With eSIM, the SIM card hardware is built into the device-more about this in the next section.Ī Virtual SIM card is an embedded SIM card that allows users to access mobile networks without inserting a physical SIM card into their device. The eSIM standard was introduced in 2016. In 2012, the nano-SIM card was introduced, measuring just 12.3mm x 8.8mm x 0.67mm. The goal of the Micro-SIM card was to create more space for additional components in phones and other mobile devices. This was introduced in 2003, with dimensions of 15mm x 12mm x 0.76mm. This smaller size was ideal for more compact mobile phones released then. The mini-SIM was created in 1996 and measured 25mm x 15mm x 0.76mm. The first SIM card was the size of a credit card and measured 85.6mm x 53.98mm x 0.76mm. Here are the generations SIM cards have gone through For those who may not know, the very first SIM cards were the size of a credit card since they were designed to fit into the first version of mobile phones, which were large and bulky.Īs phones were getting smaller and more sophisticated, there was a need to change the size of the SIM cards to optimize for space.
SIM cards have come a long way since their inception in the early 1990s.
