Experienced communication store consultants still remember the time when customers were perplexed by the fact that there were SIMs of non-standard sizes. Nowadays, having several types of SIM cards is commonplace. Manufacturers are giving preference to increasingly smaller cards, because this saves space inside the device body. Standard-sized SIM cards, bulky by modern standards, are about to “sink into oblivion.”
In this article we will talk about all types of SIM and teach you how to turn a large card into a small one.
In terms of size, SIM cards are classified into 3 types:
Mini-SIM
Mini-SIM– this is the “scientific” name for a standard SIM card. Its dimensions are 25x15 millimeters.
If the phone was released before 2011 (inclusive), you can be sure that exactly what is inserted into it Mini-SIM. For modern smartphones, such a card is too large, but this does not mean at all that Mini-SIM– anachronism. Standard SIM cards are used in simple dialers, in phones with large buttons for the elderly, in secure phones for fishing enthusiasts and factory workers. The listed devices cannot boast of an abundance of functions, so there is plenty of space inside their cases - in some models, manufacturers even allow you to install 3-4 Mini-SIM.
Micro-SIM
First card Micro-SIM began to use Apple company– in iPhone 4 devices. Dimensions Micro-SIM– 15x12 millimeters.
Nowadays, the vast majority of smartphones are installed with Micro-SIM. The “baton” was taken over from Apple by Nokia, which equipped its Lumia devices with slots for Micro, followed by HTC, Samsung, and BlackBerry.
Nano-SIM
Nano-SIM– the newest and smallest card for the phone. Its dimensions are only 12x5 millimeters. Visually, the card is a chip with a minimum of plastic edging.
Apple is again the innovator. Exactly Nano-SIM users had to insert the 5th modification into the iPhone. Later, other well-known manufacturers began to produce devices with Nano-SIM slots - for example, Samsung And Meizu.
The following illustration will help you understand the differences between the three types of SIM cards:
How to change the SIM card size for your phone?
The most obvious way to change the SIM card size is replace it in the operator's cabin. This procedure is completely free, takes only a couple of minutes, and the phone number does not change subsequently. However, this method still has a number of disadvantages:
- The new SIM card will not contain the numbers stored in the memory of the old one. Of course, a similar problem easy to solve: in the article “How to transfer contacts from iPhone to computer” we talk about several export methods at once telephone numbers. But, alas, many users consider their time too valuable to spend it on mastering third party software and methods for creating backup copies.
- You have the right to replace your SIM card in the office only its designer and only according to the passport. If the card was given to the user, for example, by his parents, he himself will not be able to replace it. Sometimes this becomes a real problem.
If a consultant changes a SIM card to a person who is not its issuer, this is fraud! For such an operation, the consultant will, at a minimum, be deprived of his bonus, and at maximum, he will be fired in disgrace. Therefore, demanding to “make an exception” is meaningless; no one wants to find themselves unemployed with unflattering wording in their work book.
There are several ways to change the dimensions of a SIM card without resorting to replacement. For example, a user can purchase adapter(aka - adapter). The adapters look like this:
It’s better to order adapters for SIM on Chinese websites - there they cost a mere trifle. For example, a set of adapters from Noosy along with a needle for iPhone will cost only 17 rubles. When purchasing in a salon, the user may be charged up to 250 rubles - the difference is more than noticeable!
The set usually includes adapters of 3 types: Nano-SIM to SIM, Micro-SIM to SIM And Nano-SIM to Micro-SIM. Since SIM cards of reduced sizes continue to be associated with Apple, manufacturers do not forget to include needles in the kits to remove the SIM card slot. Adapters are easy to use: a small SIM card is inserted into a suitable adapter, then the adapter itself with the card inside is placed in the slot of the mobile device.
Adapters help when you need to increase the size of a SIM card, but what should the user do if, on the contrary, the card needs to be reduced? The owner of the gadget should think about the fact that such a need may arise even at the stage of purchasing a SIM card - and insist on issuing him a so-called Combi-SIM. Combi-SIM is a standard-sized card from which you can make a micro-SIM card in a split second.
Inside a SIM card, standard in size, Micro-Sim is already cut along the contour, so it is easy for the user to press with a finger and break off a piece of plastic.
There is no need to rush to throw away the frame– she is still capable of doing a good service. If you need to reinsert the card into the slot under Mini-SIM the frame can be used as an adapter.
