How to Tell What iPhone Model You Have

Introduction

It's important to know what model of iPhone you have so you know what hardware is compatible with your device and what software updates you can expect your iPhone to support. For example, the original iPhone supports up to iOS 3.1.3 while the iPhone 3G supports up to iOS 4.2.1, so if you're wondering why everyone else is talking about the latest and greatest features on their device that were added as part of a recent update that you don't see as being available, it's probably because that update isn't available for your device. Also, some third-party devices such as chargers only list compatibility with specific iPhone models and don't work with all models. You can easily identify what iPhone model you have by looking at certain physical characteristics or markings on your device.

Original iPhone

The original iPhone is the only iPhone to have a back that is predominately made of metal. Only the bottom one inch of the back of the case is black plastic; the rest of the original iPhone back cover is brushed metal. The model number on all original iPhones is A1203. You can find the model number on original iPhones in the list of information that appears at the bottom of the metal portion on the back of the iPhone to the right of Model No beneath iPhone. Also, the Apple logo on the upper half of the back of the iPhone is dark gray and the information text at the bottom of the metal section on the back of the iPhone is also dark gray.

iPhone 3G

The entire back of the iPhone 3G case is black plastic. The Apple logo on the upper half of the back of the case is still silver, but the information printed on the lower half of the back of the iPhone 3G is in dark gray lettering. The model number that appears beneath iPhone on the lower half of the back of the iPhone 3G will either be A1324 or A1241. Also, instead of being printed on the back of the iPhone 3G, the device's serial number is printed directly on the SIM card tray. You must eject the phone's SIM card tray and remove the SIM card to see the serial number. The SIM card tray is located along the top edge of the iPhone 3G.

iPhone 3GS

Similar to the iPhone 3G, the back of the iPhone 3GS case is entirely black plastic and the model number is printed on the SIM card tray. However, the coloring of the information lettering beneath iPhone on the back of the iPhone 3GS is light gray, similar to the coloring of the Apple logo on the upper half of the back of the iPhone 3GS. Also different from the iPhone 3G, the model number that appears on the iPhone 3GS beneath iPhone on the back of the device will be either A1325 or A1303.

iPhone 4

As opposed to the curved back on all previous iPhone models, the iPhone 4 features a flat front and back made of either black or white plastic that is covered in glass; previous iPhone models are only available in black. There is also a stainless steel band that runs around the outer edge of the device. Also different from previous iPhone models, the volume buttons are not on a rocker -- they are individual buttons that are marked with a plus and minus sign. The model number located on the back of the phone beneath iPhone will be either A1249 or A1332.

iPhone 4S

The only difference between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S is that the model number listed on the back of the iPhone 4S will be A1387 instead of either A1249 or A1332.