No mobile device can operate on a carrier's network without a small chip, commonly referred to as a SIM card. It's a small chip surrounded by plastic. It contains all the necessary data for the network, and also allows you to save some user information - for example, a list of phone numbers.

The SIM card is an intermediate link between the subscriber and the telecom operator

There are several types of SIM cards that differ in size. And what newer standard, the smaller the map. AT latest models more and more miniature SIM cards are being used, so when buying a new phone, the issue of adapting a SIM card becomes relevant. In this article, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the standards of SIM cards, understand what is the difference between them and how to reduce them for use in a new device.

Varieties of SIM cards

There are three main formats: mini, micro and nano. What are they?

Mini-SIM

Standard card format. Used in most modern phones. In everyday life, the name without the prefix "mini" is popular. The dimensions of such a card are 25×15 mm. She does not need to be adapted, even if she is more than one year old. Just plug in and use.

Micro SIM

Compared to the previous type, micro-SIM has smaller dimensions - 15 × 12 millimeters. It was first used in the iPhone 4. Recently, this format has been increasingly supported. When buying a new phone, it is easy to cut off from a regular SIM card.

Nano SIM

The latest, smallest SIM card used in the latest iPhones and iPads, as well as flagship Android models. Nano-SIM looks like a chip with no plastic around. Card dimensions are small - 12×5 mm, so it is more difficult to adapt from larger formats.

How to change the SIM card size

There are several options for changing the size of a SIM card: order a new one from your operator, contact a telephone workshop, or cut a regular card yourself. In the latter case, there is a risk of damage to the card due to inexperience, and then the responsibility for its damage will fall on you.

We contact the telecom operator

The easiest and surest way. All you need to do is come to the communication salon with your phone and passport and order the SIM card replacement service. You will receive a new card in the correct format, with your telephone number, balance and connected services will be saved.

Recently, operators have been offering subscribers multi-format SIM cards that are suitable for all types of phones. The outer shell is a mini-SIM, from which you can either nano-SIM along the indicated dotted line. You do not risk anything and use communication services without any problems.

This service is completely free. In some cases, you need to pay a small amount, which will remain in your account. This option is offered by the Tele2 operator.

Let's go to the workshop

If for some reason you cannot contact the communication salon or do not want to wait until a new card is sent, then you can cut it off at any workshop. This will be done using a device similar to a stationery stapler, inside which a SIM card is inserted, and with one click the excess ends are cut off. This service is inexpensive, and in some workshops it is completely free.

Cut out by hand according to the template

If the previous two methods are not available to you, try to do everything yourself. To do this, you will need scissors, double-sided tape, a ruler, a pencil or a felt-tip pen, and the SIM card itself. You do not have to calculate anything, just use the template popular on the World Wide Web. Download it from the link and print it at 100% scale on an A4 sheet. It can be used to make micro and nano-SIM.

1. Using double-sided tape, carefully stick the SIM card on the marked place, making sure that it completely matches the picture. Do not press hard, otherwise you will not peel off later.
2. Draw long horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines with a pencil or felt-tip pen. The dimensions of the format you need will be marked on the SIM card.
3. Carefully cut off the excess plastic along the drawn lines.
4. With sandpaper or a file, carefully trim the cuts, round the edge, as indicated in the diagram.
5. Remove the tape and insert the SIM card into your phone.

The whole process will take a few minutes, so do not rush, so as not to cut off the excess. To facilitate your work on the same template there is a photo showing how to properly attach the SIM card. Don't be afraid, you will succeed.

Conclusion

Now you know how SIM card formats differ and how they can be adapted. Of course, - contact the communication salon. But if you don't want to wait too long, try trimming by hand using a template.

What SIM card format does your device support? How did you resize? Did you manage to do everything yourself? We are waiting for your answers in the comments.

Operators are currently cellular communication offer three types of SIM card: Mini, Micro and Nano. In fact, the user can choose any of the SIM cards, it does not matter for the telecom operator.

The question arises - what is the difference between these three SIM cards? In fact, nothing, except perhaps for its overall dimensions. Although there is one more important nuance: the contact plate and the exchange interface are identical for Mini and Micro, but for Nano the contact plate is somewhat different, since the thickness of the SIM card is 0.67 mm versus 0.76 mm for Mini and Micro.

Now it’s clear - how SIM cards look and their dimensions in millimeters.