Usage Combi-SIM- one of the ways to change the size of the SIM card downwards. Cards Combi are provided to users mobile communications for free- of course, if they are available in the operator’s office.
If the user already owns a standard SIM card and wants to turn it into Micro, without losing contacts, he has no other choice but to cut the SIM card. Pruning is usually carried out using a special device called stapler for Sim(aka - Sim cutter, it’s the same - Sim-Cutter).
Make from a standard card Micro-SIM If you have such a stapler, it’s a second procedure. However, expect that the sales office or workshop will carry out this procedure for free, not worth it. The salon employees will demand 149 rubles for trimming and will even knock out a check for providing a paid service. Repair shops will also ask for money, or even send the user to deal with the operator.
Cutting a SIM card is associated with some risk - if the person performing the procedure is in a hurry or is inattentive, he will damage the chip and, as a result, the SIM card will not function. Hence the high cost of pruning services - no one wants to take risks “for nothing.”
How to cut a SIM card with your own hands?
Not all cellular communication stores have SIM staplers - some consultants continue to cut cards with their own hands and with ordinary scissors. The reader may be surprised to learn that no one trains consultants to do this. They hone this skill on their own, and many are able to successfully cut a SIM card right the first time.
No wonder - in fact, the procedure is extremely primitive! Usually the main difficulty is finding a template. Consultants, as a rule, have their whole table littered with SIM cards of various sizes that work and have served their useful life - they use them as samples. The average user can only dream of such abundance - however, if he still managed to borrow a SIM card of the required size to serve as a template, he can safely try trimming with his own hands. If not, he should resort to using a printer and a template print(here is the relevant link).
To cut a SIM card, you don’t need felt-tip pens, rulers or pencils - if you follow these instructions:
- Take the large SIM in your hand with the chip facing up.
- Place the sample card on top so that it completely covers the chip, press it tightly with your thumb and do not let go. If desired, the template can be attached to a large SIM using double-sided tape, but experts do not recommend doing this - you can damage the chip.
- Carefully trim the sides of the plastic. Try not to have too much, otherwise the SIM card in the slot will “dangle” and the signal will be lost.
- Cut the card according to the template across. Here you can act less scrupulously; The main thing is not to touch the chip.
- Remove the corner and slightly round the edges - otherwise the SIM card will not fit into the slot.
Next, put the template aside and try to install the cut card into the phone to check its functionality. If the SIM card does not fit into the slot, carefully trim the plastic and try again. If the card slot is just the right size and can be read by the phone, rejoice - you just cut a SIM card with your own hands!
note that not just any card can be “cut” to the desired size. Easiest to redo Mini-SIM V Micro SIM – Such pruning should not cause any difficulties for the user at all. Trim under Nano-SIM always more difficult; plastic around the chip on the card Nano almost none, so the risk of snagging the chip with the blades of the scissors is quite high.
There are still old-style SIM cards in use - with large chips:
Cutting such SIMs is a real nightmare! With some luck, you can make a card like this Micro-SIM, but turn it into Nano It definitely won't work.
Conclusion
The fact that smartphone manufacturers have begun to produce gadgets that support SIM cards different types, salon sellers have become quite rich. Of course, not all paid services pass through the cash register - in many cases, the money for trimming is sent to the consultants' pockets. Cutting SIM cards for sellers is a “bread and butter” business, which means free there is nothing to count on for help from consultants.
Therefore, a user who does not want to “feed” salon employees is better off mastering pruning skills himself. This procedure is quite simple and does not require “surgical precision”.
Each mobile device works with the network through a special card with a chip, which is popularly called “Simka”. The chipset contains information that is used to communicate with the operator and provide services, storing a small amount of data. Now they produce several SIM formats, which differ in size.
What is a nano SIM card
Each owner bought a package from MTS, Megafon or TELE2 to use communication services. All owners were the first to become familiar with what a nano SIM card means. iPhone models older than 4th. The new smartphone used a completely different card format, which was called NanoSim. The innovation was due to the fact that the iPhone had become 20% thinner and the manufacturer was looking for ways to reduce the content. The standard connector was replaced with a narrower one, and nanoSIMs began to be used instead of MicroSIM.
