Even experienced users can find it unyielding to tell some iPhones apart. Apple updates the iPhone all twelvemonth, but it doesn't always change the designing - sometimes the earthshaking changes are happening the inside, such as faster new components - which can make it same hard to identify which model you've got.

You might be wondering which iPhone you've got because only certain models can run the latest edition of iOS. Or you power require to know because you'Re planning to sell. You might even suffer an issue with you iPhone and need to know what model IT is indeed that Apple or a third-party fixer can suggest a fix.

There are lots of reasons why you might need tell the difference between distinct iPhones. We're here to help.

How to tell which iPhone you've got

The easiest way to nam an iPhone utilized to be to chequer the 'A' modelling count along the back, and therein article we list the A numbers for every iPhone. But Apple doesn't print A numbers any much, indeed for those with late models, or who find the number too small to read, there are former methods: you can check in Settings, or look at the phone's shape and external features and make an identification using the descriptions and photos under.

If you're struggling to nam one of your past Apple devices, we too have guides to finding which iPad you take and which Macintosh you have.

Look in Settings for the model name and number

The simplest method these days is to bet in Settings.

  1. Spread ou the Settings app, and go to Worldwide > About.
  2. In the top bank of entries you'll construe Exemplar Describ, with iPhone 12 In favour of or whatever succeeding to it.
  3. This page also tells you the gimmick's capacity, which is recorded a little further pour down.

How to identify which iPhone you've got: Settings

Some older iPhones won't show the iPhone mannikin name here. For example, this iPhone 6s shows a combination of letters and numbers instead; that is the model number and you can practice this to identify the iPhone.

How to identify which iPhone you've got: Identifying older models in Settings

You'll also see the Model Number below Simulate Name on newer iPhones. Aside default Settings shows the M number (too known as the SKU - and if you've got a replacement model it'll plausibly start with an N), but you can tap it to display the A number instead, which can as wel be old to identify which iPhone model you undergo.

The SKU/M number/N number is rather handy, withal, because it provides a more very identification than the A routine surgery level the Model Name (it specifies storage capacity and even colour). There's a huge number of possible M numbers racket - far more than we can list here. Check the iPhone Wiki for a full list.

How to identify which iPhone you've got: SKU number

Settings, as we can see, is exceedingly ministrant when IT comes to identifying an iPhone. But it has the slight down side of requiring that your twist be functional and accessible to you; if you're nerve-wracking to identify a bricked device operating theater ane you can't unlock, this won't be much use and you'd better progress to the visual identification graph in the next section.

Look on the gage for the A number

Older iPhones will have an identification turn written along the back. This is a small figure that starts with the letter A, and tagged 'Model'. It'll be something like "A1203" or "A1634".

When we say "fine number" we really do mean small, and you Crataegus laevigata find it hard to scan the number with the naked eye. A magnifying glass will help if you've got one!

However, the iPhone 8 and later do not take this number printed on the back. If you can't find anything here you at any rate know that your iPhone is an iPhone 8 or later.

How to identify what iPhone you have: Model number

For simplicity's saki we'll scream this the A issue, Eastern Samoa opposed to the M number found in Settings discussed preceding, and the more than longer IMEI identifying number, which is unique to your one-on-one handset.

Erst you've got the A number, check it against this number to get word which model you've got. (Note that in that location are multiple A numbers for some iPhones. These refer to versions for different territories, network standards etcetera. And even the recent iPhones have A numbers - they're just not easy 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 Beaver State 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 operating room A1724: iPhone Se (2022)
  • A1660, A1778 or A1779: iPhone 7
  • A1661, A1784 or A1785: iPhone 7 Plus
  • A1863, A1905 Beaver State A1906: iPhone 8
  • A1864, A1897 or A1898: iPhone 8 Advantageous
  • A1865, A1901 or A1902: iPhone X
  • A1984, A2105, A2106 operating theater A2108: iPhone XR
  • A1920, A2097, A2098 or A2100: iPhone XS
  • A1921, A2101, A2102 surgery A2104: iPhone XS Max
  • A2111, A2223 or A2221: iPhone 11
  • A2160, A2217 Beaver State A2215: iPhone 11 In favou
  • A2161, A2220 or A2218: iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • A2275, A2298 or A2296: iPhone Southeastward (2022)
  • A2176, A2398, A2400 operating theatre A2399: iPhone 12 mini
  • A2172, A2402, A2404 or A2403: iPhone 12
  • A2341, A2406, A2408 OR A2407: iPhone 12 In favou
  • A2342, A2410, A2412 or A2411: iPhone 12 Pro Max

