What iPhone Do I Have? How to Identify Any iPhone Model

Open Settings > General > About, and the Model Name line shows exactly which iPhone you have, such as an iPhone 16 Pro, with its storage listed under Capacity. If the phone won’t turn on or you can’t unlock it, its cameras, buttons, charging port and a model number Apple prints inside the phone will still identify it. This guide covers every one of those clues, from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, plus what to do with the answer.

Quick Answer

Go to Settings > General > About. Model Name shows your exact iPhone, and tapping Model Number switches Apple’s part number to the model number (an A followed by four digits), which identifies the regional version. If the phone won’t turn on, compare its back cameras, front cutout, side controls and port with the table below, or read the model number printed inside the SIM slot or charging port. Then check what your exact model sells for before you list it or buy one.

Browse Every iPhone Model on Swappa

The Fastest Way: Check Settings > General > About

Apple puts the identifiers you need on one screen. Open the Settings app, tap General, then tap About. Here is what the identification lines mean:

• Model Name: The name you would use to list or shop for the phone, such as iPhone 15 Pro Max. Match it to the Swappa product page with the same name.
• Model Number: This line shows Apple’s part number first. Tap it once and it switches to the model number, an A followed by four digits. A US iPhone 16 Pro, for example, is A3083. Apple’s iPhone User Guide describes the same tap for iOS 27.
• Serial Number: Unique to your phone. Apple uses it for warranty and coverage checks, and it lets a buyer confirm the phone that arrives is the one in the listing.
• Capacity: The built-in storage, such as 256 GB. Along with the model, storage is one of the biggest factors in a used iPhone’s price.

What the Model Number and Part Number Tell You

Two different codes share the Model Number line, and they answer different questions.

The model number (A-number) identifies the hardware Apple built for a market. The iPhone 17 Pro, for example, is A3256 in the United States and Puerto Rico, A3522 in Canada, Japan, Mexico and several other countries, A3524 in mainland China and A3523 everywhere else, according to Apple’s Identify your iPhone model list. US versions of the iPhone 14 and later also have no SIM tray, while many international versions still have one.

Apple’s list matches every model number to its iPhone and region. For what those numbers mean for US carriers and band support, see the Unlocked iPhone Carrier Compatibility Guide. One gap to know about: Apple’s list didn’t include the iPhone Duo as of early October 2026, but Apple’s iPhone Duo tech specs page lists the US model as A3447.

The part number identifies the exact configuration, including color, storage and sales region. Its first letter is a clue to the phone’s history. Apple doesn’t publish what the letters mean, but it is widely reported that:

• M marks a phone sold new at retail.
• F marks a phone refurbished by Apple or a carrier.
• N marks a replacement unit issued through Apple service.
• P marks a phone personalized with an engraving.

Treat the letter as a clue, not proof. An F or N phone can be in excellent shape, but if a listing calls a phone new and its part number starts with F, ask the seller about it before you buy. Refurbished vs. Used: Which Is the Better Deal? explains how the two compare.

How to Tell iPhone Models Apart by Their Cameras and Buttons

If you can’t get into Settings, check four things: the back cameras and how they’re arranged, what sits at the top of the screen, the controls on the sides, and the port on the bottom. On recent models, the Action button sits on the upper left edge where the Ring/Silent switch used to be, and Camera Control is a flat button on the lower right edge. Every detail below comes from Apple’s iPhone comparison page, its model list and its product images.

These look-alike pairs trip people up most:

• iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 14: Same diagonal cameras, notch and switch. On US models, the iPhone 14 has no SIM tray, while the iPhone 13 has one on the left side.
• iPhone 11 vs. iPhone 12: Both stack two cameras vertically in a square bump, but the iPhone 12 has flat edges and the iPhone 11’s edges are rounded.
• iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 17: Same vertical camera pair and Camera Control. The iPhone 17 has a larger 6.3-inch screen (the iPhone 16’s is 6.1 inches), and Mist Blue, Sage and Lavender are iPhone 17 colors, while Pink, Teal and Ultramarine belong to the iPhone 16.
• iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Same full-width camera plateau. The iPhone 18 Pro has a smaller Dynamic Island and comes in Black, Silver, Glacier or Burgundy, while the iPhone 17 Pro came in Silver, Cosmic Orange or Deep Blue. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo: What’s New and Is It Worth It? covers the rest of the changes.
• iPhone 16e vs. iPhone 17e: Both have one camera, a notch and an Action button. The 17e starts at 256GB and also comes in Soft Pink, while the 16e came in black or white.
• iPhone 8 vs. iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation): Same 4.7-inch Home-button design. The model number settles it: the US iPhone SE (3rd generation) is A2595, the US iPhone SE (2nd generation) is A2275, and an iPhone 8 is A1863, A1905 or A1906.
• iPhone X vs. iPhone XS: Identical design, but only the XS came in gold.

Getting this right matters when you price a phone. Swappa sale data from early October 2026 shows a 128GB iPhone 14 averaging about $284, against about $245 for a 128GB iPhone 13. A 64GB iPhone SE (3rd generation) averaged about $120, against about $84 for the iPhone SE (2nd generation). Prices change, so check the current numbers for your model before you list.