Residents of Moscow and other Russian cities were not ready, operators did not have time to issue new types of cards, so many needed to cut their SIM cards for a nano SIM. Old cards simply did not fit into SIM card slots (even MiniSIM and microSIM cards). All other smartphone manufacturers followed the giant's example and copied the new format to also reduce the thickness of the device.
Micro SIM and nano SIM - the difference
The most important difference between a nano SIM and a micro SIM is the size and thickness. The chip also works well, there are no innovations in communication or data transmission technology, just smaller parameters made it possible to make the iPhone even thinner. Problems arose only for users who decided to switch to new smartphone from Apple, and from operators, because the main complaints regarding the size of the SIM card were addressed to Beeline, MTS and Megafon. However, this complexity did not stop people for long, because the difference in parameters is small, for example, a micro-SIM is 12x15 mm, and a nano-SIM is 9x12 mm.
How to cut a SIM card for a nano SIM
Those who had just purchased a brand new iPhone really didn’t want to wait and a pressing question arose: how to cut a micro SIM card for a nano SIM? The chip size of the SIM cards is the same, and the main problem was the amount of plastic around the edges. To reduce to nano format, you can do the following:
- perform circumcision yourself;
- take it to a workshop where the necessary tools are available;
- send it to a mobile phone store and request a replacement card.
How to make a nano sim from a micro sim
If you don’t want to travel or go anywhere, you can try to reduce the size of the SIM card yourself. There is a proven way to cut a micro SIM card under a nano SIM if you have a printer, scissors and double-sided adhesive paper. It should be remembered that during trimming there is a possibility of getting a non-working SIM card from a working SIM card. You perform all actions at your own peril and risk. You will need:
- double-sided tape (you can use glue, but this option is worse;
- micro or standard SIM card;
- printer and paper;
- ruler;
- pencil;
- scissors (or nail clippers);
- sandpaper.
The rules for pruning will not differ depending on the gadget, for an Apple phone or tablet. In order not to cut off extra millimeters and not damage the circuit, you will need a nano format SIM card template, which can be easily downloaded. Next you need to do the following.
- Print the downloaded template; there is no need to change the scale or location of the drawing. You don't need color printing, regular black and white will suffice. It is important that the drawing is simply clear.
- Using scissors, cut the template to the size that fits your card. Inside the picture, the parameters for the nano-SIM card will be indicated.
- Glue it with tape/glue to the side of the SIM card on which the operator’s logo is written (the chip should not be exposed to any impact). Focus on the cut corner of the drawing, which will prevent you from making a mistake with the correct sides.
- Wait for the glue to dry (not required in the case of tape), and carefully cut off the excess plastic along the lines of the template. If the scissors are not sharp enough, use nail clippers.
- Remove the glued paper from the SIM card.
Don’t worry that the cut lines will run in close proximity to the chip; this will not affect the performance of the micro-SIM in any way unless you deliberately touch it. Use sandpaper to round the edges and sand down any rough edges on the plastic. If the card is difficult to fit on one side, sharpen it a little more with sandpaper.
How to make a nano sim from a regular one
The exact same method that was described above is suitable if you have a question about how to regular SIM card make a nano sim. Please note that older card models have a larger chip, so you will have to remove almost all the plastic around the circuit. Residues should be removed carefully with sandpaper or a nail file. Another subtlety of old SIM card models is thickness. New format has become not only small, but also thin, so in addition to the four sides, you will have to sharpen the back side, where you have Megafon or MTS written on it.
Another option is to buy a special device from an online store that cuts the card to the required size. Outwardly, it looks like a stapler; a regular SIM is placed inside, the handles are carefully pressed, and all excess is cut off in one click. The tool can cut Micro or Nano format. Exactly the same devices are used in the communications and mobile departments. The tool is inexpensive, but there is no point in buying it just to reduce 1 card.
Adapter for nano SIM card
This standard size is used only in new smartphones and gadgets from Apple. If at some point you took the phone more old model, then you will need an adapter for a nano SIM card. This is a special adapter in which the card is placed and it is tightly fixed in it, enlarging it. The cost of such an adapter is very low. Then you simply insert the adapter into your phone and use it.
Where to change a regular SIM card to a nano one
If you don’t risk cutting your standard SIM, it’s better to exchange it for free for a new option from your operator. This is the only sure way to get a nano SIM with your number. Operators offer you to change to another card. All you need to do is come to the post office and take with you:
- passport;
- contract;
- old map.
