In order to be able to make and receive calls from your smartphone or tablet, and use other services of cellular operators, you must have a SIM card. In fact, each SIM card is a miniature chip that contains all the information necessary for normal operation in the cellular network: subscriber identification number, etc.
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IMPORTANT: We can say that the Sim card is the interface between the subscriber and his mobile operator.
Just a few years ago there was one standard for SIM cards. Today there are several of them. And the main difference between SIM cards from each other is their size. The newer the standard of such a card, the smaller it is. Below we will talk about what sizes of SIM cards exist and how they can be changed if necessary.
Today, there are three main SIM card standards used in cellular communications: Mini, Micro and Nano.
Mini-SIM
This is the oldest format to date and consists of standard-sized SIM cards. Their dimensions are equal 25 × 15 mm. Such cards are used on most mobile phones. New smartphones practically do not support this size of SIM card, but if necessary, using improvised means, you can cut a card of the required size from an old SIM card.
Micro-SIM
As the name of this standard implies, the Micro format differs from Mini primarily in size ( 15 × 12 mm). For the first time, such a standard was used by Apple in its iPhone 4 smartphones. And the overwhelming number of new smartphones use exactly this SIM card format.
If you bought a smartphone that works with a SIM card of this format, then do not rush to your operator’s mobile phone store. In most cases, you can trim the card to the desired size at home. But more on that below.
Nano-SIM
Nano-SIM is the smallest size SIM card available today. As in the case of Micro-SIM, Apple started a “revolution” by developing this standard for its new iPhone and iPad models. But, some developers of devices on the Android operating system supported the company from Cupertino and also use Nano-Sim in their devices, saving space and reducing the size of gadgets.
Nano-SIM Dimensions 12 × 5 mm. If you look at such a SIM card, you will notice that this is a chip without the plastic that was previously used around it.
How to change SIM card size?
The easiest way to change the size of a SIM card is to replace it with your mobile operator. But, this can be done at home. You also need to know that in services, salons selling mobile phones, etc. You can order the card to be cut to the desired size.
Contact your telecom operator
If you don’t want to bother with the SIM card and cut it manually, then go to your operator’s office with your passport and order a SIM card replacement service. It's free and only takes 2-3 minutes. You will be given a card of the required size (or a multi-format card from which you can “squeeze out” the card of the required size yourself).
IMPORTANT: Your phone number, connected services and balance will remain the same as before replacing the card.
Modern SIM cards are multi-format. This means that by registering with a mobile operator, you will receive a card from which, without any improvised means, you can make one that you can use in your device.
In such a SIM card, the dimensions of the format you need are indicated using a dotted line. It is almost impossible to damage the chip when “squeezing out” the size you need.
Let's go to the workshop
If you don’t have the time or opportunity to get to your operator’s office, then go to any mobile phone store (or gadget repair shop) and order a SIM card cutting service.
Almost every such workshop has a special stapler device with which you can cut the card to the desired size in a few seconds. At the same time, the risk of damaging the chip is even less than when “squeezing out” the SIM card along the dotted lines.
Cut by hand according to the template
You can cut out the SIM card using regular scissors. It is best to cut according to a template. If you don’t have one, you can find such a template on the Internet and print it on a printer. Then cut out the template and attach it to the SIM card. Now carefully cut it along the contours of the template. If necessary, sand the edges with fine-grit sandpaper after cutting.
IMPORTANT: When applying a template to a SIM card, make sure that the chip on your card and the template match. If this is not done, the performance of the cropped card may suffer.
Insert into the device and use.
Instead of a conclusion
Hopefully this article will help you understand more about SIM card formats, as well as how to adapt your SIM card to the supported device size. If you are afraid of damaging your card, then order a replacement or cutting it to the required size from professionals. If you don’t have time, you can trim it yourself. The main thing is to do everything carefully and according to the template.
Video. How to make a Micro or Nano SIM card from a SIM card with your own hands
It's time to change your phone, and it turns out that many modern phones have a slot for a SIM card not of a standard size, but of a reduced size.
A solution to the current problem,
- First, when buying a phone, many sellers provide a service for cutting standard SIM cards, charging about $5 for this service.
