I remember when the iPhone 4 came out and it required a NEW SIM format (for GSM based iPhones). It required a Micro SIM. This wasn’t a problem if you were buying a new iPhone because it would have a new Micro SIM already installed. However, if you wanted to use a different SIM from another phone or carrier then chances are it was a full sized SIM that you would have to cut down to Micro SIM size. There were several good Micro SIM cutters on the market and I own a couple of them. I even traved with one in my suitcase in case I got to a country that I wanted to buy a pre-paid local SIM and needed to cut it down for my iPhone 4 or 4s. Once again we are faced with a new SIM format. Now the iPhone 5 and iPad mini uses a Nano SIM. This SIM is even smaller AND thinner than the Micro SIM. That of course poses a problem for those that want to move SIMs between devices. As to be expected there are now a few different Nano SIM cutters on the market. Some even come with sandpaper to sand the back of the SIM down to make it slightly thinner. I used one to cut down my AT&T Micro SIM down to Nano SIM size to use in my new iPad mini. My AT&T SIM is originally from my iPad 2 and is grandfathered in to an unlimited data plan. This is GREAT for streaming video on the road, so I wanted the ability to use this SIM in my iPad mini as well. Although this is not the cutter I used in the video, this is the one I’d recommend here.
Here’s a video on how the cut went:
Terry….Great post! I had no idea that you could do this…..I have the granfathered unlimited plan from At&T with an iPhone 4s and planning to get an ipad mini and an iPhone 5. Should I get an att ipad mini and be able to stream LTE with unlimited data on the mini?
Thanks!!
You can get an AT&T mini and put your iPhone 5 sim in it, but keep in mind that you won’t be getting any calls while you do that.
Hi Terry, Was wondering does the same work if you have an AT&T ipad and try and use a verizon sim? And if so will you get verizon LTE speeds or is the circuitry or something else about the ipad different to prevent LTE speeds?
I haven’t tried it, but even if it works you would NOT get LTE 4G since the two networks use different LTE technologies.