Where to cut a SIM card
If you decide that you don’t want to do anything yourself to avoid damage, then there are two options for cutting the SIM card. You can come to a communication store, they will offer you either to completely replace the plastic, get a new SIM, which has several layers and can be squeezed out of the shell to the required format. Or the employee will use the “stapler” described above. The second option is to go to your nearest phone repair shop. Each of these departments also has a stapler; for a nominal price (and in some places even free) they will cut off the excess plastic for you.
Nano SIM card price
If you contact a mobile phone store, the exchange will be carried out absolutely free of charge. Now this takes just a few minutes. And within a day, your old plastic will stop functioning completely. If you contacted a workshop or store household appliances, then you should know how much it costs to cut a SIM card. As a rule, the cost of the service ranges in large cities from 100 to 300 rubles. The price may be lower, and some kind craftsmen do it for free.
Video: how to cut a SIM card for nano
Mobile device users often wonder how to make a micro-SIM from a SIM card. If you opened the SIM slot on new iPhone, then you should have noticed that this connector is significantly smaller than the standard one. These tiny cards are known as Micro-SIMs. The new format is rapidly gaining popularity, but many mobile operators and mobile device manufacturers still use regular-sized SIM cards.
Some data plans associated with regular SIMs are still very good value. It is not possible to insert a regular SIM card into the reduced slot, but a solution has already been provided for this problem. You can manually shrink a standard card, which will turn it into a microSIM.
Preparing for work
If you are interested in how to make a micro SIM card from a regular SIM card, then you need to keep in mind that this process is quite tedious and can take more than 10 minutes. In case you do not want to remake the map manually, you can buy special set called Micro SIM Cutter & Converter, consisting of 2 special devices that make it easy to reduce the card to the desired format. You can order such a device from an online store (for example, Amazon).
If you still decide to remake the card manually, you may need the following tools:
- sharp scissors to cut the SIM card;
- sharp knife for marking cutting boundaries;
- a nail file to sand the edges of the card;
- finished microsim as a sample;
- a ruler, which may be needed if you do not have a micro SIM card for the sample.
If a user wants to learn how to make a micro SIM card from a regular SIM card, then he does not have to use a full set of tools, since in many cases he can only get by with scissors and a nail file. In some cases, a ruler and pencil may be needed, but keep in mind that the components of different SIM cards may vary in size. The only thing that is the same on all SIM cards is the location of the metal contacts. It is recommended to use a ready-made Micro-SIM card as a sample, since it can be quite difficult to take accurate measurements.
Conversion process
Cut the edges of the SIM card so that its size matches the new standard. If you have a cut sample, the process will look like this:
- Cut out the excess plastic on the SIM card so that its dimensions are comparable to the Micro-SIM. When doing this, you need to be careful not to damage the metal area. On some older maps the edge of this area may have to be trimmed, but the scissors should not be allowed to extend beyond the first black line.
- The 3 contact points on the tip of the SIM card are the most important elements. On the converted SIM card they should be in the same position as on the factory Micro-SIM.
- Using a nail file, you need to sand the edges so that the card can be easily inserted into the Micro-SIM slot. It is important not to overdo it, since the card should fit tightly in the slot, and not loosely.
- Now you can insert the modified SIM card into iPhone 4, 4S or any other compatible phone model.
Within 30 seconds, you will know if the conversion worked because your mobile device will immediately begin searching for the network and attempting to connect to it. Regardless of what phone model you use, the card should be activated. In the future, phone manufacturers and mobile operators will completely abandon regular SIM cards, so sooner or later you will still need to switch to the new standard.
The first thing that can be advised to a person who is faced with the need to switch from a standard SIM card to a MicroSIM: contact your cellular operator. Majority mobile operators, carry out free replacement regular SIM cards to Micro-Sim. This is the safest and reliable way. This way you absolutely do not risk being left without a SIM card.
The second thing we can recommend is purchasing a special gadget designed to “cut” regular SIM cards to Micro SIM sizes. Such devices have the most different kind and cost. You can buy a similar device for between $4 and $15.
Well, what to do if in your hands new phone(for example, iPhone 4 or Samsung Galaxy S3), which only supports Micro SIM, and there is no way to go to the cellular operator to replace the card. And there’s little desire to spend extra money on a special “cutter” device. Only one thing comes to mind: Shouldn’t we cut the SIM card ourselves?