How to evidence iPhones apart by sight

If for whatever cause the method supra doesn't work, don't worry. You hindquarters still say which tolerant of iPhone you've got past checking its build, external features and so on. Simply compare it against this usher, which includes all models of iPhone.

Original iPhone

The original iPhone from 2007 is easy to identify. It has a grey/silver set up with a large Shirley Temple band crossways the bottom. It looks wish this:

What iPhone do I have: Original iPhone

iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS

If your iPhone has a curved plastic rear but without the colorful band from the original iPhone, you've got an iPhone 3G or 3GS. This is what they look like:

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 3GS

One way of telling these two apart is colour - if it's segregated, you've got a 3GS.

Some models were sold in a black finish, however, so if you've got one of those, check the shininess of the detailing on the back. Happening the 3GS, the Apple logo and the impress infra are the similar shiny ash grey; on the 3G, the form is less shiny than the logo.

Be aware non to confuse these deuce models with the newer iPhone 5c (which looks somewhat similar - experience below to compare).

iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s

The iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s both have a glass front and glass rear and come in grim or white. Present's what they look up like:

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 4

It's woody to evidence the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s apart, unfortunately. One possibility is to look for a SIM tray on the righthand side - if you seat't find an opening night then you're looking for at (the CDMA version of) the iPhone 4, which was available both with and without a SIM tray. The iPhone 4s always has a SIM tray.

You commode also check the storage capacity, which may whir a clue. The 4 was sold in 8, 16 and 32GB capacities; the 4s was available in all of these but also added a 64GB simulation. Check Settings > Ecumenical > About, and if Capacity is any high than 32GB past you've got an iPhone 4s. (It won't Be the full 64GB, of course of instruction, because some of the advertised electrical capacity is taken up with firmware and the like.)

iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 looks similar to the iPhone 4 and 4s but comes with a taller 4in display (metrical diagonally, corner to corner). This way it can fit pentad rows of app icons (positive a ordinal, the dock row, at the bottom), whereas the iPhone 4s and to begin with could only conditioned quartet rows (plus the dock). Hither's what it looks like:

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 5

iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s looks for the most part indistinguishable to the iPhone 5, but the game show is the Extend to ID fingerprint electronic scanner.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 5s

If you take the Home button, you'll notice that it no more has a wholesome on it - it's just a plain roofy. Along the pure-front models you can see a shiny metal ring round the edge; the black one is wholly black.

The discolour schemes are besides divers, with Au, Flatware and Space Grey replacing Ignominious and White.

iPhone 5c

This one's easy to spot. The iPhone 5c comes in a range of bright plastic colours and has a curved plastic second.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 5c

It's as wel taller and squarer than other pliant models (much as the iPhone 3G and 3GS), and so it's easy to identify.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s

The 6-serial handsets saw a full redesign, with rodlike-off edges replacing the squarer expect of early phones. The screens are large than earlier models, too: they measure 4.7in diagonally. The Plus models have still large screens, of course.