Mini-SIM

Length: 25mm

Width: 15mm

Thickness: 0.76mm

Micro SIM

Length: 15mm

Width: 12mm

Thickness: 0.76mm

Nano SIM

Length: 12.3mm

Width: 8.8mm

Thickness: 0.67mm

Why is a large number of SIM card formats bad?

And the bad thing is that different smartphones support different SIM cards. True, the majority modern smartphones are designed for two SIM cards and support both Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM, however, if the device supports, say, only Mini-SIM, the card will have to be cut or exchanged with a mobile operator.

Another problem. Let's say you have a Nano SIM card. The smartphone is out of order. You want to move the SIM card to another phone, but it only supports Micro-SIM. What to do? In this case, only an adapter can help, but do you have one? Well, if there is, and if not?

However, there is a possibility that in the future telecom operators will switch to virtual SIM cards, that is, the use of physical SIM cards will not be required. But when this will happen and whether it will happen at all, no one knows.

In order to be able to make and receive calls from your smartphone or tablet, and use other services of cellular operators, you need a SIM card. In fact, each SIM card is a miniature microcircuit that contains all the information necessary for normal operation in a cellular network: subscriber identification number, etc.

Navigation

IMPORTANT: We can say that a SIM card is a communication interface of a subscriber with his mobile operator.

A few years ago there was one standard for Sim-cards. Today there are several. 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.

To date, there are three main SIM card standards used in cellular communications: Mini, Micro and Nano.

Mini-SIM

This is the oldest format to date is a Sim-card standard sizes. Their dimensions are equal 25×15mm. Such cards are used on most mobile phones. New smartphones practically do not support this size of the SIM card, but if necessary, using improvised means from the old SIM card, you can cut out a card of the required size.

Micro SIM

As the name of this standard implies, the Micro format differs from Mini primarily in size ( 15×12mm). For the first time, such a standard was used by Apple in its iPhone 4 smartphones. And the vast majority of new smartphones use this particular SIM card format.

If you bought a smartphone that works with a SIM card of this format, then do not rush to the mobile phone store of your operator. In most cases, you can cut 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 made a "revolution" by developing this standard for its new iPhone and iPad models. But, some device developers on operating system Android supported the company from Cupertino and also use Nano-Sim in their devices to save space and reduce the size of gadgets.

Nano-SIM dimensions 12×5mm. If you look at such a SIM card, you can see that this is a chip without the plastic that used to be used around it.

How to change the size of the SIM card?

The easiest way to change the size of the SIM card is by replacing it with your mobile operator. But, you can do it at home too. You also need to know that in services, salons selling Cell phones etc. You can order the card cut to the desired size.

We contact the telecom operator

If you don't want to mess around with the Sim card and cut it manually, then go to your carrier's office with your passport and order the SIM card replacement service. It is free and takes only 2-3 minutes. You will be given a card of the required size (or a multi-format card, from which you can “squeeze out” a card of the desired size yourself).

IMPORTANT: Your phone number, connected services and balance will remain the same as before the card was replaced.

Modern Sim-cards are multi-format. This means that by registering with the operator mobile communications, you will receive a card from which, without 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 with a dotted line. It is almost impossible to damage the chip when "squeezing" 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 contact any mobile phone salon (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" the Sim card along the dotted lines.

Cut out by hand according to the template

You can cut the SIM card with ordinary scissors. It is best to cut according to the template. If you do not have one, then such a template can be found on the Internet and printed 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 required, sand the edges with fine grit sandpaper after cutting.

IMPORTANT: When overlaying a template on a SIM card, make sure that the chip of your card and template are compatible. If this is not done, then the performance of the cropped card may suffer.

Insert into the device and use.

Instead of a conclusion

Hopefully this article will help you learn more about SIM card formats, as well as how to adapt your SIM card to the supported device size. If you are afraid to harm your card, then order its replacement or cutting to the desired size from professionals. If there is no time, then you can cut it yourself. The main thing is to do everything carefully and according to the pattern.

Video. How to make a Micro or Nano SIM card from a SIM card with your own hands

The SIM card is an important part of your smartphone responsible for mobile network. Your phone will not be able to work in the network area mobile operator. Representing a small chip surrounded by plastic, it allows you to identify a subscriber in the operator's network and, in addition, it also stores the user's phone numbers.

A SIM card is used by all mobile telecom operators to identify a subscriber. Thanks to this, any user can easily change their mobile devices leaving the previous number and services. It is enough to rearrange the sim card.

On the this moment after the presentation of the Iphone 5, it became known that new iphone does not fit a standard micro sim, but uses a smaller version of the nano sim. This presentation became the point of popularization of the new SIM card, and at the moment almost every smartphone uses this format.