- second, you can contact the operator to replace the micro SIM card, but if you live far from the subscriber service center or authorized representative, then such an operation can take a long time.
- Third, you can save both time and money and perform this operation on the SIM card yourself. There is absolutely nothing complicated about this and it will only take a couple of minutes.
Now a little introduction, the chip itself is standard, the only difference is the plastic base on which the chip is glued.
Types of SIM card slots
There are such form factors Sim, micro sim, nano sim, do they all have the same chip and what is the difference between its size? Again, in the form of a piece of plastic on which a chip is glued.
The photo shows which slot will be the size of the SIM cards shown above.
Now let's see what shape the chip on SIM cards is
As you can see, SIM card chips are slightly different in shape, but the chips must meet the following condition: one of the sectors of the SIM card must fall on the contacts of the SIM slot. The first card has the largest chip, but as you can see, the right pads are not used. For example, the third one has a shorter length, the fourth one is longer.
How to cut a SIM card
So, when cutting, our task is to make sure that after installing the card in the phone, the contact pad falls on the necessary contacts of the slot.
Micro SIM card sizes
Now let’s put a micro SIM matrix on top of the existing cards.
You need to cut as you can see from the picture, which we will now demonstrate. It is better to cut with sharp manicure scissors; they are most suitable for this purpose, they are sharp and do not crush the plastic.
The corner is cut a little short, but we'll try it that way.
Due to a slightly cut off corner, the card does not fit into place a little, but the phone starts normally with it and detects the network.
Nano sim sizes, how to cut a sim card for nano
Since the nano sim is the size of the chip, old SIM cards need to be cut according to the foil, the dimensions of the nano sim are shown below, but we cut the new sim cards with a smaller chip type exactly to the size of the chip.
Of course, recently operators have been making changes to the information in the chips as they develop their networks. To use all the capabilities of the network and phone, you need to replace the SIM card with a new one. For many operators, this service is free, and the advantages of replacement are obvious. Cutting the SIM card should be considered as a temporary solution to the problem.
At the end of May, the European Telecommunications Standardization Institute (ETSI) will vote on a new SIM card standard, the so-called nano-SIM, which will be 20-35% smaller than the current micro-SIM used in the iPhone, Nokia Lumia and other devices. To answer the question, why else should they be reduced, let’s go a little deeper into history.
For any device to operate on any provider network, some kind of identifier is required. In the era of the emergence of mobile communications, this identifier was a unique number that was assigned at the manufacturer, the so-called ESN (Electronic Serial Number). Switching from one operator to another was quite difficult, and sometimes even impossible without purchasing a new telephone. When purchasing a new device, it was necessary to come with it to the operator’s office to register it. This was extremely inconvenient, especially as the number of subscribers grew. Over time, mobile communications became available to almost everyone, and the number of devices began to grow continuously.
When developing the GSM standard, engineers placed the subscriber identifier into a separate module, which they called SIM (Subscriber Identity Module). Essentially, a SIM card is a microcomputer that verifies the legitimacy of the equipment and registers the terminal on the network.
Let me remind you that three types of SIM cards are currently standardized
- SIM card is the size of a credit card (86*54mm). Appeared at the stage of formation of mobile communications of the GSM standard. Used in the then popular Motorola StarTAC series phones.
- Mini-SIM is a classic small SIM card measuring 25*15mm. Ubiquitous in the vast majority of mobile devices.
- Micro-SIM - a type of card popularized by Apple (15*12mm)
In the days of bricks, the size of SIM cards was of little importance, because... the equipment itself was quite large. External antennas, large batteries. For example, back in 1992, the first “handheld” GSM phone, Nokia 1011, measured 195 x 60 x 45 mm and weighed 475 g. Times changed, technological evolution moved forward, and the size of phones decreased. There was a need to reduce device components without compromising functionality. That's when it became necessary to reduce the size of SIM cards. All manufacturers began to switch to mini-SIM, the size of which was more than 12 times smaller than a standard SIM card. The emergence of mini-SIM was largely due to the race for phone sizes. Let's remember such phones as Panasonic GD55 or Motorola T191. These phones were so small that even the female half often experienced inconvenience in using them.
Now they are going to reduce the size of SIM cards again. There are four contenders for standardization. These are Nokia, Motorola, RIM (BlackBerry brand) and Apple. I'll tell you a little more about the SIM cards themselves.
