If you are not too set in the Apple world to know how to differentiate between your iPhone at a glance, do not worry. In this post we will teach you how to identify the exact model, either physically or through other methods. Very useful if you have found an iPhone out there or they have given it to you second-hand and you do not know exactly what it is.
How are the iPhone physically
There are some generations of iPhone very similar to each other and despite the fact that they may share great differences in terms of benefits or internal components, in this article we will show you the necessary keys to finish distinguishing them.
Original iPhone (2G)
If you have an original iPhone, the one released in 2007, you have a real treasure at the collecting level. You can differentiate this phone for being the only one with a combination of materials and colors as in the previous photograph. The black and gray colors are protagonists of the body of this device.
iPhone 3G and 3GS
If your phone has a curved design in plastic materials and a single color on its body, there is no doubt that you are dealing with an iPhone 3G or 3GS. If it is also white there is no doubt that it is the 3GS, but if it is black it could be any of them. Unfortunately it will be difficult to verify, so you will have to go to an authorized technical support to verify it. These terminals really have few differences at the hardware level and visually it is impossible to distinguish them.
iPhone 4 and 4s
The iPhone 4 and 4s are, as you see in the image, single-body devices that mix glass at the back and front with aluminum on the edges. It can be black or white, if it is any other color it is ruled out that it is one of them. However, the physical differences between them are almost non-existent, except for one small detail. If you look at the phone in profile you will find that the 4s model has two lines of antennas, while the 4 only has one. It is also visible at the top. To see it more clearly, look at the following image.
iPhone 5, 5s, 5c and SE (2016)
Let’s be practical and accurate, if your device is made of a full plastic body and only one color as seen in the image, it is an iPhone 5c . This equipment can be white, pink, yellow, blue or green .
Now, to differentiate an iPhone 5 from an iPhone 5s you will have to check the front of these, specifically the Home button. If this has the classic button with a kind of square drawn in the center, it will be 5, while if it is uniform and with Touch ID it will be 5s. If your phone has a body like 5S, check the back, because it could incorporate an impression in which “SE” read, in which case before this terminal would be launched by Apple in 2016.
iPhone 6/6 Plus and 6s / 6s Plus
As you will see in the images, the iPhone 6 and 6s (including their ‘Plus’ versions) are identical in terms of design. The normal models have dimensions of 13.81 x 6.7 x 0.69 centimeters in relation to height, width and thickness. The dimensions of the ‘Plus’ models are 15.81 x 7.78 x 0.71 centimeters . Once the size is differentiated, you can find out if it is a 6 or 6s version by looking at the back, since in the ‘s’ models it appears precisely that letter printed in a box. If this print does not appear it will be an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus.
These devices are also differentiated by colors, since the 6 models come in silver, space gray or gold, while the 6s version incorporates a rose gold color , which can be decisive in verifying which generation of smartphone you have.
iPhone 7/7 Plus, 8/8 Plus and SE (2020)
Again we find two different generations of iPhone but a similar design between them. Small versions of a single camera with dimensions of 13.83 cm x 6.7 x 0.71 cm in terms of width, height and thickness. While the ‘Plus’ models differ by having a double camera and dimensions of 15.82 cm x 7.78 x 0.73 centimeters.
Once identified the size, which will tell you if it is ‘Plus’ or not, it’s time to find out if it is a 7 or 8. To do this, all you have to do is look at the construction material. If it is aluminum it will be an iPhone 7/7 Plus and if it is glass it will be an 8/8 Plus. You can also try putting them on a charging base and in case it charges it will be an 8, since it is the only one of both generations with wireless charging capacity.
There is an exception in terms of materials that perhaps may raise doubts, and we refer to the iPhone 7 jet black , also known as glossy black. This one gives the feeling of being glass like the black iPhone 8, but it really has a much darker tint that will serve to differentiate it.
To identify the iPhone SE 2020, just look at the position of the apple on the back. If the logo is in the center of the terminal, there is no doubt, this is this device.
iPhone X, XS and XS Max
Let’s start with the measurements, the iPhone X and XS have dimensions of 14.3 x 7.1 x 0.7 centimeters high, wide and thick. If your phone measures more, it is an XS Max, but if it measures that you will have to differentiate whether it is a generation or another. To do this, just look at the bottom of the device, right where a speaker and microphone are placed . If the device has only four holes on one side it will be an XS and if it has the same holes on both sides it will be an iPhone X.
iPhone XR
Does the iPhone have a ‘notch’ and a single camera ? There is no doubt, it is an iPhone XR. This is the only iPhone model with a wide color gamut, a single camera and updated front design to a panel with hardly any frames and the characteristic eyebrow that Apple teams wear. It should be noted that the colors in which this iPhone XR is are white, black, blue, coral, yellow and red.
iPhone 11
There is no better way to detect an iPhone 11 than by viewing a photo of yourself. Despite the fact that this device has a double camera like other iPhone, it is the only one so far that has both separate lenses and inside a square package like the one shown in the image. This terminal can be available in white, black, red, yellow, purple or green.
iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max
Clear and simple, if your iPhone has three cameras on the back it is an iPhone 11 Pro. Now it will be time to know if it is the Pro or Pro Max version. For this you will only have to have a ruler, meter or any other measuring tool at hand. If the phone measures 15.8 x 7.78 x 0.8 centimeters high, wide and thick, you will be in front of the ‘Max’ model. If, on the other hand, its measurements are 14.4 x 7.14 x 0.8 centimeters, you will be in front of the small ‘Pro’ model.
From the settings of the iPhone itself
If seeing the above images and descriptions is not enough to identify the iPhone, there is a quick and concise way to find out what device you have. To do this you must follow the route Settings> General> Information. Here the exact name of the phone model will appear, along with other very useful information such as the software version installed, the serial number or the songs, photos and installed applications.
Of course, do not confuse the section “Model name” with “Name”, since this section refers to the custom name given to the device. Normally this is usually “iPhone of (name)”, although if you click on it you can change it for any other you want.
If you don’t have your iPhone at hand
In the original box
If for whatever reason, you cannot access the iPhone, you can find out what the exact model is by accessing the original box it came in when it was purchased. On the latest devices, regardless of model, “iPhone” screenprints appear on the boxes with no other apparent information. However, it is possible to find more data on the back of it.
If you look at the back, you will see that there is a sticker that shows data with information that can be very useful for users. In addition to the name, you can also see the storage capacity it has, as well as the serial number, IMEI, legal markings and content that was originally included in the box next to the device.
From an iPad, iPod touch, or other iPhone
If you have an iPad, iPod touch or another iPhone at your disposal, they can also be used to identify the iPhone model you want to know. Having logged in with the same Apple ID as in said iPhone will be strictly necessary in order to follow these steps. If so, all you have to do is go to Settings> your name on that device and locate the iPhone in the device list. Above will appear the name assigned to the terminator and below, in a lighter color, the model in question.
From a Mac or Windows PC
In the same way that an iPad, iPod or other iPhone can be keys in identifying an iPhone, so can Mac or Windows computers. If you have a Mac, you must be logged in with the same Apple ID and access their settings from System Preferences. Once you are in that section you will find the iPhone in the list of devices.
If you are going to use a Windows PC or a Mac computer in which you have not logged in with the same Apple ID, you must go to the Apple ID website from any browser. Once you enter your access data, you can find the iPhone in a list of devices associated with your account.
