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. The new version (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 is 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-SIM is used in the iPhone 4/4S and iPad operating systems in NTS smartphones and tablets, in some models, and Nano-SIM is used 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 of the 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, he does not want to lose certain benefits and 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: a regular card is cut to fit the Micro-SIM. 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 trimming, but also to receive an adapter as a kind of bonus, that is, the remainder of the old card. 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 are also sold by service centers 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. The dimensions will not be difficult to find on the computer network (they are also mentioned in this article).
Below is a guide for users who are interested in this. In fact, all the proposed manipulations with SIM cards are simple. Despite this, they do not eliminate the risk to your smartphone. Since incorrect actions can lead to damage to the card.
Similar attempts were carried out on SIM cards of the SFR operator. You can also try this with cards from other operators. First, check your SIM card with an updated chip. If the chip itself is the same, then you can take risks.
First, you will need: a sharp knife and scissors. Don't worry, this operation does not require high precision.
Now pay attention to the instruction picture. In your operations, try to give the SIM card exactly the same size. If this does not suit you, you take the card and select the size so that the card matches the edge of the micro SIM card.
Below in the picture you can see that it is not exactly the same because the chip and card size are still different.
The first part of the operation is easy, but also the most dangerous. You need to take scissors and cut off the top of the card, as shown in the picture below. This is 1mm flush with the chip.
Your task is to cut all straight lines parallel to the chip.
Now you don't have to worry about the main size. You need to cut a little flush with the chip on the left side of the card. Do everything carefully and carefully so as not to damage the chip.
This is the result you should get:
If everything went well, you can proceed to the final stage. Take the original micro SIM card in your hands and bring the SIM card to it. You should mark the line with a knife as shown below:
Trim the edges as shown in the example.
Thus, you will get a rectangle, and you will see that you are closer to your cherished goal. All that remains is to cut off the lower right corner. To do this, again look carefully at the example drawing, attach the card and cut the desired edge diagonally.
By cutting it along the line, you will have a card of the appropriate size in your hands.
No mobile device can operate on a carrier's network without a small chip commonly called a SIM card. This is 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 telephone numbers.
The SIM card is an intermediate link between the subscriber and the telecom operator
There are several types of SIM cards, differing in size. Moreover, the newer the standard, the smaller the card. The latest models increasingly use smaller SIM cards, so when buying a new phone, the issue of adapting the SIM card becomes relevant. In this article, we propose to familiarize yourself with the standards of SIM cards, understand what the difference is between them and how to reduce them for use in a new device.
Types 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 this card are 25×15 mm. It does not need to be adapted, even if it is more than one year old. Just insert and use.
Micro-SIM
Compared to the previous type, micro-SIM has smaller dimensions - 15x12 millimeters. It was first used in the iPhone 4. Recently, this format is increasingly being supported. When buying a new phone, it’s easy to cut it off from a regular SIM card.
Nano-SIM
The latest, smallest SIM card used in the latest iPhones, iPads, and flagship Android models. The nano-SIM looks like a chip without any plastic around it. The card dimensions are small - 12x5 mm, so it is more difficult to adapt from larger formats.
How to change 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 repair shop, or cut a regular card yourself. In the latter case, there is a risk of damaging the card due to inexperience, and then responsibility for its damage will fall on you.
Contact your telecom operator
The simplest and surest way. You just need to come to the communication store with your phone and passport and order a SIM card replacement service. You will receive a new card of a suitable format, while your phone 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 it you can use a nano-SIM along the indicated dotted line. You risk nothing 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 operator Tele2.
Let's go to the workshop
If for some reason you cannot contact a communication shop or do not want to wait for a new card to be sent, then you can cut it at any workshop. This will be done using a device similar to a stationery stapler, into 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 by hand according to the template
If the previous two methods are not available to you, try doing it yourself. To do this, you will need scissors, double-sided tape, a ruler, a pencil or felt-tip pen and the SIM card itself. You don’t have to calculate anything, just use a 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.
- Using double-sided tape, carefully stick the SIM card onto the marked area, making sure that it completely matches the drawing. Don't press too hard, otherwise you won't be able to peel it off later.
