What kind of phone do I have? How to check your model on iPhone and Android

To find out what kind of phone you have, open the Settings app. On an iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and read the Model Name line. On an Android phone, including Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, go to Settings > About phone, where the model name and model number are listed. If you cannot find the menu, type "model" into the search bar at the top of Settings.

This guide covers the exact menu paths for iPhone and Android, the difference between a model name, model number and IMEI, and how to identify a phone that will not turn on.

How to find your phone model in Settings

The Settings app is the most reliable way to check what phone you have, because it reads the model directly from the device instead of relying on logos or camera layouts. The path depends on the operating system:

The name of the menu varies on some Android brands, which add their own interface on top of Android. If "About phone" is not at the bottom of the list, use the search field at the top of Settings and search for "model" or "about". Not sure whether your phone runs iOS or Android? If the Settings icon is a gray gear and there is an App Store icon on the home screen, it is an iPhone; if you have the Google Play Store, it is an Android phone.

How to check what iPhone you have

Every iPhone shows its marketing name, such as iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 Pro, on the About screen in Settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap About.
4. Read the Model Name line for the name of your iPhone.
5. For the exact model number, look at the Model Number line. It first shows a part number; tap it once and it changes to a model number that starts with the letter A.

The A number matters when two iPhones look alike or share a name across regions. Apple publishes an Identify your iPhone model page that maps each A number to its model and year, and its model number guide explains the tap-to-reveal step. You can also see the model name from another device: open Settings, tap your name at the top, and scroll down to the list of devices signed in to your Apple Account. If your About screen says iPhone 17, our overview of the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro lineup explains how the models differ.

How to check what Android phone you have

Android phones list their brand and model under About phone in Settings, although the exact wording changes from one manufacturer to the next. The general steps:

1. Open Settings from the app drawer or the quick settings panel (the gear icon).
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap About phone. On some phones it sits inside System, and some tablets call it About tablet.
3. Read the Model name, Model or Device name entry.

On a Samsung Galaxy, Samsung's support page confirms the path Settings > About phone (tap Status if you see it instead). The Samsung Members app shows the same data under Get Help > Device information. On a Google Pixel, About phone lists the model and model number, and the Regulatory labels entry on the same screen also identifies the model.

The Device name at the top of About phone is a label you can edit, so it may say something like "Anna's phone". Trust the Model or Model name line instead. Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones use the same About phone screen, which is also where you go to enable developer options on Redmi and Xiaomi devices.

Model name vs model number vs IMEI

A model name tells you what phone you have, a model number tells you the exact variant, and the IMEI identifies your individual handset. You need different ones for different tasks:

Dialing *#06# in the Phone app is a quick shortcut, but Samsung notes that it shows the IMEI only, not the model name. To turn a model number into a name, enter it into the manufacturer's support site search, or for an iPhone, match the A number against Apple's identification list.

How to identify a phone that will not turn on

A phone that will not boot can still be identified from its hardware, its packaging or the accounts it was signed in to. Try these in order:

• SIM tray slot (iPhone 8 or later): remove the SIM tray and look into the slot under bright light. Apple says the model number is printed on the upper side, the side with the display.
• Charging port (iPhones without a SIM tray): Apple prints the model number inside the USB-C or Lightning connector, again on the display side.
• Back of the phone: iPhone 7 and earlier carry the model number on the back. Many Android phones show only a logo there, so remove the case and check for small print near the bottom edge.
• The original box or receipt: the label on the box usually lists model and IMEI.
• Your Google Account: go to myaccount.google.com, open Security & sign-in, and select Manage all devices under Your devices to see Android phones you have signed in to (Google's instructions).
• Your Apple Account or carrier account: the device list on another Apple device, or your mobile carrier's online account, usually names the handset.

Camera layout and color can narrow it down, but they are not proof: several generations share similar designs. Once the phone works again, confirm the model in Settings before you buy parts or sell it, and factory reset the iPhone before it changes hands.

FAQ

Related: iPhone 14, 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max differences, Haptic Touch vs 3D Touch on iPhone, organize your Android home screen