Buying a new iPhone 12 from Apple, or from your wireless carrier means not having to think about whether the phone will work with your carrier. But buying from Apple or your wireless carrier also means paying the full retail price, and we know that lots of people want to save money. The issue of carrier support has gotten better over the years, but even the iPhone 12 has several different model numbers. At Swappa, we want to help you save money and also ensure you buy the correct model number so if you are planning to spend less on your iPhone 12 — continue scrolling to learn more about the different model numbers.
This post is part of our Unlocked iPhone Buyers Guide, which covers everything you need to know when buying an unlocked iPhone.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 12 lineup on October 13, 2020. The iPhone 12 is landing as the 14th generation of the iPhone, and the full lineup consists of the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. For the purpose of this post, we’ll be outlining the various model numbers that are available for the iPhone 12.
The iPhone model numbers all begin with the letter A, which is then followed by four numbers. In general, the different model numbers are for different regions, or different countries. Also for reference, you can confirm an iPhone’s model number by navigating to: Settings -> General -> About. From this point, you just need to tap on “Model Number” to reveal the “A” model number.
iPhone 12 model A2176
If you are buying an iPhone 12 for use in the United States, you will want the A2176. This single model number is available for the U.S. market and it supports all three of the major carriers; AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
Model number A2176 also offers support for most MVNO carriers that make use of the big three carrier networks. The MVNO support includes Mint Mobile, Cricket Wireless, US Cellular, Straight Talk, and many others.
The bottom line is that you will want iPhone 12 model A2176 if you are planning to use your phone with Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, or through an MVNO using any of the big three associated networks. And, because there is a single iPhone 12 model for the U.S. market, this also means that the iPhone 12 model A2176 supports 5G and LTE networks.
The iPhone 12 (model A2176) supports the following bands:
- 5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79)
- 5G NR mmWave (Bands n260, n261)
- FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71)
- TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
- CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Some of the earlier generations of the iPhone meant there would be more than one model number available for each market. In the U.S. that often meant trying to make sure the model was compatible with GSM networks, or with CDMA networks. But thankfully, this has been simplified and the iPhone 12 has a single model number that supports all U.S. carrier networks. This means model number A2176 includes support for GSM and CDMA as well as 4G LTE and 5G networks.
If you live outside the United States or are planning any extended travel outside of the United States — the A2176 will not be your best option. If you fall into this group, you should keep reading to ensure you pick up the correct iPhone 12 “A” model number for your country or region.
Carrier compatibility details for the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 12 Pro Max can be found using the following links:
- iPhone 12 mini carrier compatibility
- iPhone 12 Pro carrier compatibility
- iPhone 12 Pro Max carrier compatibility
Read more about how the iPhone 12 compares to other models of the iPhone in our comparison guide.
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Additional iPhone 12 models
The iPhone 12 model numbers for other markets (countries) include the A2398, A2399, and the A2400. The A2398 and A2400 each support a few countries, with the A2399 being a global model that supports roughly 200 different countries.
iPhone 12 model A2398
Model number A2398 brings support for Canada and Japan.
5G | LTE |
---|---|
n1 (2100 MHz) | 1 (2100 MHz) |
n2 (1900 MHz) | 2 (1900 MHz) |
n3 (1800 MHz) | 3 (1800 MHz) |
n5 (850 MHz) | 4 (AWS) |
n7 (2600 MHz) | 5 (850 MHz) |
n8 (900 MHz) | 7 (2600 MHz) |
n12 (700 MHz) | 8 (900 MHz) |
n20 (800 DD) | 11 (1500 MHz) |
n25 (1900 MHz) | 12 (700 MHz) |
n28 (700 APT) | 13 (700c MHz) |
n38 (TD 2600) | 14 (700 PS) |
n40 (TD 2300) | 17 (700b MHz) |
n41 (TD 2500) | 18 (800 MHz) |
n66 (AWS-3) | 19 (800 MHz) |
n71 (600 MHz) | 20 (800 DD) |
n77 (TD 3700) | 21 (1500 MHz) |
n78 (TD 3500) | 25 (1900 MHz) |
n79 (TD 4700) | 26 (800 MHz) |
28 (700 APT) | |
29 (700d MHz) | |
30 (2300 MHz) | |
32 (1500 L-band) | |
34 (TD 2000) | |
38 (TD 2600) | |
39 (TD 1900) | |
40 (TD 2300) | |
41 (TD 2500) | |
42 (TD 3500) | |
46 (TD Unlicensed) | |
48 (TD 3600) | |
66 (AWS-3) | |
71 (600 MHz) | |
iPhone 12 model A2400
Model number A2400 brings support for mainland China.