Here's what the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s look like. This is the iPhone 6s - you can recount because it came in pink as symptomless American Samoa the silver, gold and Space Grey offered by the iPhone 6.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 6s

Assuming you're not lucky enough to equal looking at a knoc (technically Rose Gold) sit, which is a dead game show, facial expression for the letter S on the back, downstairs the word iPhone. (Information technology's visible in the image above.) This indicates that it's an iPhone 6s, fair obviously.

iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus

The iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6s Plus look like the iPhone 6 but are much large, with 5.5in displays (sounded diagonally). They've got room for six rows of icons along the Home CRT screen, nonnegative the dock row.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 6s Plus

Again, only the 6s Asset comes in Rose Golden, and the S model is selected by a S on the back, below the word iPhone.

iPhone SE (2022)

The germinal iPhone SE uses the same colourize outline as the iPhone 6 product line, simply has the same design elements of the iPhone 5s. Your best bet to discover between a 5s and Southeastward is to turn the iPhone on surgery looking for the SE stomp at the back.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone SE

It should also be noted that the Se comes in Rose Gold, whereas the 5s only came in Silver, Space Grey and Gold.

iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 boasts a 4.7in screen, with a glass advanced and aluminium vertebral column. It's similar to the 6 and 6s, only slimmer, and the back of the body has lost the horizontal lines at the upper side and can. Information technology does not have a headphone jack at the arse: there is just a azygos Lightning port in the focus of the bottom inch, with verbaliser grilles either side.

How to identify which iPhone you have: iPhone 7

It's on hand in six colours, and was the first iPhone to come in red.

Check the entry for iPhone 8 downstairs, because that is very quasi; the main conflict is that the 7 has an aluminium back, whereas the 8 has a tras back.

iPhone 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 Plus is unsurprisingly similar to the iPhone 7 - the main difference is the big 5.5in display. As with the 7, it boasts a tras look and metal hinder, which the photographic camera protrudes from slightly. It's also available in six different colors, including red (not shown below). And there is no headphone left.

In fact, the genuine game show is the horizontal twin-lens system rear-lining camera: here's what it looks like:

How to identify which iPhone you have: iPhone 7 Plus

Again, hinderance the entry for the very similar iPhone 8 Plus below. The 7 Plus has an aluminum spine, whereas the 8 Nonnegative has tras.

iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 is much like the iPhone 7: IT as well has a 4.7in screen and no headphone jack. The main conflict from the 7 is that this model has a glass second rather than aluminium; if there's none A number engraved on the back that as well May make up a game show, because it was at this point that Malus pumila phased that out.

Still non sure? The 8 comes in 64GB or 256GB storage options, whereas the 7 comes in 32GB, 128GB OR 256 GB; check Settings > General > iPhone Entrepot and see if you can extinguish one of the options that way. And finally, whereas the 7 came in black, gold, Rose Gold, silver, cerise and the ridiculously shiny Jet Black, the 8 only comes in silver, Space Grey, a new pinkish gold (see below) and red.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 8

iPhone 8 Nonnegative

This peerless is a lot like the iPhone 7 Plus: the 8 Plus has a 5.5in video display and a matched-lens television camera protruding slightly from the back. And at that place is no earpiece port.

But the back is glass rather of aluminium, in that respect isn't an A number engraved happening the cover (our United Kingdom framework just says "iPhone/Designed by Orchard apple tree in California/Massed in China"), the storage options are 64GB and 256GB (as opposed to 32GB, 128GB and 256GB along the 7 Plus) and the emblazon options are silver, Space Dull, scarlet and the current pinky gold. No shiny Ebony here.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone X

The iPhone X hasn't got a Home button on the strawma, with the screen coming shoot down almost to the bottom of the chassis. It has a 'notch' usurped out of the teetotum of the screen, and it has two cameras on the back, arranged vertically vertically. Stimulate a look (but don't be duck by the removable browned case, which yours probably won't have):

What iPhone do I have: iPhone X

The iPhone X came in just deuce colour options - facile and Space Grey-headed - but it's no more along sale. Also, be sure to check off the iPhone XS, below, which looks virtually the similar and may present some designation issues.

iPhone XR

The iPhone XR has a 6.1in screen, but that's also true of the iPhone 11, 12 and 12 Affirmative. More reformative, and so, are the triplet facts that IT doesn't receive a Home button, does have a notch, and comes with a single tv camera lens on the tush.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone XR

It comes in black, white, blue, yellow, Red coral (a sort of orangey looker) and red.

iPhone XS

A tricky one, this, because the iPhone XS looks isotropous to the iPhone X. What are the possible giveaways? It now comes in a new colour - gold - and offers a new 512GB storage capacity at the upper end, if you're somehow able to determine that without having access to the Settings app (which is rattling where you should be heading).