- 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.
- Trim the excess plastic as carefully as possible along the drawn lines.
- Using sandpaper or a file, carefully trim the cut areas and round the edge as indicated in the diagram.
- Remove the tape and insert the SIM card into the phone.
The whole process will take a few minutes, so take your time so as not to cut off too much. To make your work easier, there is a photo on the same template 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 you can adapt them. Of course, contact a communication salon. But if you don't want to wait a long time, try cutting by hand using a template.
What SIM card format does your device support? How did you change the dimensions? Did you manage to do everything yourself? We are waiting for your answers in the comments.
Many modern mobile devices do not use standard SIM cards, but their smaller “brothers”. Therefore, the question very often arises: how to cut a SIM card so that it can be inserted into the slot intended for it without any problems. Let's look at why manufacturers started using “cut” SIM cards in the first place.
In pursuit of perfection, mobile device manufacturers invent all kinds of innovations and actively implement them. However, recently, in addition to improving the software and expanding functionality, they are trying to overtake others in terms of the size and weight of the device. Thus, the devices become flatter and wider and weigh less.
The main reason for reducing the SIM card was to save space inside the mobile device. The SIM card is reduced in size, which frees up additional space in order to place elements more compactly. By the way, the first phone that runs on a smaller SIM card is the iPhone 4.
SIM card translated into English is a subscriber identifier module. SIM card technology is used by cellular operators to provide services and identify network subscribers.
In addition to the standard SIM card format, MiniSIM, MicroSIM and NanoSIM are now used. All of these formats are derivatives of the first SIM card, which was comparable in size to bank cards.
That is, using the example of reducing the size of SIM cards, we can trace the evolution of mobile devices, which is also a relatively new term; previously only phones were mobile. But, starting in 2009, mobile tablets and other gadgets using mobile communications began to be developed.
- So, the MiniSIM card format we are familiar with is suitable for many phones, released before 2011.
- MicroSIM card is used in iPhone4/4s, a number of models Nokia Lumia, Sony, Samsung and others
- NanoSIM cards are currently only intended for iPhone5/5s.
Adapting a mini-sim to a micro-sim at home
In practice, situations often arise when, when purchasing a mobile device, you were not warned that you would need a micro-SIM to communicate. Or you have been using the same SIM card for quite a long time, and there was a need to cut it to the required size. We will look further at how to cut a SIM card to a micro-SIM.
A mini SIM card is a rectangle with one cut corner and parameters 25 mm * 15 mm * 0.75 mm. And it consists of a plastic base into which the ID chip is attached. Naturally, the main part of this design is the chip itself. If it is damaged, the mobile device will not be able to receive a mobile signal, therefore, the use of a damaged SIM card is impossible. Therefore, when circumcising a SIM card at home, you need to be very careful.
In order to correctly carry out all the procedures, you will need scissors, as sharp as possible, a writing device - a pencil or pen, preferably a ballpoint pen, an accurate ruler.
A micro-SIM differs in size from a mini-SIM card. Its parameters are 15*12*0.76 mm.
Let's take a closer look at the process of converting a card into a MicroSIM.
- The card for the procedure must be placed with the chip facing up so that it is always visually accessible, and we unfold it so that the cut edge “looks” up - to the left.
- On the right side, which is 15 mm, measure 1.5 mm to the center and cut off the excess strip of plastic.
- The bottom of the card, which is 25 mm, is shortened by 1 mm. We also measure with a ruler, draw a clear line and carefully cut with scissors.
- In order for the right edge of the card to be 12 mm apart, it is necessary to cut off 2 mm from the top edge. Then we get 15 mm – 1 mm – 2 mm = 12 mm – the MicroSIM width we need. We carry out this action as carefully as all the previous ones, but do not worry that you are significantly shortening the cut corner, it will be restored later.
- The length of the micro-sim is 15 mm. In order not to calculate the number of millimeters to be cut, we simply measure a distance of 15 mm from the right edge, draw a strip along the ruler and cut off the excess.
- The result is a blank for a micro-sim.
- If you've been paying attention, you know that the corners of the SIM card are not perfectly straight, but slightly rounded. Therefore, you need to trim them slightly with scissors so that they match the original.