5G | LTE |
---|---|
n1 (2100 MHz) | 1 (2100 MHz) |
n2 (1900 MHz) | 2 (1900 MHz) |
n3 (1800 MHz) | 3 (1800 MHz) |
n5 (850 MHz) | 4 (AWS) |
n7 (2600 MHz) | 5 (850 MHz) |
n8 (900 MHz) | 7 (2600 MHz) |
n12 (700 MHz) | 8 (900 MHz) |
n20 (800 DD) | 12 (700 MHz) |
n25 (1900 MHz) | 13 (700c MHz) |
n28 (700 APT) | 17 (700b MHz) |
n38 (TD 2600) | 18 (800 MHz) |
n40 (TD 2300) | 19 (800 MHz) |
n41 (TD 2500) | 20 (800 DD) |
n66 (AWS-3) | 25 (1900 MHz) |
n77 (TD 3700) | 26 (800 MHz) |
n78 (TD 3500) | 28 (700 APT) |
n79 (TD 4700) | 30 (2300 MHz) |
32 (1500 L-band) | |
34 (TD 2000) | |
38 (TD 2600) | |
39 (TD 1900) | |
40 (TD 2300) | |
41 (TD 2500) | |
42 (TD 3500) | |
46 (TD Unlicensed) | |
48 (TD 3600) | |
66 (AWS-3) | |
iPhone 12 model A2399
Model number A2399 is the global model and offers support for a wide range of countries.
Afghanistan | Guernsey | Papua New Guinea |
Albania | Guinea | Paraguay |
Algeria | Guinea-Bissau | Peru |
American Samoa | Guyana | Philippines |
Andorra | Haiti | Poland |
Angola | Honduras | Portugal |
Anguilla | Hungary | Puerto Rico |
Antigua and Barbuda | Iceland | Qatar |
Argentina | India | Republic of the Congo |
Armenia | Indonesia | Reunion Islands |
Aruba | Iraq | Romania |
Australia | Ireland | Russia |
Austria | Isle of Man | Rwanda |
Azerbaijan | Israel | Saint Barts |
Bahamas | Italy | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
Bahrain | Ivory Coast | Saint Lucia |
Bangladesh | Jamaica | Saint Martin |
Barbados | Jersey | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Belarus | Jordan | Samoa |
Belgium | Kazakhstan | Saudi Arabia |
Belize | Kenya | Senegal |
Benin | Kosovo | Serbia |
Bermuda | Kuwait | Seychelles |
BES Islands | Kyrgyzstan | Sierra Leone |
Bolivia | Laos | Singapore |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Latvia | Slovakia |
Botswana | Lebanon | Slovenia |
Brazil | Lesotho | Solomon Island |
British Virgin Islands | Liberia | South Africa |
Brunei | Libya | South Korea |
Bulgaria | Liechtenstein | Spain |
Burkina Faso | Lithuania | Sri Lanka |
Cambodia | Luxembourg | Suriname |
Cameroon | Macedonia | Sweden |
Cayman Islands | Madagascar | Switzerland |
Central African Republic | Malawi | Taiwan |
Chad | Malaysia | Tajikistan |
Chile | Maldives | Tanzania |
Colombia | Mali | Thailand |
Cook Islands | Malta | Tokelau |
Costa Rica | Marshall Islands | Tonga |
Croatia | Martinique | Trinidad and Tobago |
Curacao | Mauritius | Tunisia |
Cyprus | Mayotte | Turkey |
Czech Republic | Mexico | Turks and Caicos |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | Micronesia | Tuvalu |
Denmark | Moldova | Uganda |
Dominica | Monaco | Ukraine |
Dominican Republic | Mongolia | United Arab Emirates |
East Timor | Montenegro | United Kingdom |
Ecuador | Montserrat | Uruguay |
Egypt | Morocco | USVI |
El Salvador | Mozambique | Uzbekistan |
Estonia | Myanmar | Vanuatu |
Faroe Islands | Namibia | Vietnam |
Fiji | Nauru | Wallis and Futuna |
Finland | Nepal | Zambia |
France | Netherlands | Zimbabwe |
French Guiana | New Caledonia | |
French Polynesia and Tahiti | New Zealand | |
Georgia | Nicaragua | |
Germany | Niger | |
Ghana | Nigeria | |
Gibraltar | Niue | |
Greece | Norway | |
Greenland | Oman | |
Grenada | Pakistan | |
Guadeloupe | Palau | |
Guam | Palestine | |
Guatemala | Panama |
Band support for 5G and LTE networks for the iPhone 12 A2399 are as follows:
5G | LTE |
---|---|
n1 (2100 MHz) | 1 (2100 MHz) |
n2 (1900 MHz) | 2 (1900 MHz) |
n3 (1800 MHz) | 3 (1800 MHz) |
n5 (850 MHz) | 4 (AWS) |
n7 (2600 MHz) | 5 (850 MHz) |
n8 (900 MHz) | 7 (2600 MHz) |
n12 (700 MHz) | 8 (900 MHz) |
n20 (800 DD) | 12 (700 MHz) |
n25 (1900 MHz) | 13 (700c MHz) |
n28 (700 APT) | 17 (700b MHz) |
n38 (TD 2600) | 18 (800 MHz) |
n40 (TD 2300) | 19 (800 MHz) |
n41 (TD 2500) | 20 (800 DD) |
n66 (AWS-3) | 25 (1900 MHz) |
n77 (TD 3700) | 26 (800 MHz) |
n78 (TD 3500) | 28 (700 APT) |
n79 (TD 4700) | 30 (2300 MHz) |
32 (1500 L-band) | |
34 (TD 2000) | |
38 (TD 2600) | |
39 (TD 1900) | |
40 (TD 2300) | |
41 (TD 2500) | |
42 (TD 3500) | |
46 (TD Unlicensed) | |
48 (TD 3600) | |
66 (AWS-3) | |