With the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the iPhone is now on it’s eighth generation, and a myriad of different models for each generation, it’s becoming more difficult to identify which phone is which. Here we will discuss how to figure out what generation and model iPhone you have.
Depending on how you count, the iPhone 6 could be the fifth, sixth, eighth, or ninth iPhone that Apple has release. Each new generation has different attributes and improvements, but not every one also came with a new design. Apple seems to be in the habit of releasing an iPhone with a new design every other generation, while the in-between years mostly see improvements made on the internals of the phone.
Despite all the changes, every iPhone has information that, unless there is significant damage to it, you can use to determine what iPhone you have, even if the device is dead. On the back toward the bottom, you will find three different numbers: the FCC ID number, the IC number (IC is short for Industry Canada), and the Model number, which always starts with the letter A, and four digits. Not all iPhones have these numbers in the same order, but they are always labeled.
Below, we will list and describe each iPhone in reverse chronological order, so that you can find out which iPhone you have.
iPhone 6
Model Numbers:
A1549 (GSM)
A1586 (Global/Sprint)
A1589 (China Mobile)
Differentiating physical features: larger 4.7″ display with curved glass edges, rounded body, power button on left side of case, slightly protruding camera lens on back. Volume buttons elongated pill shape. Available in gold with white glass, Space gray with black glass, and silver with white glass.
iPhone 6 Plus
Model Numbers:
A1522 (GSM/CDMA)
A1524 (Global/Sprint)
A1593 (China mobile)
Differentiating physical features: larger 5.5″ display with curved glass edges, rounded body, power button on left side of case, slightly protruding camera lens on back. Volume buttons elongated pill shape. Available in gold with white glass, Space gray with black glass, and silver with white glass.
iPhone 5S
Model Numbers:
A1433 (GSM/CDMA)
A1553 (CDMA US/Japan)
A1457 (Europe)
A1518 (China Mobile)
A1528 (China Unicom)
A1530 (Asia Pacific)
Differentiating physical features: TouchID sensor home button without square symbol. Available in gold with white glass, Space gray with black glass, and silver with white glass.
iPhone 5C
Model Numbers:
A1456 (CDMA)
A1507 (Europe)
A1516 (China Mobile)
A1526 (China Unicom)
A1529 (Asia Pacific)
A1532 (China Telecom)
Differentiating physical features: Rounded plastic back shell. Available in white, pink, yellow, blue, and green.
iPhone 5
Model Numbers:
A1428 (GSM)
A1429 (CDMA)
A1442 (China CDMA)
Differentiating physical features: Taller 4″ display, full metal back shell, recessed front glass. Lightning cable connector. Headphone port located on bottom. Available in Slate gray with black glass, and silver with white glass.
iPhone 4S
Model Number:
A1387 (GSM/CDMA)
A1431 (China GSM)
Differentiating physical features: same as iPhone 4; Protruding glass front screen and back shell, metal band around sides. Available in black and white.
iPhone 4
Model Numbers:
A1332 (GSM)
A1349 (CDMA)
Protruding glass front screen and back shell, metal band around sides. Volume separated into individual buttons. Front-facing camera behind display glass. Available in black and white.
iPhone 3GS
Model Numbers:
A1303 (GSM)
A1325 (China GSM)
Differentiating physical features: same as iPhone 3G; Rounded plastic back shell in black and white.
iPhone 3G
Model Numbers:
A1241 (GSM)
A1342 (China GSM)
Differentiating physical features: Rounded plastic back shell in black.
iPhone
Model Number:
A1203 (GSM)
Flat metal back shell with rounded edges, black plastic cap on the back bottom. Home button below screen. Headphone port and power button on top edge. Volume rocker on left edge. 30-pin connector on bottom edge.
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