Phone Repair Parts Guide

Phone Repair Parts Guide / Model numbers

Reference guide to phone repair parts

Find your phone's model number before you order a part

The name on the box tells you which phone it is. The model number tells you which version of that phone it is, and that is what a part has to match.

Published November 5, 2026

Short answer

Open Settings, then About (iPhone: Settings, General, About) and read the model number. One marketing name, such as iPhone 15 Pro, can cover several model numbers sold in different countries, and those versions are not always built the same way. Match the part listing to the model number, not only to the name.

Why is the phone's name not enough?

Manufacturers sell the same phone under one name but several model numbers. Apple's own list shows four model numbers for the iPhone 15 Pro: A2848 for the United States and Puerto Rico, A3101 for Canada, Guam, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, A3104 for China mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and A3102 for other countries and regions.

The versions can differ physically. Apple states that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 14 sold in the United States have no SIM tray, while in other countries or regions there is a SIM tray on the left side. A housing or frame made for one of those versions is a different shape from the other. That is why parts are matched to the model number, and why a phone bought abroad or second hand deserves a check before you order.

Where is the model number on each brand?

Where to read the model number, by brand
BrandIn SettingsWithout Settings
iPhoneSettings, General, About. The number next to Model Number is the part number; tap it to show the model number.iPhone 7 and earlier: printed on the back. iPhone 8 or later with a SIM tray: in the SIM tray slot, on the side facing the display. No SIM tray: inside the charging port, on the display side, in bright light.
Samsung GalaxySettings, About phone (or About tablet). Screens vary by carrier, software version and model.Samsung lists the back of the phone, the box, the receipt and *#06# for the IMEI and serial number, not the model number. Use Settings while the phone still works.
MotorolaSettings, About phone, then Model or Model & hardware, shown as Model Number (SKU). The exact path depends on the Android version.Not covered by Motorola's model number page; read it from Settings while the phone works.
Google PixelSettings, About phone, then scroll to Model.The phone's box.

Each path comes from the manufacturer's own support page, listed in the sources below. Menu names change with software updates, so if a step does not match, search Settings for "model".

Model number, IMEI, serial or part number?

  • Model number identifies the hardware version, often tied to a country or carrier. This is the number a replacement part has to match.
  • IMEI and serial number identify one individual phone. Samsung describes them as different for every phone. They matter for warranty, carrier and theft checks, not for choosing a part.
  • Part number on iPhone is what About shows first next to Model Number. It is not the model number; tap it once to switch.

How do you use it when ordering a part?

  1. Read the model number before you open the phone, and write it on the repair ticket.
  2. Look for the model number, or the exact version, in the part listing. If a listing gives only the marketing name, compare your number with the manufacturer's model list, such as Apple's page for identifying iPhone models.
  3. If the phone will not turn on, an iPhone still shows the number in the SIM tray slot or charging port, and Google says a Pixel's box shows it too.
  4. Take extra care with housings and other parts shaped around the SIM tray, the difference Apple documents between country versions.

For brand-level detail, Parts4Cells publishes lookup guides to Apple A-numbers and Samsung SM model codes. The part names used in listings are defined in the repair parts glossary.

Sources

  1. Apple Support: Find the model number of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
  2. Apple Support: Identify your iPhone model
  3. Samsung US: Find your Samsung phone or tablet's IMEI, model, or serial number
  4. Motorola Support US: Find my model number
  5. Google Store Help: Find your device serial number and model

Sources checked November 5, 2026. Menu paths and model lists change with new phones and software updates; confirm them on the linked pages.