Huawei launched Nano Memory last year, a proprietary memory solution of its own design. It was an intriguing prospect: a newer, smaller memory card for increasingly compact phones. Yet it was hard to get excited about this format without the backing of major memory card developers and other OEMs. How many of us would ever have a chance to use these cards, anyway?

• Nano Slot Waveguide
• Nano Security Lock Slot
• Can You Use A Micro Sim In A Nano Slot

Several months after its launch, we’re taking a look at the current state of the format, and where it’s heading in the future.

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Once done, insert your newly created Nano SIM card to the Nano SIM card slot and check it. Your SIM card should be working correctly. Using the above method, you will be able to cut your Regular (Mini) or Micro SIM card to Nano SIM card size perfectly but by this method, you won’t be able to use the Nano SIM to Micro SIM or Regular. Nano SIM will be perfect to perform everything precisely like current SIM cards however there is a major favorable position that is just piece of Nano SIM. The similarly little size of these SIM enables space for technologists to make future advancements in the field of media transmission. It effortlessly latches directly into a laptop or other device equipped with the industry standard Kensington® Nano security cable slot, providing dependable theft prevention in a wide range of retail, commercial, and institutional environments. The interchangeable lock heads are compatible with three different laptop lock slots: Kensington K-Slot, Kensington Nano, and Noble Wedgelock. It's an ideal way to secure your laptop, such as HP Notebook PC or Dell XPS, or other devices such as monitors, docking stations, projectors, and drive enclosures. Nano Memory is an expandable storage format developed by Huawei. It’s similar to microSD, though it’s smaller. These cards are the same size as a Nano SIM card (about 45 percent smaller than.

What is Nano Memory?

Nano Memory is an expandable storage format developed by Huawei. It’s similar to microSD, though it’s smaller. These cards are the same size as a Nano SIM card (about 45 percent smaller than microSD). They fit into Huawei’s dual-Nano SIM card trays rather than a separate card slot.

Huawei has three of these cards available currently in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB sizes, though the 64GB model is fairly hard to come by. They all feature 90MB/s read speeds.

What are the advantages of Nano Memory?

Nano Memory cards are functionally the same as microSD cards, so outside of size and speed, consumers will have the same experience with either. Device manufacturers, however, may see a larger benefit in using Nano Memory.

The best microSD cards available right now

If OEMs adopt the tech, they could free-up space inside their smartphones for other components. That doesn’t just mean a smaller version of the (already small) microSD card slot, though; Nano Memory cards fit in Huawei’s dual-Nano SIM trays, removing the need for an extra memory slot entirely.

That may seem like a small advantage, but physical space is a commodity in phones, and microSD card support itself dictates decisions about a smartphone circuit board’s design and placement. Utilizing the SIM tray for expandable memory may give manufacturers more options in how they design their devices and the components they use.

All of that being said, microSD is already slight, and it doesn’t interfere with other physical aspects of the phone like how you hold it, or its IP rating. We also don’t yet know what advantages, if any, Nano Memory has offered Huawei in smartphone design.

Without a big incentive, manufacturers will be reluctant to adopt a patented technology from one of their major mobile competitors.

What are the disadvantages of Nano Memory?

Nano Memory is expensive for the comparative performance of a similar microSD card. At the time of writing, Huawei’s 128GB Nano Memory card costs around 49 euros (~$55) on Amazon and eBay. MicroSD cards can cost less than half that for the same memory and higher read speeds.

You also have far fewer options when it comes to the gigabytes of storage they offer, and their write speeds. MicroSD card storage goes up to 512GB (and will soon be available in expensive 1TB versions), and there are numerous options with 90MB/s read speeds and above — some with more than double that.

The best Android phones with expandable memory

However, possibly the biggest Nano Memory card disadvantage, which we’ll discuss further below, is support. It’s quite easy to find an Android phone that works with the microSD cards you may have picked up over the years, but if you invest in a Nano Memory card, you’ll only be able to use it on select Huawei phones.

Further, since these cards currently occupy a SIM tray slot, you’ll have to choose between using a second SIM card or expandable storage. That’s fine if you only use one SIM card, but it might be a bind for those who need two.

Which phones support Nano Memory?

So far, your only options for Nano Memory is to buy a Huawei phone, and your choices there are limited to the higher-end. Below is the list of supported devices:

Which OEMs support Nano Memory?

Huawei is currently the only company to support the Nano Memory format. Huawei’s Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu said last year Huawei was in talks with other companies to produce Nano Memory chips in the future — Huawei wants them to be the industry standard — but so far we haven’t seen any here in the west.

