The launch of the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus did not just mean Cupertino has refreshed its most important product with a new 2016 series, however, it also meant that Intel finally made its way to the company’s most prized asset.
While this might be the best news for the American semiconductor company, not everyone who is after buying the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be happy with the latest discovery. In a new report that has released results of LTE connectivity tests done on the 2016 iPhone, it appears that there are some significant differences when it comes to the performance of the phone, something that is caused by the different modems used on the flagships.
Apple went for Qualcomm and Intel as its suppliers as far as iPhone 7 modems are concerned, however, reports show that the Intel-based modem is the weaker than its Qualcomm-made counterpart. This difference in performance will cause problems for Intel just as much as it will for Apple. The latter has been relying on Qualcomm for the supply of its modems for the past years and apparently, there seems to be a lot of regretting to do from Apple. The iPhone 7 maker will be questioning its decision to bring Intel on board the production of its new flagships.
While neither Apple or Intel has come out with a statement regarding this report, consumers of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are the ones at risk now. It is easy to pick up a device that has the Intel modem on board, something that means you get stuck on a low-performing phone as compared to those using that which has a Qualcomm modem.
According to the tests, Qualcomm modems bettered their Intel counterparts by up to 30% when it comes to performance. This got even worse for Intel when the signal was weak, as the former still outran it by 75%. What does this mean? In short, using an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus with a Qualcomm modem promises consistency when it comes to establishing stronger LTE connections as opposed to what Intel modems manage.
So, the million-dollar question here is how does one tell apart an iPhone 7 that has an Intel modem and that with a Qualcomm modem?
Check the model number
If you are careful enough with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, you should notice that there are two different versions of these phones. This is the best and easiest way to differentiate the Intel model from the Qualcomm model.
Those iPhone 7 variants with model numbers A1660 and A1661 are equipped with a Qualcomm modem while those with model numbers A1778 and A1784 are using an Intel modem.
Check the carriers
Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are offered through all four major carriers in the U.S. If you are using a model bought from Sprint or Verizon, be sure that this has a Qualcomm modem inside. However, those using the models sold by T-Mobile and AT&T have the slower Intel modem on board.
What this means is that an iPhone 7 with an Intel modem is not compatible with a CDMA network like Verizon and Sprint. However, the Qualcomm model works on all four carriers. The unlocked models being sold by Apple have the latter modem inside, meaning they offer better performance on all carriers.