Check iPhone Prices on Swappa

How to Identify an iPhone That Won’t Turn On

A dead, locked or wiped iPhone still carries its identity. Try these in order:

1. Read the model number inside the phone. On an iPhone 8 or later with a SIM tray, remove the tray and look into the slot under a bright light, on the upper side (the side with the display). On an iPhone without a SIM tray, look inside the USB-C or Lightning port instead, as Apple’s model number instructions show.
2. Check your Apple Account. Sign in at account.apple.com and choose Devices to see the model, serial number and IMEI of phones signed in to your account. On another iPhone or iPad, tap your name in Settings to see the same list, according to Apple.
3. Find the original box. The barcode label lists the serial number and IMEI.
4. Look at the SIM tray. From the iPhone 8 through the iPhone 13 family, including both SE models, the IMEI is etched on the SIM tray. The iPhone 14 and later models don’t have an IMEI engraving.
5. Look up the serial number. Enter it on Apple’s Check Coverage site, checkcoverage.apple.com, to see the model name.
6. If it powers on but you can’t use it, tap the Info button in the bottom-right corner of the Hello screen to see the serial number and IMEI, or connect it to a computer: the Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a PC, shows the model name under the device name.

Recent US iPhones have no SIM tray and use eSIM only, so the charging port is usually where you’ll read the model number. eSIM and Used Phones: What to Know Before You Buy explains eSIM.

An iPhone that won’t power on can’t be listed on Swappa, because listings must be fully functional. Many Swappa Trade-In partners buy broken phones, so get a quote there, or replace it with a used iPhone.

While You’re in Settings: Storage, Carrier Lock and Battery

The same screen answers a buyer’s next questions:

• Storage: Capacity shows it. How Much Is My iPhone Worth? 2026 Used Values by Model shows how much each storage tier adds.
• Carrier lock: If the Carrier Lock line says “No SIM restrictions,” the phone is unlocked, according to Apple. Unlocked vs. Carrier-Locked Phones: What It Means When Buying Used explains why that widens your pool of buyers.
• Battery: Battery health lives under Settings > Battery, not in About. iPhone Battery Health: What to Check on a Used iPhone covers what the numbers mean.
• IMEI: Scroll down in About to find it, then run it through Swappa’s free IMEI check. How to Find Your Phone’s IMEI and IMEI Check: What It Reveals About a Used Phone cover the rest.
• Repairs: On an iPhone that has had parts replaced, About also shows a Parts and Service History section, according to Apple.

Have an Android Phone? Samsung and Pixel Quick Paths

The same idea works on Android, with different menus.

• Samsung Galaxy: Open Settings and tap About phone to see the model name and model number, according to Samsung. Galaxy model numbers start with SM-, and the ending matters on US phones: a code that ends in U1 is factory unlocked, while one that ends in U is a carrier version, as Swappa is the best place to buy Unlocked Samsung Phones explains. Browse used Samsung Galaxy S phones by model.
• Google Pixel: Open Settings, tap About phone and scroll to Model, according to Google. Browse used Google Pixel phones by model.

What to Do Next: Price It, Sell It, or Check a Listing

If you’re selling, find your model in the table above and check what it has actually sold for on Swappa’s price pages. How to Sell Your Used Phone for the Most Money covers photos, pricing and shipping. Listing is free, and selling fees are lower than other auction-site fees: Swappa charges a 3% seller fee on your Ask Price, and you pay payment processing (PayPal is 3.49% + $0.49).

If you’re buying, ask the seller for the Model Name and model number from Settings > General > About, and make sure they match the listing and Apple’s model list. Real people approve Swappa listings before they go live, and if a phone arrives as something other than what was advertised, you’re entitled to a refund. For which generation to buy, see Used iPhone Buyer’s Guide: Every Generation Ranked (2026), and for hands-on checks, How to Inspect a Used Phone Before You Buy.

Upgrading to a new iPhone? List your old one on Swappa before you trade it in. Used Phones: The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling covers everything else.

FAQ

How do I find out which iPhone I have?

Open Settings, tap General, then tap About. The Model Name line shows your exact model, such as iPhone 15 Pro, and Capacity shows its storage. If the phone won’t turn on, its cameras, side controls and port, or the model number printed inside the SIM slot or charging port, will identify it.

What is the model number on an iPhone?

It’s Apple’s code for the hardware version of your iPhone: an A followed by four digits, such as A3083 for a US iPhone 16 Pro. In Settings > General > About, the Model Number line shows the part number first, and tapping it reveals the model number. Apple’s Identify your iPhone model page matches each model number to its iPhone and region.

How can I tell which iPhone I have if it won’t turn on?

Read the model number inside the phone under a bright light: in the SIM tray slot on models with a tray, or inside the USB-C or Lightning port on models without one. You can also check the Devices list at account.apple.com, the barcode label on the original box, or the IMEI etched on the SIM tray of iPhone 13 and earlier models.

What does the first letter of an iPhone part number mean?

Apple doesn’t publish an official key, but it is widely reported that M means the phone was sold new, F means it was refurbished, N means it is a replacement unit from Apple service, and P means it was personalized with an engraving. Treat the letter as a clue rather than proof, and ask the seller if it doesn’t match the listing.

How do I tell an iPhone 13 from an iPhone 14?

They share the same diagonal dual cameras, notch and Ring/Silent switch. On US models, the iPhone 14 has no SIM tray, while the iPhone 13 has one on the left side. The difference matters for price: a 128GB iPhone 14 averaged about $284 on Swappa in early October 2026, against about $245 for a 128GB iPhone 13.

Which iPhones have an Action button and Camera Control?

The Action button is on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, every iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 model, the iPhone Air, and the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Camera Control is on the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, the iPhone Air, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Duo. The 16e and 17e have an Action button but no Camera Control, and the Duo has Camera Control but no Action button.

Conclusion

Settings > General > About identifies any working iPhone in seconds, and the model number printed inside the SIM slot or charging port identifies one that won’t turn on. Without the screen, the cameras, the top of the display, the side controls and the port narrow it down fast. Once you know the exact model and storage, you can price it against real Swappa sales, list it, or confirm that a listing is the phone you’re paying for.

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