I contacted memory card industry leader SanDisk about its potential to sell Nano Memory cards down the line and Ruben Dennenwaldt, the Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Western Digital, said:

We currently don’t have / support the Nano [Memory] Card standard from Huawei. While we obviously closely monitor the market, there are currently no plans to support this standard.

Until it’s supported on more phones, that market will grow at a snail’s pace.

Today, Nano Memory is just an expensive expandable storage format only a handful of phones support. There’s no reason to buy a Nano Memory card unless a person requires one for a specific Huawei smartphone.

In the future, if it helps OEMs produce phones, Nano Memory might become much more commonplace. But progress in the last five months has been marginal. It’s only available on a handful of phones, and as long as it’s reserved for higher-tier devices, it may struggle to reach mainstream appeal.

Because, critically, this is not a high-end feature. Something that belongs inside the device has been made smaller — it’s hard to sell that to consumers. Huawei will have to convince OEMs of the technology’s potential first, and if its early progress is any indication, it’s going to struggle to do this.

Read next:Best Android phones with expandable memory

All smartphones (and feature phones and other types of mobile phones) require a SIM card to connect to a mobile network – as, in fact, do mobile broadband devices, and any tablets that offer mobile connectivity.

But while you’re sure to have at least one gadget in your life that needs a SIM card, not all SIM cards are the same, as they come in three different sizes and four different common types.

Below then we’ll explain what those three different sizes are, which you’re most likely to need, how to adapt a SIM card to a different size, and generally tell you everything else you need to know about SIM cards

1. SIM Card Sizes

1.1 Why are there different-sized SIM cards?

There are different-sized SIM cards because it has become increasingly desirable to have smaller SIM cards, since that frees up more space in a phone (or other device) for other tech, without making the phone larger.

However, while that means that the most common SIM cards are a lot smaller than a standard SIM card, the older, larger SIM card sizes are still in use too in some older devices, and in some devices that don’t need to make the most of their space.

1.2 What are the different SIM card types?

There are four common SIM card types, which are as follows:

• Nano SIM

A nano SIM is the smallest SIM card size, and it’s also the most modern (other than eSIMs, which we’ll get to further down) having been introduced in 2012. This is basically just a small circuit board with almost nothing around it, and it’s the kind used by the vast majority of modern devices.

• Micro SIM

A micro SIM card is the middle size. These have more plastic around them than a nano SIM, but less than a standard SIM. In terms of smartphones, you might need one of these if your phone is over five years old, but they’re rarely used in recent years. Indeed, they were introduced in 2003, so they’re getting on a bit now.

• Standard SIM

A standard SIM is the biggest SIM card size currently in use, and despite being thought of as the ‘standard’ it’s the most rarely used. It has a large amount of plastic around the chip, and tends to only be found in the oldest of phones (and some other devices).

It was introduced back in 1996, and as the oldest of them it was the standard for a while – hence the name.

Note that standard SIM cards are also sometimes known as regular SIMs or mini SIMs – the latter because there was an even bigger credit card-sized SIM card available when these launched, but they’re no longer used.

• Combi SIM

A combi SIM (sometimes called a multi SIM or trio SIM) combines all three sizes of SIM card into one, so you can easily just pop out the one you need.

This is the type you’ll typically be sent by a mobile network, so you don’t need to worry about requesting the right SIM card size. Note however that while you’ll be able to pop out whichever size you want, you won’t then be able to make the SIM card bigger again, so if you ever need to move up a size you’ll either need an adapter (explained below) or to request a new SIM card.

1.3 What are the physical dimensions for each SIM card size?

The chart below provides a clearer look at the exact size of each SIM card type. You’ll note that combi SIMs aren’t included and that’s because at their full size they’re the same size as a standard SIM, then if you pop out a smaller section it will match the relevant SIM card size below.

Comparison of SIM card dimensions. Please note: Nano SIMs are 0.09mm thinner than Standard SIM and Micro SIM.

1.4 What other differences exist between Standard Sim, Micro Sim and Nano Sim?

Nano Slot Waveguide

No other differences exist between these SIM card types, it’s literally just the size. If there were other differences then combi SIMs wouldn’t really be possible.

2. Which SIM do I have, and which do I need?

Which SIM card you have will depend on a number of things. If you received one recently it’s likely a combi SIM, since that’s what networks tend to supply.

Failing that, unless it’s one that you’ve had for many years it’s probably a nano SIM, since they’ve been the most common for 5+ years.