Apple proposes to standardize a 12*9 mm SIM card, which will be held in devices using a special tray (which is already familiar to users of Apple gadgets), for which the company has received a patent. But Apple promised that if its decision was accepted, the company would license all patents needed for the standard for free.
This decision was strongly opposed by the Motorola-Nokia-RIM alliance, which proposed their own version of SIM cards, which are something similar to micro-SD cards and are held in the device in exactly the same way. The sizes of SIM cards offered by companies vary slightly. Nokia offers a SIM card size of 10*8mm, while RIM insists on a size of 11*9mm. Nokia, which has said it will not license its patents that would be necessary if the European Institute chooses Apple's solution as the standard, is leading a particularly fierce fight for the standard.
The selection of the standard will be carried out by voting by ETSI members. At the moment, 759 organizations from 60 European countries are members of the institute. And there is another scandal associated with voting. RIM accused Apple of trying to influence the outcome of the vote by registering its employees as representatives of other companies that are members of ETSI. In addition, Apple is now registering subsidiaries in European countries that are also members of the institute. Currently there are 6 companies registered in the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal and Italy, while Nokia has 2 companies registered, Motorola has 3, and RIM is not represented at all. According to rumors, Apple will also be supported by telecom operators, but this is just a rumor. According to preliminary data, the vote should take place at the end of May, but there is no certainty that it will take place. Most likely, it will be postponed again and give time to the companies to come to an agreement among themselves.
The main question that may concern us, ordinary consumers, is what does changing the size of SIM cards give us? It is quite difficult to find positive as well as negative sides. With SIM cards getting smaller, phone sizes are unlikely to become smaller than they are now. Indirectly, this proves that no one except Apple was in a hurry to change mini-SIM cards to micro-SIM, although this standard was adopted long before Apple appeared as a player in the mobile phone market. And no one will make phones smaller - on the contrary, the trend of increasing screen sizes, as well as phone sizes, cannot be ignored.
Some might say that this will free up space in the devices for other components. But the freed-up volume is so small that it can hardly be used effectively. Also, changing the standard is unlikely to affect the final cost of the device. The only thing that can cause us inconvenience is visiting the operator’s office to replace the SIM card when purchasing a new device, but this is done only once. And you are also unlikely to experience any inconvenience from replacing SIM cards. Remember the last time you changed your SIM card.
Why is Apple trying to change the standard? This is understandable. They have already tested this technology, only the size of SIM cards will change. Perhaps in the future they will still license their technology with royalties. And there is no such thing as extra money. Why does the rest of the alliance need this? It seems to me that this is just to protect yourself from a possible monopoly by Apple and, of course, to make yourself known. As you can see, the “apple company” is opposed by players whose market performance has greatly declined in recent years. Sales volume is steadily decreasing, revenue and profits are falling. My statement indirectly proves the fact that such “giants” as Samsung, HTC and Asus do not speak out on this topic at all.
In conclusion, I want to say that whatever the result of the vote, there will be no shocks in the market, and this will affect you and me to a lesser extent. And even more so, do not forget that in extreme cases, all sorts of adapters will appear, with the help of which you can easily insert SIM cards into one or another device.
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Sahakyants Mikhail (
High technologies are developing rapidly. At the same time, progress often affects even the most familiar and unnoticed things that we use every day. For example, a few years ago, telephone SIM cards were of a standard size, but today they differ, and when purchasing a new mobile gadget, this parameter must be taken into account. Today we’ll talk about nano-sim, what is it, and how does it differ from traditional sim?
Nano sim and micro sim are the names of the dimensional parameters of SIM cards used in any device. The dimensions of the first are much smaller compared to micro and are only 12.3 * 8.8 millimeters (for micro 15 * 12 mm). It is imperative to take this point into account when choosing a device, because a micro SIM may not fit into a port created for a different size, and vice versa.
This refers to the size of the plastic field with the chip. It itself has standard proportions - the same as those on traditional SIM cards.
