 nano sim
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.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

Xenc Avatar
164 months ago
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.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cvaldes Avatar
164 months ago
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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
164 months ago
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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xenc Avatar
164 months ago
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.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
164 months ago
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.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Xenc Avatar
164 months ago
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 :D
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
macbook pro blue green

When Will Apple Release the M5 MacBook Pro?

Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:53 pm PDT by
Apple regularly refreshes the MacBook Pro models, and a new version that uses M5 series chips is in the works. Apple just finished refreshing most of the Mac lineup with M4 chips, and now it's time for the M5. Rumors suggest that we could see the first M5 MacBook Pro models this fall. Design There have been no rumors of a design update for the M5 MacBook Pro models that are coming this...
Apple Lumon Terminal Pro

Apple's Mac Site Features Fictional 'Lumon Terminal Pro'

Wednesday March 26, 2025 12:19 pm PDT by
Apple is going all out with promotions for the popular Severance Apple TV+ show today, and as of right now, you'll find a new "Lumon Terminal Pro" listed on Apple's Mac site. The Lumon Terminal Pro is designed to look similar to the machines that Severance employees like Mark S. and Helly R. use for macrodata refinement. The Terminal features a blue keyboard, a small display with wide...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Soon With These New Features for Your iPhone

Tuesday March 25, 2025 6:45 am PDT by
Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 to the general public as soon as next week, following more than a month of beta testing. Apple's website says some iOS 18.4 features will be released in "early April," so the update should be out as early as Tuesday, April 1. Apple this week seeded the iOS 18.4 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, barring the discovery of any...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Supports 8K Video Recording, Suggests Leaker [Updated]

Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:06 am PDT by
Update 7:25 pm: Based on comments from our forums, it appears the original Weibo post may have been mistranslated and "8K" actually refers to the high price of the device rather than 8K video recording capabilities. The iPhone 16 Pro currently starts at 7,999 yuan in China. Our original article follows below. Apple's forthcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are capable of shooting 8K video, up...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

'iPhone Fold' to Feature Metallic Glass Hinge That Resists Deformation

Thursday March 27, 2025 4:21 am PDT by
Last week, we covered a report claiming that Apple's book-style foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold," as we are provisionally calling it here) will use liquid metal hinges to improve durability and help minimize screen creasing. Today, a Chinese leaker provided more details on the properties of this hinge material that help to clarify why Apple chose it for its first foldable device. According...
iOS 18 4 Ambient Music Control Center

How to Use iOS 18.4's New Ambient Music Feature in Control Center

Thursday March 27, 2025 7:45 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone adds an Ambient Music feature to Control Center. Below, we take a closer look at how it works. iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, so the Ambient Music feature is not widely available yet. The update will likely be released to the general public next week. To use the feature on iOS 18.4, open Control Center and tap on the plus sign in the top-left...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

Gurman: Jon Prosser's iOS 19 Mockups 'Aren't Representative' of Redesign

Tuesday March 25, 2025 4:47 pm PDT by
The iOS 19 mockup images that leaker Jon Prosser shared today are not representative of the actual iOS 19 design, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on social media. According to Gurman, the images that are "floating around" are based on "very old builds" or "vague descriptions," and are lacking key features. Gurman says that we can "expect more from Apple in June." Gurman made the same comment ...