However, to tell for sure just look at the picture at the top of this article and compare the SIM card types to yours – remembering that a mini SIM is another name for a standard SIM.

As for which you need, that will depend on your device, but the same general logic applies – for most modern smartphones, you’ll want a nano SIM. However, since networks supply combi SIMs you shouldn’t need to specify – just order one of those and then when it arrives you can pop out the right size for your phone.

3. SIM adapters and DIY downsizing

If you have the wrong SIM card size for your phone then wherever possible the best thing to do is simply to request a new one from your network and get your number transferred to that.

However, there are alternative options. If your SIM card is too large for your phone then you can buy a SIM card cutting tool. These tend to look a bit like a stapler, but they trim your card down to the correct size and shape.

If on the other hand your SIM card is too small for your phone then you can get a SIM adapter. This is a plastic frame that you can put your SIM card in, to essentially upsize it to micro or standard size.

Both of these tools can be purchased, and some independent phone accessory stores and the like also offer SIM card cutting services. However, there’s always a risk of damaging the card when cutting it, so we don’t recommend it.

4. Future SIM technology: eSIMs

While most smartphones and other relevant devices currently use the SIM card types listed above, there is another type, and it’s not just a different size.

An eSIM is an embedded SIM card (that’s what the ‘e’ is for) meaning that you can’t remove it from your phone or other device.

This essentially makes them even smaller, as there’s no need for the removable SIM card slot container, therefore freeing up more space for other tech. But the main advantages of eSIMs include making it theoretically much easier to change networks and plans – since you can’t change the SIM card in your device, it would need to be possible to change network while keeping the same card, so there’s no need to swap to a new one.

Plus, multiple networks and numbers can be stored on an eSIM, so you can potentially have multiple numbers on a single SIM. And you won’t need to worry about navigating all the different SIM card sizes detailed above.

Some devices already use eSIMs. These include the likes of the iPhone 11 range, the Google Pixel 4 range, and a handful of other phones, as well as wearables such as the Apple Watch 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. However, the vast majority of phones with an eSIM card slot also have a normal SIM card slot currently, as not all networks yet support eSIMs.

5. FAQs

• What are the different SIM card sizes?

The different SIM card sizes include nano SIM (which is the smallest), micro SIM (which is the middle size), and a standard SIM or regular SIM (sometimes called a mini SIM), which is the largest.

• Where can I buy a SIM that fits any phone or tablet?

Mobile networks supply something called a combi SIM, trio SIM or multi SIM, which includes all three possible SIM card sizes. This is usually offered as standard.

• Can I put any SIM in my device?

Nano Security Lock Slot

No, you need the right size SIM card, which in most cases will be a nano SIM. If your device is locked to a specific network then you also need the SIM card to be for that network.

• Do SIM cards fit all phones?

All mobile phones use SIM cards but they don’t all use the same size ones, so you’ll need one that’s the right size for your phone. In most cases this will be a nano SIM.

• Which phones use a nano SIM?

Most smartphones made from around 2015 onwards will use a nano SIM card. That includes big name handsets like the iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone SE (2020), Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy Note 10, OnePlus 8, and many, many more.

• What is the most common size SIM card?

Nano SIM cards are the most common size – most smartphones made from around 2015 onwards use a nano SIM card.

Can You Use A Micro Sim In A Nano Slot

• Can you convert a standard SIM to a nano SIM?

Yes, you can use a SIM card cutting tool to convert a standard SIM to a nano SIM. However, this isn’t recommended as it risks damaging the SIM card. In general you’re better off requesting a new SIM card from your network.

• What size is a mini SIM card?

A mini SIM card is another name for a standard SIM. It was originally called a mini SIM because when it first launched there was a larger full-size SIM card in use too, but these larger ones are no longer used, so mini SIMs have become standard SIMs.

• What is a SIM card adapter?

A SIM card adapter is a piece of plastic that you can place a micro or nano SIM card in to convert it into a larger size.

• What happens if you take out your SIM card and put it in another phone?

If you put your SIM card in another phone then – as long as the card and phone support the same network – people will then be able to call and text you on that phone, and you’ll be able to make calls and send texts of your own from it, using the same network and allowances as you had on your old phone.

Phone numbers and other data may also be transferred along with the SIM card, if they were saved to the card.

• What is a combi SIM?

A combi SIM is a SIM card that contains all three possible sizes, with perforations allowing you to pop out the size you need. These are sometimes called trio SIMs or multi SIMs.

• Are sim cards universal?

SIM cards all contain the same tech; however they vary in size, and are typically locked to a specific network.