How to Find Your Exact Phone Model Before Buying Replacement Parts

Quick answer: On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and check the "Model Name" and "Model Number" fields, or look at the small engraved text on the back of older iPhones. On Samsung and most Android phones, go to Settings > About Phone > Model Number. The model number (not just the marketing name like "iPhone 13" or "Galaxy S23") is what determines which screen, battery, camera lens or SIM tray will actually fit — ordering by name alone is the single biggest cause of wrong-part returns.

Why the Marketing Name Isn't Enough

"iPhone 13" describes a family of four distinct devices — iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max — each with a different screen size, different internal layout, and parts that are not interchangeable between them. The same applies across almost every phone range: "Galaxy S23" covers the standard, Plus and Ultra models, each built differently.

Beyond the headline variant, most models also have regional and carrier-specific hardware revisions, which is why Apple assigns a distinct model number (e.g. A2631) to each specific hardware build, even within what looks like a single product name.

The same pattern shows up throughout Samsung's range: a Galaxy S23 Ultra has a different screen size, camera housing and battery from the standard S23, despite sharing a launch date and a name. Even within the Ultra tier specifically, hardware can differ by region — which is exactly why the full model number, not just "S23 Ultra", is the detail that determines whether a given part will actually fit.

How to Find Your iPhone Model

Method 1: Settings (most reliable)

Go to Settings > General > About. "Model Name" shows the marketing name (e.g. "iPhone 13 Pro"); tapping "Model Number" reveals the precise hardware identifier (e.g. A2638), which is the number that actually determines parts compatibility on regionally-varied builds.

Method 2: Physical engraving

On iPhone SE (2016), iPhone 6S and earlier models, the model number is engraved in small text on the back of the case. Newer iPhones moved this information into Settings and the SIM tray packaging rather than the case itself.

Method 3: The original box or SIM tray

If you still have the original packaging, the model number is printed on the barcode label. On some models it's also printed on the SIM tray itself.

For reference, some model numbers we see regularly across current iPhone repair parts include A2631–A2634 (iPhone 13 range) and A1865, A1901, A1921, A1984, A2097–A2100, A2111, A2223, A2342, A2402–A2404 and A2639–A2651 spanning iPhone X through 14 Pro Max — but always confirm your own device's number in Settings rather than relying on a general list, since Apple has reused similar numbering patterns across different regional variants over the years.

How to Find Your Samsung or Android Model

Go to Settings > About Phone > Model Number (on some Samsung skins this is under Settings > About Phone > Software Information, or simply listed as "Model number" on the main About Phone screen). Samsung model numbers follow a consistent pattern — for example, an SM-A536B is a Galaxy A53 5G, with the letter suffix (B, W, U, F, etc.) indicating the regional/carrier variant, which can affect parts compatibility even within the "same" phone.

If Settings isn't accessible because the screen is broken, the model number is usually printed on a small label under the SIM tray, or on the original box.

It's worth noting the difference between the model number and the IMEI: the model number identifies which hardware variant you have (used for parts compatibility), while the IMEI identifies your individual device (used for network and insurance purposes). They're often printed in the same place, but they answer different questions — for ordering replacement parts, it's the model number you need.

Why Getting the Model Wrong Breaks Your Repair

This isn't a minor labelling issue — ordering against the wrong model number is one of the most common causes of a failed DIY or trade repair, and the failure mode differs by part:

• Screens: a display assembly built for the wrong variant (e.g. a standard iPhone 13 screen ordered for a 13 Pro) will be the wrong physical size, use a differently positioned connector, or in some cases won't wake the display at all even if it physically fits into the frame. See our OLED vs LCD buying guide for how panel type adds a second variable on top of model.
• SIM trays: as covered in our SIM tray guide, a mismatched tray can fail to seat or, worse, damage the SIM reader's contact pins if forced.
• Batteries and connectors: even within the same generation, connector position and cable length can differ between the standard and Pro/Max variants, so a battery that's electrically compatible may still not physically fit or connect.

In every case, the part itself usually isn't defective — it simply wasn't built for the specific hardware revision ordered, which is why model identification comes before part selection, not after a failed fitting.

Identification Method Comparison

For Repair Shops: Verifying Customer Devices at Intake

For trade buyers ordering parts on a customer's behalf, asking the customer to read out the model number from Settings during intake — rather than relying on their description of "which iPhone" or "which Samsung" they have — removes the single most common source of wrong-part returns in bulk ordering. Where the customer can't access Settings because the device won't power on or the screen is broken, checking the SIM tray or IMEI at intake, and photographing it for the job record, avoids re-diagnosing the same question later in the repair.

