That's right ladies and gentlemen, the above image is a SIM ejector tool that was first included with the iPhone 3G and later with the iPhone 3GS and according to Cult of Mac it is indeed made out of Liquidmetal. Yes, this is the exact same Liquidmetal that Apple recently licensed the intellectual property of just last week. And in case you were wondering exactly what is Liquidmetal - it's a very hard metal alloy, basically unbendable, and has a distinctive color and feel.
Cult of Mac spoke to the co-inventor of this new metal alloy, Atakan Peker, and he noticed Apple was using his metal the moment he opened up his iPhone 3G.
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blockquote>“That’s my metal,” he said. “I recognized it immediately. Take it from an expert, that’s Liquidmetal.”
Cult of Mac wanted to be 100% sure about this so they went ahead and independently verified that Apple did in fact use Liquidmetal that was sourced from Liquidmetal Technologies. The length of time Apple sourced Liquidmetal for SIM ejector pins is unknown as the SIM ejector tools that shipped with European iPhones were made from regular steel that can be bent with ease. If you purchased a iPhone 4 and wondering where you Liquidmetal SIM ejector tool is, Apple did not one include one this time around.
Reader comments
Apple's first Liquidmetal product revealed
I noticed the tool that came with my iPad and it was different.
I noticed that the tool that came with my 3GS and iPad where different (here in Australia)...... the 3GS one had a sharp feel to the edges, and the iPad one has a smooth rounded feel...... I think i also notices some small text on one edge....... might check it out.......
I got a tool in Canada
--- with my bare hands too.
How come the one that came with my US 3GS bends quite easily?
I just pulled mine out of my old 3G box and it bent easily. Maybe it's because I play football
Came with my 3G. Wow, this thing is very impressive. Very thin yet, as they claimed, virtually unable to yield. It bends, but springs immediately back to shape, straight as an arrow after you let it go.
Australian iPhone 4 came with ejector tool. We didn't get the "death grip" tho, so I guess that balances out.
Rearden Metal FTW
I tried bending the one that came with the 3GS. It's not easy with bare hands which is odd because the metal is not that thick in any direction. Interesting.
Jeremy you are 100% correct that in the USA the iPhone 4 did not come with a sim removal tool. That is according to Apple and those that did receive one; it was a factory mistake. And to correct one of your readers, there are times when we might gave to remove the sim card such as troubleshooting issues.
Apple does sell the tool for MSRP $13.00 USD.
For those of us that have had to already replace the iPhone 4 with Apple's advance exchange (Apple FedEx's a phone to your home which takes about 5 business days) receives a sim card removal tool for free.
We can also just use a paper clip to remove the sim card.
Dito for Germany - got the tool in two out of two boxes.
I got a sim tool with my iPhone 4 in the UK
Yes, I am in Canada. Weird that US did not get one, yet they did for the other models.
apple acquired liquidmetal just last week, so if you got an international iPhone 4, it would still be pretty doubtful that they shipped with liquidmetal sim ejectors, right?
Bought my iPhone 4 in Canada, and IT DID COME WITH a LiquidMetal Sim Tool.
We here in the US probably didn't get a SIM ejector tool because SIM only works on 1 phone, on 1 carrier. There really isn't any need to remove it.
Well, that just sucks. US iPhone 4 owners don't get the SIM removal tool but the rest of the world does. WTH!
Yeah, Canadian iPhone 4s include them. My 3G's SIM tool was certainly bendable, though...
ummm, the article clearly states "...a SIM ejector tool that was first included with the iPhone 3G and later with the iPhone 3GS".
I should make it clear they claim they are basically unbendable with the bare hands. Just throwing that out there. Sorry for any confusion.
Came with my 64gb iPad 3G
I'm in US and I want my iPhone liquid metal SIM tool!!! Oh, thx for the case BTW Apple.
I am in Canada and my iPhone 4 did in fact come with one of those.
Unbendable... Maybe after a certain thickness but not the SIM removal tool which is bendable. Your correc Jerermy, the iPhone 4 doesn't come with one but there are people and unboxing videos claiming to include it.
I got one in Canada. Would it be liquidmetal?
I'm in the UK and my 4 did come with an ejector tool. Now you've made me want to go and try and bend it!
WTH? I have never received a sim ejector tool!
Rick, are you in the US? iPhone 4's in the US did not come with a SIM ejector tool. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I've opened 4 of them and not a single one came with the tool.
I'm confused, cause both my iPhone 4's came with a SIM tool. Or did you mean it didn't come with a Liquidmetal one?
Oooh aaah...