What iPhone do I have: iPhone XS

Other physical upgrades from the X are essentially impossible for a consumer to learn. The methamphetamine hydrochloride back out was reinforced to make over it less to prostrate to cracking, and the waterproof rating was increased from IP67 to IP68, but in neither slip should you test to destruction simply to distinguish your call.

iPhone XS Max

The XS Scoop, suchlike the XR, can be identified by its screen size, which is a right 6.5in. Have a bun in the oven in mind that this should be measured betwixt the theoretical corners where the screen edges would converge if the corners weren't rounded off, if that makes sense. Anyway, it's a whacking longtime screen - that's what we're telling you.

Like the opposite X-series handsets information technology hasn't got a Home button, and its screen has a notch at the top. IT comes in silver, atomic number 79 and Space Southern.

What iPhone do I have: iPhone XS Max

iPhone 11

Three new models were released in autumn 2022. The cheapest of these is the iPhone 11.

The 11 looks the same as the iPhone XR from a year sooner, with one easy-to-spot difference: it has deuce cameras along the rear end, arranged in a vertical configuration within a square block. No more some other iPhone has this rear-television camera configuration soh information technology should be easy to spot.

The iPhone 11 comes in whitened, black, green, yellow, noble and red, and has a 6.1in sieve with no Rest home button.

What iPhone have I got: iPhone 11

iPhone 11 Pro

The rich 11 Pro has three cameras on the rear.

You hindquarters tell the 11 In favou and 11 Affirmative Max apart because the Max is bigger. The 11 Professional has a 5.8in screen (metric diagonally, from corner to niche) and measures 144mm x 71.4mm.

What iPhone have I got: iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro Max

The 11 Affirmative Max as wel has three photographic camera lenses on the rear, but features a 6.5in silver screen and measures 158mm x 77.8 millimetre.

What iPhone have I got: iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone SE (2022)

Apple revived the popular Southeast in 2022, but it was less compact than its 2022 predecessor. This time Apple put (almost of) the components of the iPhone 11 in the curved-adjoin chassis of the iPhone 8.

It has a 4.7in projection screen and a single camera lens on the rear. It has a Home button with Touch ID built in, and the back up is crank.

Which iPhone have I got: iPhone SE (2022)

iPhone 12 mini

The 12 mini has a 5.4in sort (with a pass at the top) and the same square, lancinate-edged sides as the rest of the 12-series handsets. It hasn't got a Home button.

It has ii camera lenses connected the rear, but these sit to the left of a larger square camera module; thither's a small flash on the righthand side of this. (You stool see what this mental faculty looks like in the mental picture of the iPhone 12 downstairs.) The back is glass.

Which iPhone have I got: iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 - like all the 12-serial handsets - has sharp, squared-off edges rather than the curved edges seen on the 11-series and many earlier models. It has a 6.1in screen (with a snick), two camera lenses on the back and no Home button, and comes in black, hot, red, buoyant green, dark blue devil and purple (pictured).

Which iPhone have I got: iPhone 12

iPhone 12 Pro

The iPhone 12 Pro is easiest to identify by its combination of triple camera lenses on the rear, sharp, square-off edges and a 6.1in screen. Information technology comes in silver/White, gilded, African-American and navy blue.

Which iPhone have I got: iPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Finally we come to the (at time of writing) top of the range, the iPhone 12 Pro Easy lay. IT's a whopper, with a 6.7in screen - the biggest ever - and triple camera lenses happening the rear. There's a nick at the top of the screen and no Home button, and the edges are sharp American Samoa on the rest of the 12-serial handsets.

Which iPhone have I got: iPhone 12 Pro Max

For much advice on the various handsets that Apple sells, take a look at our iPhone buying guide. And if you'Re looking to arrest a buy happening your next handset, check our roundup of the best iPhone deals.