For repeat suppliers, building a simple lookup habit — model number confirmed and logged before parts are ordered, not after a mismatched part arrives — is a small process change that measurably reduces return and re-order rates on model-specific components like screens and SIM trays.

What to Do When the Screen Is Too Broken to Check Settings

1. Try the SIM tray or original box first — both usually carry the model number without needing the screen to work.
2. Check for a label under the battery or SIM tray on Android devices, if you're comfortable opening the phone.
3. Use IMEI lookup as a fallback. Dial *#06# if the phone still responds to touch or voice commands, or check the IMEI printed on the box/SIM tray, then use it to identify the exact model via your carrier account or a manufacturer IMEI checker.
4. Compare visually against confirmed reference photos on the collection pages linked below as a last resort, cross-checking camera layout, button placement and screen size — this is the least reliable method and should only confirm, not replace, a model number check.

Common Mistakes When Identifying a Phone Model

• Ordering by family name alone ("Samsung Galaxy S23") without confirming standard, Plus or Ultra — these use different screens, batteries and, on some models, different camera housings.
• Assuming two phones that launched together share parts — the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini launched simultaneously but use different-sized displays and batteries.
• Ignoring the regional variant suffix on Samsung model numbers, which can indicate a different internal board revision.
• Relying on visual comparison alone when the model number is available via SIM tray, box or IMEI — visual identification between similar-generation models (e.g. iPhone XS vs iPhone 11) is genuinely difficult even for experienced repairers.
• Not rechecking after a previous repair. If your phone has been repaired or had parts swapped before, a mismatched internal component can make the device behave like a different model in some diagnostic contexts — the model number in Settings remains the reliable source.

Expert Decision Guidance

Screen still works: always check Settings first — it's the fastest and most reliable method, and takes under a minute.

Screen broken but phone powers on: use *#06# for IMEI if touch still registers anywhere, or check the SIM tray/box.

Phone won't power on at all: the original box or a previous purchase confirmation email/receipt is your most reliable source; if neither is available, a repair professional can typically identify the exact model from the board or chassis markings.

Buying parts for someone else's phone or a phone you don't have in hand: ask them to check Settings and send you the exact model number and, on iPhones, the colour — don't rely on their description of "which iPhone it is" alone.

Once You Know Your Model: Shop by Category

With your exact model confirmed, head to the matching category rather than searching by family name:

• Shop iPhone 13 Range Parts →
• Shop iPhone 14 Range Parts →
• Shop iPhone 14 Pro Parts →
• Shop iPhone 15 Range Parts →
• Shop iPhone X Parts →
• Shop Samsung Galaxy S22 Parts →
• Shop Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Parts →
• Shop Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Parts →
• Shop All Replacement SIM Trays →

Not sure whether you need a screen at all, or which panel grade to choose? Read diagnosing a cracked screen and OLED vs LCD replacement screens. Lost your SIM tray as well? See our SIM tray replacement guide.

FAQ

Where exactly do I find my iPhone's model number?

Settings > General > About, then tap "Model Number" (it may initially show the model name — tapping it reveals the number, e.g. A2638). This is the most reliable source, more precise than the marketing name shown elsewhere in Settings.

Is the model name (like "iPhone 13 Pro") different from the model number?

Yes. The model name identifies the product line and variant; the model number identifies the exact regional/hardware build. Two iPhones both called "iPhone 13 Pro" can have different model numbers if sold in different regions, and this can occasionally affect parts compatibility.

Can I find my phone model if the screen is completely broken?

Yes — check the SIM tray, the original box, or dial *#06# for the IMEI if the phone still responds to any touch input, then use the IMEI to confirm the exact model through your carrier or the manufacturer's IMEI checker.

Do two phones that launched together always use the same parts?

No. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini launched on the same day but use different screen sizes, batteries and internal layouts. Always confirm the specific variant, not just the launch generation.

Why does my Samsung model number have letters at the end, like SM-A536B?

The suffix indicates the regional or carrier variant (for example, differences between UK, European or US builds). These variants can have different internal components, so it's worth including the full model number, letters included, when checking parts compatibility.

I bought my phone secondhand — how do I confirm the model is genuinely what the seller said?

Check Settings > General > About (iPhone) or Settings > About Phone (Android) yourself rather than relying on the listing description, and cross-reference the model number against the IMEI if you have any doubt about the phone's history.

I run a repair shop — what's the fastest way to avoid ordering the wrong part for a customer's phone?

Ask the customer to read their model number from Settings during intake rather than relying on their description of the device, and log it against the job before ordering. Where Settings isn't accessible, checking the SIM tray or IMEI at intake and recording it avoids re-diagnosing the same question after a part has already been ordered.