Let's talk about dimensions
It should be remembered that SIM cards differ both in size and in the width of the sides. For example, in the micro format the lower distance from the chip is greater compared to the upper one, but in the nano format it is in the opposite order (so that you can make a cut corner).
| SIZE (WHEN THE CARD IS POSITIONED VERTICALLY, CUT CORNER AT TOP, RIGHT) | MICRO | NANO |
| Left offset from chip | 0.5 mm | Up to 0.3 mm |
| Chip offset to the right | 2 mm | Up to 0.3 mm |
| Distance from the chip below | 1 mm | 0.5 mm |
| Chip distance from top | 1.5 mm | 0.5 mm |
| Maximum total card length | 15 mm | 12.3 mm |
| Maximum total map width | 12 mm | 8.8 mm |
These are approximate indicators, because providers sometimes have slightly different card appearances, but this does not affect the operation in any way.
Historical information
Microsims appeared about seven years ago - it was at that time that this type gained mass popularity, mainly among devices of Asian origin, but after some time European manufacturers began to use this development. Although it did not have enough time to spread widely, because a couple of years later the Apple corporation created a nano-sim, they went along with the new iPhones and iPads.
Asian manufacturers liked the innovation, and after a while, European developers began to attract the nano format. The difference between nano sim and microsim is not very noticeable, but quite noticeable, and the smallest format has not left the market for a long time, filling it more and more. This is the minimum acceptable parameter, because further compression will require a reduction in the width and length of the working chip, so the new SIM cannot be used in all models of gadgets known today. All mobile devices now work with a standard chip size.
Nano-SIM card, what is it and why did they change the size?
As noted, reduced nano dimensions were introduced about 7 years ago. This is due to the fact that smartphones quickly became more complex and were produced with more voluminous “filling”, while the scale of the device could no longer be increased. Well, this format allows you to save quite a lot of space.
For us, this difference is insignificant, but if we talk about microelectronics, it is almost prohibitive. In addition, it became possible to seriously reduce the port parameters for the card.
How to trim?
As you already understand, even if you change the size of the SIM card, the dimensions of the working chip do not change; this is not the difference between a nano SIM and a micro SIM. In fact, we are reducing the plastic field that surrounds it.
Many find it inconvenient to use a tiny nano card, because it is easy to lose, it is difficult to install, although it takes up little space under the cover.
Communication service providers sell ordinary SIM cards, but there are a couple of rows of markings in the plastic field. So you can extrude your format. The lines were cut according to the “matryoshka” type - sim standard, micro (first row of notches), nano (2nd row).
What should those who have an old large SIM card do, and after purchasing a new device it does not fit? The easiest option is to ask for help from your provider’s communication center. Many operators offer this service free of charge. If for some reason the office does not make such replacements, we can say that the SIM card is lost and you want to restore it. After the replacement procedure, you should be given a new “plastic” with your phone, but with notches for all sizes. If your number is registered to someone else or you don’t have your passport with you, you can try cutting the card to fit a nano.
Many repair services that deal with mobile devices can offer SIM card cutting. You shouldn’t immediately think that this service is meaningless; as practice shows, there are people who use unofficial sims, or their card was registered in a different name (the office refuses the user in such cases).
What do we have to do?
Depending on the experience of the service where you go for trimming to a nano SIM, the cost of the service usually varies. There are specialists who charge up to a thousand rubles for this special service. If you have the right tools, attentiveness, accuracy and ten minutes of free time, then you can do it yourself.
If you are not sure that everything will work out for you, or you do not do it carefully enough, contact a specialist. Otherwise, the sim may stop working.
For trimming you need sharp scissors, a pencil and a ruler. The steps are very simple:
- measure with a ruler, draw with a pencil on the SIM card the sides that will be eliminated (there is a convenient template for this).
The cut corner remains, otherwise the card will not fit correctly into the cell.
- We cut off the margins, you don’t need to cut right along the line. It is better to approach her carefully (this way your Sim will not break during the procedure);
- We install the card in the device to check its functionality.
Some users say that even if you cut off a lot (without touching the chip), the SIM card will remain working. You just need to move it in place. If you cut and installed everything correctly, the smartphone will recognize the card.
You can simply stick the chip on thick paper of the desired size.
From a technical point of view, this option can help if something goes wrong. It can be difficult to stick it straight on your own, so it’s better to turn to the experts.
