A Matter Of Millimeters: iPhone 5′s Nano Sim Goes On Display
Posted by Michael Nace on Monday Aug 6, 2012 Under Apple News, iPhone 5 OpinionNew glimpses of the nano-sim design that will undoubtedly end up in the iPhone 5 depict a smaller, thinner component.
Between dock connectors and nano-sims, the 2012 iPhone 5 rumor mill has had its fair share of boring stories. In the case of both redesigned components, size — and more specifically, thinness — seems to be the end goal with their new dimensions, sos much so that Apple Insider is now reporting that even the next iPad will sport the new mini dock connector.
But while the mini dock connector’s new dimensions remain inextricably attached to the contested sightings of the iPhone 5, the nano-sim story has been a more public and documented affair, with the ETSI playing referee to the big smartphone designers viewing over Apple’s new standard in the spring. Apple worked incredibly hard and bent over backwards to get their nano sim design approved by the ETSI, even allowing royalty-free use of the design by its competitors. All indications are that the smaller, thinner nano sim is going to play a major role is slimming down the form factor of the iPhone 5.
Now, we’re finally getting a nice side-by-side look of the nano sim, and it’s third-less size speaks to an iPhone 5 that is bound to look and feel considerably more svelte.
According to Apple Insider:
“The photos of the empty SIM tray, published over at Nowhereelse.fr, reveal a design that will command roughly 40 percent less internal space when compared to existing micro-SIM cards, which should allow smartphone makers like Apple to make smaller handsets with increased functionality. . . Sized roughly a third smaller than existing MicroSIM cards found inside current iPads and iPhones, the so-called nano-SIM design — which is also noticeably thinner than that of MicroSIM — was reportedly modified back in May to address objections on the part of rival handset maker Nokia.”
Here are some compelling side-by-side shots of the new sim card tray and nano sim:
Is this just as boring as the dock connectors? Probably. But what I find compelling about seeing the palpable smallness of the new design. If the nano sim’s 40% smaller physique is any indication of the iPhone 5′s size in relation to the 4 and 4S, then we could be in for an odd mixture of opposites: a new iPhone that is longer — and by extension seems larger to the user — but is noticeably lighter and thinner.
Unfortunately, the new nano sim doesn’t appear to give any definitive clues as to whether or not the pictures we have seen of the purported iPhone 5 thus far are real or not. However there’s one thing to keep in mind — of all the purported leaked iPhone models, why have we not heard about this new nano sim card and/or tray being present in the design?
If the new iPhone 5s are indeed real, I would expect to see some corroboration in the next few days linking these nano sim parts to the iPhone 5 that they purport to have in their possession. After all, for as much as the nano sim is boring, it can be called the first part to hit the scene that we are 100% will end up on the iPhone 5.
By Michael Nace
Michael Nace is the Publisher of the iPhone 5 News Blog and iPhone 6 News Blog. He has published articles about the iPhone since 2010.
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August 6th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Interesting that it doesn’t look noticably thinner, but is smaller. Not something that would be a high priority if you were looking to make a bigger, thinner phone.
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August 6th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
@richard, well I don’t think it really can get that much thinner, it’s already pretty thin. Hopefully one day it will all be virtual and then no sim cards are needed on any carrier. Imagine the room it would free!
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August 6th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
@Richard The original Micro-Sim wasn’t actually that thick either. This piece alone doesn’t tell the whole story. If I remember right, the new nano sim also includes thinner implementation on how data is read and transferred from it which would also be able to make designs thinner. Something else to think about is that by making it smaller it leaves room for more components without having to “stack” them.
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August 6th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Good, now that they need less room in the iPhone maybe they can reduce the screen size! ; ) hahaha
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August 6th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
How about Apple dropping the YouTube app from iOS 6? Does Apple really expect people to stop using YouTube? Or could it be that the YouTube app on iOS is so terrible that they realize that people prefer to go to youtube.com? Either they are getting wiser and would prefer Google to provide us with their awesomeness of a youtube app, or Apple is incredibly stubborn and just want to rid themselves of Google. If the latter is the case, they better not get too carried away or they will really be hurting themselves. The new maps app on Apple better be pretty dang amazing to try to take on Google….because Google Maps is by far the king. I think Apple would be wise to pair up with Google to create a better user experience instead of trying to compete with them in this case.
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August 6th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
@mike d, I think the apple maps app will be better. Also, I don’t really care for the current YouTube app for one reason, you can’t choose whether it loads hd or not. But let me tell you, the app beats surfing on the site. Usually when traveling I will find the video I want on the app, then move to it online. Another thing about the app is its hard to get a link to the video for you to share. Ihope these are some improvements brought by google.
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August 7th, 2012 at 12:28 am
All Apple is doing is removing some bloatware called YouTube. It will still be available for download. I wish they would keep on removing mandatory apps. User choice instead of corporate choice.
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August 7th, 2012 at 4:35 am
Wasn’t there an article (perhaps here a year or so ago) that said the handset manufacturers couldn’t get rid of SIM cards altogether due to some sort of regulations or governmental interference (possibly just within the EU rather than worlwide).
If the handsets could go to a software only SIM (which is easily done) it would free up a relatively large area within the phone for some additional battery!
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August 7th, 2012 at 10:29 am
@dudeabides….the whole thing is the timing. With the lawsuits in court and the lack of flash, changing the connector to yet another proprietary,, it’s personally my opinion that lately when I’ve read something about apple, it has been negative. I started my apple love in 2009 when I bought my first MacBook. I love it and won’t go back to windows but to me, these things are adding up to me having a more negative view. I have an ipad2 and an iphone4s. I love my devices but will I purchase apple again since I could care less about syncing now that there are so many cloud options elsewhere? Dunno. The jury is out.
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August 7th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Has anyone seen this?? http://www.helpel.com/?v=hsEUBLIJvmE&n=iPhone-5-Commercial
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August 7th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Yep Laura, I’ve seen http://www.helpel.com/?v=hsEUBLIJvmE&n=iPhone-5-Commercial
And I think it will be transparent like the ad shows… a very strange thing. Seems like a sci-fi device
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August 7th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
@laura i think that commercial was from last fall. cool looking though.
I just got an email with this link:
http://prism.deals4gadgets.net/SplashPage.aspx?g=93029eab6bec4bd081582d90b8b28683&ust=99fcff7a85e5467ba942ed624857d7e0&nm=01ngjfe6jrx6ap&s=1_I2-008-4&X1&xxclickID=9879608&se=51
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August 8th, 2012 at 10:43 am
@Laura
There was an article on here about this recently where we joked about where we thought the battery would be!
It does look pretty slick though.
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August 8th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I can CARE LESS about nano sim haha. Its about time they change up the style and not put a metal slab on the back.
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August 8th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@Laura haha yeah that video is pretty sick. Id pay $1000.00 for the phone max. Luckily Apple wouldnt price it that high
I wish it was real though ):
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August 8th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@Parish I couldnt agree more!
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August 8th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
Adversity leads to prosperity, poor you think the ground! No higher mountain than the people did not. This famous saying is right, Xiaobian like!
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August 9th, 2012 at 9:35 am
@Moncler
Eh? I’ve no idea what you are saying…
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