- The last corner is cut off on all SIM cards of all formats. The cut looks like an isosceles triangle with sides of 2 mm.
- Apply a ruler to the upper left corner and measure 2 mm down and to the right. Connect the resulting points and cut off the resulting triangle.
- The micro SIM card is ready.
Let's try it on in the appropriate slot. If suddenly it is large, you can trim it a little more, and if suddenly you make a mistake during the cutting process, you will have to purchase a new card or ask your cellular operator to restore the damaged one. By the way, now you can find a lot of video instructions everywhere on how to cut a SIM card. It is better to do this by looking at pictures and other graphics.
Cut mini-sim to nano-sim
As noted above, there is another SIM card format that has recently gained additional popularity - nano-SIM.
Nano SIM card parameters – 12.3 mm * 8.8 mm * 0.67 mm. That is, you practically have a chip in your hands without plastic. In addition, nano-SIM is not only tiny, it is also thinner than a regular mini-SIM or micro-SIM by 0.09 mm. The chip area of all SIM card models, regardless of the year of manufacture, is the same, so any card of the above formats can be turned into a nano-SIM.
For the procedure you will need:
- sharp scissors;
- a well-sharpened pencil or a regular ballpoint pen;
- precise ruler or caliper;
- "SIM" mini-SIM;
- sandpaper;
- paper;
- double sided tape.
This guide suggests a different method than the one presented when cutting a micro sim.
- In advance, you need to draw a diagram of the future NanoSIM SIM card on a sheet of paper. According to the above parameters, draw a rectangle with sides 8.8 mm and 12.3 mm. It is known that the cut edge of a nano-sim is less than 1 mm. Therefore, it will be executed at the very end of the procedure.
- We position the SIM card so that the cut corner is at the top left. The card must be placed with the chip facing up to avoid damage.
- Let's cut out our blank.
- We attach it in such a way that the chip is under the workpiece and does not peek out from under it. It is better to perform this action armed with double tape.
- Then we mark with a pencil the markings along which we will cut the card.
- Using scissors, carefully cut out a nano-SIM card from a mini or micro SIM card.
- We check whether it fits the slot in width and height. If yes, then everything is fine.
- It remains to solve the problems with thickness. To do this we will use sandpaper. Naturally, the excess “fullness” must be removed from the side opposite to the chip. Any, even the slightest damage to the SIM card chip can cause a malfunction, so be careful.
The final stage is re-fitting the nano-SIM into the slot. Everything fit perfectly, which means the operation was successful.
Where and how else can you modify an old SIM card?
If the option of independently cutting a new SIM card from the old one does not suit you, then you can use a simpler and less financially responsible method - replacing the SIM card with a cellular operator.
To do this, you can simply come to the supplier’s office and, presenting your passport, receive a new SIM card to replace the old one. The new SIM card is a mini-SIM from which you can “get” a micro-SIM. There is a perforation along the borders of the micro-SIM, by pressing on which you can squeeze out a smaller card.
A new SIM card completely replaces the old one if you do not purchase a new SIM card, but ask to replace the old one. Within 24 hours, the old SIM card will be disabled, and the personal account balance will be available on the new SIM card. All subscriptions and tariff plan are also saved.
To obtain a nano-SIM, the procedure for converting one SIM card to another has not yet been implemented. But, you can order a new nano SIM card from the operator and receive it for use after a while. It is important to know that this is a free service. And, if suddenly, at the operator’s office you are asked to pay for a new nano-SIM, you should know that this is not legal.
And if you don’t have the opportunity to wait for the delivery of a nano-SIM, then you can try to make it yourself or use a cutting service. Household appliance stores, mobile operator showrooms, or mobile device service workshops offer the service of cutting nano-SIMs from any format. This procedure is performed with a device similar to a stapler and costs up to 350 rubles.
Mobile device users often wonder how to make a micro-SIM from a SIM card. If you've opened the SIM slot on a new iPhone, you might have noticed that this slot 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 the case when you do not want to remake the card manually, you can buy a 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 get by with just 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 out 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.
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