Now you know everything about the nano SIM card, what it is and how to cut it. We hope this material will be useful to you, if you have any questions, ask in the comments.
Have you ever seen a picture where a person buys a new smartphone in a mobile phone store and is sincerely surprised that his old SIM card no longer fits the new phone? It is worth recognizing that now such situations are becoming less and less common, but just a couple of years ago different sizes of SIM cards for smartphones could cause confusion in every second new buyer.
Current trends are such that manufacturers are constantly striving to reduce the size of the cards used. They can be understood, because smartphones are becoming more compact and thinner every year, and allocating a lot of space inside the case for a plastic card is already too wasteful. In this article we will tell you what types of SIM cards there are, how you can change their size if necessary, and also draw some conclusions at the end. Happy reading.
Most likely, few of our readers remember the first standard SIM card. In terms of dimensions, this SIM card was equal to a modern credit card and was in circulation from approximately 1991 to 1996. Today, it is, of course, impossible to find a SIM card of this format; moreover, there are practically no mobile devices left that are produced under this standard. Since the release of the first replaceable formats, the sizes of SIM cards have been revised four times and always downward. Nevertheless, modern types of SIM cards differ from each other not only in size, but also in functionality, which we will discuss below. 
Mini SIM
The first card of this format appeared in 1996 as a result of the global trend towards reducing the size of mobile devices. It bears the word mini in its name for a reason, because its dimensions were reduced several times compared to the first cards, and it really seemed incredibly tiny back then. The card measured just 25x15x0.76mm and could easily fit even the smallest phones of the period. In the eyes of the modern consumer, it is these SIM cards that have acquired the status of standard ones, and today almost no one calls them mini-SIM cards.
The mini SIM format was actively used by manufacturers for a very long period and was relevant until 2012. However, the mini-SIM has not completely disappeared like its predecessor, but is still used in simple push-button phones or devices with increased protection from negative environmental factors.
Micro SIM
Micro SIM cards are a kind of evolution of the previous generation SIM cards. There were practically no functional changes, as well as changes in the chip size, but the plastic part of the card was greatly reduced, due to which the dimensions of the card were 15x12x0.76 millimeters. For the first time, cards of this format were used by Apple in its new iPhone 4. However, due to the fact that the reduced size card made it possible to greatly save space in the internal layout of the smartphone, this idea was very willingly and actively taken up by other mobile phone manufacturers. Today, micro SIM cards are the most popular and widespread.
Nano SIM
When micro SIMs first appeared on the market, it seemed that this format would last as long as the cards before it. However, the restless developers from Cupertino decided that even this size was too much. Therefore, for the next flagship iPhone 5, they used a completely new SIM card format and called it Nano. The Nano-SIM card is very easy to distinguish from the others, since it is actually just the chip itself without a plastic edging. More precisely, there is still a small amount of plastic on the sides of the chip, but it is so small that it is almost invisible. In addition to changing the dimensions, the cards of the new format have also become a little thinner, which is why the use of some older SIM cards in new smartphones has become problematic. The physical dimensions of the Nano SIM are 12x9x0.646 millimeters.
Unlike previous SIM card formats, Nano format cards have not yet gained such great popularity. However, with the release of new smartphone models, slots for the smallest cards are becoming more common. Thus, it is foolish to deny that the future lies with Nano SIM.
If you buy a new SIM card at a mobile phone store, then ask them to sell you a combined card. Cards of this format combine a standard-sized card and a microSIM. This way, you can easily switch from a regular card to a microformat if you buy a new smartphone.
Multi SIM
The sizes of phone SIM cards are not all that they can differ from each other. A striking example of this is a multi-SIM card, or, as it is also called, a “programmable” SIM card. The main difference between such cards is that they do not belong to any specific mobile operator, but can be configured to work with several numbers at once. 
In terms of dimensions, such cards are most often similar to standard-sized cards, that is, mini SIM, but smaller options can also be found. Working with multi SIM is very convenient, because it, in fact, replaces the need to have a two- or three-SIM phone or even several phones, since it can usually combine ten or more numbers at once. However, there is also a downside to the coin: to use such a card, you need to have a special programmer or every time you need to enter a new number, contact the services of specialists. In addition, such cards are not entirely within the legal framework, so if problems arise, not a single mobile operator will help you.