Differences

The first and most important difference between nano-sim and micro-sim is the size.

SIM card size:

1. Micro-sim - 15 x 2.5 and thickness 0.81;
2. Nano-sim - 12.3 x 8.8 and thickness 0.67.

The difference is insignificant and contains excess plastic around the chip. Thus, the appearance of nano-sim is a pronounced desire of the manufacturer to reduce the weight and size of its smartphone. As you can see nano sim and micro sim are different.

Contacting the operator

Replacing the card at the operator is easy and without any problems, so if you do not want to risk cutting your card yourself, contact the operator. To do this, you will need, along with a passport and a phone, to visit a mobile operator's communication salon and ask for a replacement of your Sim-card. You will receive a new card in the format you need, your phone number, connected services and balance will remain the same.

The operators also made sure that you would not run to them every time to change the format of the sim card and offered multi-profile sim cards. They can be used in absolutely all phones. Their outer shell is a mini-sim, micro and nano-sim are easily squeezed out of it along the indicated dotted line. Without the risk of damage, you can safely use the services of your operator.

telephone workshop

If you do not have the opportunity to contact your operator or come to a communication salon, any telephone workshop will help you out. In the workshop there is a special device for sim cards resembling a stapler. Your SIM card is inserted inside this device, and excess plastic is cut off with one click. The service is inexpensive, and in some workshops it is completely free. This way is the easiest.

Cutting by hand

If the two previous methods are not available to you, you can cut the SIM card yourself. To do this, you will need a nano-sim template or a drawing showing how much to cut off the plastic edges around the chip.

It is easy to get a new SIM card, all operators have already adapted to providing nano-sim, and now everyone can get it quickly and for free. This SIM card will serve to reduce the weight of the smartphone and its compactness.

Nano SIM-card came into use in 2012 with the advent of the first iPhone 5S and iPad 4 mini with Retina tablets, without which the operation of these devices is impossible. Then it was not so easy to get it, and even now such a SIM costs money. Below we will look at ways to turn a regular phone into a nano SIM card using tools that many people have at home.

A standard SIM is not much different from a nano SIM. The chip itself, on which the information is stored, has not changed, which is most important. We will turn an ordinary SIM into a nano using the following tools:

• caliper (regular or digital) - a device for accurately measuring values, you will need to measure the difference between the cards and indicate the marks on which we will cut;
• if there is no caliper - a ruler, a sheet of paper and a pencil;
• sandpaper or a file - for grinding the edges of a cut SIM card in order to reduce the thickness of the original card;
• very sharp scissors.

SIM card sizes:

• nano SIM card: width - 12.3 mm, height - 8.8 mm, thickness - 0.67 mm;
• micro SIM-ki: width - 14.9 mm, height - 12.03 mm, thickness - 0.81 mm.

Comparing these values, it can be seen that the difference in parameters is small, and it is quite possible to eliminate it with scissors.

We take a caliper, set in turn the parameters of the nano SIM card on it: width and length. And we transfer it to a regular SIM, noticing the lines along which we will cut with a pencil, and also do not forget to measure and notice the cut.

If you do not have a caliper, then proceed as follows:

• take a sheet of paper, a ruler, a pencil;
• using a ruler as a measuring device, draw a nano SIM card template on paper;
• cut out this template;
• put on top of the micro SIM-card, carefully trace the outline of the template with a pencil.

Before cutting the main SIM card, it is recommended to practice on old micro SIM cards, as one careless move can cost you a hopelessly damaged SIM card. When cutting off excess edges, try to touch the chip and contacts as little as possible. Your goal is maximum precision in resizing the micro SIMs. If you are not sure that you can cut the card, then Chinese manufacturers have foreseen the need to adapt a micro SIM card to a nano SIM card and invented a special cutter to remove excess from a regular SIM card, this is how it looks.

Now the most difficult part remains: to eliminate the difference in the thickness of the SIM cards, which is equal to 0.16 mm. Before starting the nano SIM thinning procedure, we advise you to put on a medical mask, since the dust generated during grinding has a rather unpleasant odor and texture. We take sandpaper or a file and carefully, slowly, grind the card from the back of the contacts (where the picture is). If you have overdone the thinning of the micro SIM card, place a sheet of plain paper under the adapted nano SIM card.

Before resizing a micro SIM card, it is recommended to watch training videos on how to adapt a regular card to nano format. Also, before starting work, it must be borne in mind that a changeable micro SIM card, as well as all the information that is on it, can be lost forever.