Types of SIM cards and sizes explained

Signing up to a new SIM only phone plan has never been easier, and there are some amazing deals out there. Unlike a lot of other services where costs keep going up and up, with phone plans the value generally gets better and better every year. However, there are still some confusing points about buying a new phone plan, including knowing which type of SIM card you need, and the varying SIM card sizes. In this Canstar Blue review, we’ll look at the different types of SIM cards and explain which type you will need.

SIM card sizes

The rise of the modern smartphone has seen three different SIM card sizes emerge, each of which only fits certain models of phones. There are undoubtedly many Aussie consumers who have eagerly opened up their new SIM and tried to slot it into their phone… only to discover that it didn’t fit. So how can you avoid a future day of SIM card frustration? What are the different types of SIM cards out there, and how do they work?

The three different sizes of SIM cards in use are:

• Mini (also known as standard)
• Micro
• Nano

Standard SIM Cards

Standard SIM cards are the biggest SIM you’ll see these days, and are mostly used in larger devices which are concerned more with ease of use than saving space. They’re found in budget mobile phones and other devices with thicker profiles. The Standard SIM card has been around since the late 1990s, and measures 25mm x 15mm – about the size of your top thumb joint.

Micro SIM Cards

Micro SIM cards are probably the second-most common SIM card size in use today, and were introduced in 2003. Roughly half the size of a Standard SIM at 15mm x 12mm (but using the same-sized circuit), Micro SIMs are used in many Android mobile phones – particularly those from Samsung. In recent years, micro SIM cards have also started to be phased out in favour of Nano SIMs.

Nano SIM Cards

A size which originated with the iPhone 5’s tiny SIM card slot, the Nano SIM size is fast becoming the standard size for new smartphones. The Nano SIM is almost all circuit with hardly any plastic bezel, measuring just 12.3mm x 8.9mm, and making it ideal for saving space as modern phones grow ever thinner.

SIM Card Sizes Compared

What’s the difference between SIM card sizes?

Apart from the physical size of the SIM cards, there isn’t any difference Mini, Micro and Nano SIM cards. Each are capable of doing the same job, but are simply different sizes to fit into compact phone models.

What size SIM card do I need?

The SIM card you will need depends entirely on your mobile phone. You can find out the size of your phone’s SIM card in several ways, including:

• Checking your phone’s user manual.
• Going to the manufacturer’s website and checking the tech specs of your phone.
• Pull out the SIM card holder and measure it.
• Compare it to your existing SIM card.

Fortunately, just about all mobile service providers understand your predicament and will send you a 3-in-1 SIM card when you subscribe. The Micro and Nano SIM sizes are contained within the Standard SIM, and all you need to do is pop out the one you’d like to use (i.e. the one that fits), and is otherwise known as a ‘combi SIM’. And, in some cases, you won’t even need to worry about equipping a SIM card at all, with some phones coming with a preinstalled eSIM, although it’s only available on select models.

And if you’re looking for a new SIM card, check out our guide on where to buy SIM cards, or how to active a SIM card once you’ve purchased it to help you get your phone up and running.

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Original Author: Sam Bloom