Thermosim card
As the name suggests, these SIM cards are designed to work in extreme environments. They are made from more technologically advanced and durable plastic, so they do not lose their functionality in conditions of extreme heat or cold, and also guarantee operation in conditions of high humidity or dust. Such cards are usually made in mini format. In fact, they should not be smaller, since the devices themselves for such conditions are created rather large. 
There is no practical sense in using such a card under normal conditions. Typically, such cards are needed by polar explorers, miners, oil workers or people in other professions whose work involves extreme cold, heat, vibration or similar working conditions.
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How to cut a SIM card
If you don’t buy yourself a new smartphone every year, then you probably could have encountered an unpleasant situation when your favorite SIM card suddenly did not fit your new phone. In such situations, consultants suggest either cutting the card or contacting your telecom operator for help. Usually there is nothing complicated about this, and we will talk about the details below. 
However, the opposite situation may arise when you need to insert an already cut SIM card into a larger slot. It would seem that the situation is hopeless, but there is no need to despair. Now you can find special adapters on sale that will help you place a small card in a slot for a different format. They are usually inexpensive and suitable for almost all types of SIM cards.
Contact your telecom operator
If your SIM card does not work, you can always contact your telecom operator and get a new one. This service is completely free for all operators. In addition, you receive a new, fresh card with the preservation of your number and all the funds that were linked to it. The only drawback of this method is that all your contacts and similar information will remain on the old card. Therefore, before you go to change your SIM card, make sure to transfer all the data from it to your phone or computer. 
Despite all the advantages of this method, it is not particularly popular. Most often, people go to the operator's salon only when they need to get the size of the map card, since it is difficult to obtain such a size using cutting.
Let's go to the workshop
The dimensions of a microSIM card from a miniSIM are quite easy to obtain, since they do not differ in the size of the chip, but only in the amount of plastic around it. Today, almost every smartphone store and mobile equipment repair shop has a special stapler for cutting SIM cards. This procedure is quick and quite simple. 
Most likely, you will be offered to cut the card immediately after purchase, as soon as a format discrepancy is discovered, or you can go to the nearest repair shop if you discover this problem already at home. The only disadvantage of this solution is that this procedure is still not free and in most cases they will charge you about 150 rubles. Plus, you must trust a stranger, because if you handle the stapler carelessly, the SIM card can be damaged.
Cutting the SIM card manually
If you are a confident person, then you can cut the SIM card manually using ordinary scissors. To do this, you just need to find a template, it could be another SIM card of a suitable size or a sample printed on a printer. Trimming a SIM card should be done as follows:
- Connect the cards so that their chips match each other exactly.
- Press the cards firmly with your fingers so that they do not move at all while working.
- Carefully trim the sides of the card, being careful not to cut more than necessary.
- Cut the card crosswise, being careful not to touch the chip;
- After all the steps, remove the corner and slightly round the edges - you're done.
Converting a standard size card to a micro is quite easy. There is no need to have special dexterity or skills. Most likely, you will be able to do it the first time. But getting the dimensions is much more difficult. Here, if you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to contact a specialist or change your card to a new one. 
Before cutting a SIM card manually, do not forget to backup the information from this card. There is always a risk of damaging the card chip during such an operation, but at least this way you won’t lose contact numbers that are important to you
Video instructions for cutting Micro or Nano SIM yourself
We told you what sizes of SIM cards existed and what sizes SIM cards come in today. All that remains is to consolidate your knowledge and watch the video instructions on how to cut a SIM card yourself.
conclusions
Progress does not stand still; constant evolution occurs even in those aspects of technology that are not very noticeable. It would seem that reducing the size of SIM cards does not greatly affect our ease of using a smartphone. However, this seemingly insignificant improvement allows developers to save space inside the phone body, which means offering us more advanced cameras, faster fingerprint scanners, and so on.
Nano SIM is the smallest card possible today, but it is not the pinnacle of technological progress. If rumors are to be believed, by 2021 major smartphone manufacturers may abandon physical cards altogether and completely switch to electronic eSIMs. We will still see whether this option will be better than the traditional one, but the fact that it will be much more convenient for new buyers is obvious now.