So let's see how they differ, and whether it is possible in principle to convert a regular SIM card into a MicroSIM on your own. Regular SIM cards, or more precisely mini-SIM, have long been used in GSM networks around the world, and have dimensions of 25x15x0.76 mm. A couple of years ago, with the advent of the iPhone 4, a new standard appeared - Micro-SIM. The dimensions of micro SIM cards are 15x12x0.76 mm. In fact, Micro-Sim is a regular SIM card, with the same size contact pad, but reduced dimensions of the plastic case.
How to make a micro-SIM yourself from a regular SIM card
Warning: during this procedure, your SIM card may fail, so all actions must be performed in the correct sequence and be very careful. It's better to start by practicing on old ones. SIM cards, and only then go into battle.
1) Using a ruler and a thin marker, apply markings to a regular SIM card
2) We take a stationery knife and bait the marked
Their development began back in 1998, and the final version was approved only in 2003. Initially, they were intended for smaller electronic devices, but soon specialists, in pursuit of reducing dimensions, found their use in ordinary mobile phones.
The standard SIM card we are used to has a format of 25 by 15 by 0.76 millimeters. New option(Micro-SIM) is almost half the size - 15 by 12 by 0.76 millimeters, and the dimensions of the nano-SIM are quite impressive: with the same thickness, its length is 12.3, width - 8.8 millimeters. But, in fact, the chip format itself has not actually changed, the developers have simply removed the excess plastic around it.
Today Micro-SIMs are used in operating systems iPhone 4/4S and iPad in NTS smartphones and tablets, in some models, and Nano-SIM in tablets with iPhone 5 and iPad mini.
It should be noted here that Micro-SIM, compared to conventional SIM cards, significantly expands the capabilities electronic device. So, for example, she is able to:
Support access to the map by several applications simultaneously, as a result of which you can transmit streaming data via two or more channels at once;
- prevent hacker attacks on a mobile device, since the cells and the card are mutually authenticated;
- save the extended phone book;
- perform additional security functions, since with its use it is possible to create a multi-level PIN code with a universal code, as well as a local code or codes for individual applications.
To use such a card, you will also need a new phone. But purchasing it is only half the battle, because the subscriber sometimes does not want to change his tariff plan, that is, does not want to lose certain benefits, favorable conditions from the mobile operator. It turns out that there is a way out: it’s quite possible to make a Micro-SIM from a standard SIM card. There are two ways to complete this task. Let's look at them in more detail.
How to make a Micro-SIM with your own hands?
Method one: replacing the card with the operator
Today, without any problems, it is possible to order the service of replacing a regular SIM card with a Micro-SIM at the office of your mobile operator. Sometimes an office employee can offer an additional service in the form of a “SIM pair” kit, which, in addition to the coveted “micro” card, will also include a standard card. It is noteworthy that the second SIM card can also be activated, that is, if necessary, it can be inserted into slightly outdated phone models.
However, there are some obstacles here. The main one is that today not all operators are ready to provide such services. If, say, in the customer service centers of the telecom operator MegaFon, a standard card is replaced with a Micro-SIM absolutely free of charge, then in other offices you can easily encounter a refusal. And, secondly, such a replacement entails certain financial costs, because sometimes it is necessary to purchase the corresponding phone model with the card.
Method two: cutting a standard card to Micro-SIM format
The whole operation looks quite simple: regular card cut to Micro-SIM sizes. True, for this purpose you should purchase a special tool, the cost of which starts at approximately eight dollars. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary stapler into which the familiar Mini-SIM is inserted. One click – and the required, strictly consistent format is obtained.
On the other hand, there is practically no point in purchasing a tool that will obviously be used only once. Therefore, many users with such a problem immediately contact service centers. Usually there it is possible not only to perform high-quality pruning, but also to receive an adapter as a kind of bonus, that is, the remainder of old map. It may still come in handy: it’s easy to insert an already manufactured Micro-SIM into it, and, if necessary, use this set in old-style phones. By the way, such adapters service centers They are also sold separately - at a price of approximately 100 rubles per set, which includes two pieces.
It’s possible to cut a standard SIM card yourself, at home. To do this, you need to “arm yourself” with a well-sharpened knife or sharp scissors, a pencil, a ruler and a template in the required format. Dimensions are not difficult to find in computer network(they are also mentioned in this article).