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Definitive Qualcomm (A1660/A1661) v. Intel (A1778/A1784) iPhone 7/7 Plus Thread

Mr. Zarniwoop

Mr. Zarniwoop

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 9, 2005
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As many are aware, there are two different versions of the iPhone 7/7 Plus for sale in the US:

Model A1660/A1661 (GSM/CDMA)
with Qualcomm Snapdragon X12 Modem (LTE Advanced up to Cat. 12 downlink with 600 Mbps peak download speed)
for Sprint and Verizon
but also works on AT&T and T-Mobile

Model A1778/A1784 (GSM only)
with Intel XMM 7360 Modem (LTE Advanced up to Cat. 10 downlink with 450 Mbps peak download speed)
for AT&T and T-Mobile
but will not work on Sprint nor Verizon

Besides CDMA support (on the A1660/A1661 only), it's difficult to answer any minor differences in usage between the Intel and Qualcomm models of the iPhone 7. This thread is posted to facilitate discussion between real-world differences, if any, between the Intel and Qualcomm LTE platforms in power usage and performance.

This may be a similar situation to "Chipgate" when Apple dual-sourced their A9 system-on-a-chip from both Samsung and TSMC, where benchmarks found the TSMC more power-efficient. However, real-world differences meant that an iPhone 6S with a TSMC-made Apple A9 had only 2-3% better battery life than one with a Samsung-made Apple A9.

Is the Qualcomm or Intel modem better with battery life? Is one faster? Interested in what we know.
 
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Another question. Being a part of iUP we get unlocked phones and also get a chance to change carriers anytime we like. Now since the current GSM ones don't work with CDMA networks and if someone switches carriers, how are things supposed to work?
 
My understanding is you theoretically can use the Intel modem iPhone on Verizon, but wouldn't have access to any of the CDMA... you'd be reliant on LTE and VoLTE.
 
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dagored said:
Verizon has the Qualcomm and AT&T the intel. Apple has a page listing models and info. Some should post it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I figured it out. It's actually printed on the back of the phone. In the tiniest most impossible to read text. Especially if you have a black phone. I had to get my 6S out and use the magnifying flashlight app. I got the crappy Intel chip. It's a regular 7, 128GB, ordered from Apple.com but for the AT&T network.

Check out what the black phone looks like magnified and lit up. Very speckly...

http://imgur.com/a/9uHf7
 
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kjotwani said:
Another question. Being a part of iUP we get unlocked phones and also get a chance to change carriers anytime we like. Now since the current GSM ones don't work with CDMA networks and if someone switches carriers, how are things supposed to work?
Click to expand...
This question is the only easy one.

It does not work that way this year. The change-to-any-carrier benefit is no longer advertised, and only the Qualcomm models work this way.

On the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program, at least this year, you must activate the phone you are buying with the correct carrier. This means if you want to trade-in your AT&T iPhone 6S for a Verizon iPhone 7 under the iUP, you must also activate it in-store on a postpaid Verizon plan.

If you don't have a postpaid Verizon plan, the only way to buy the Verizon iPhone 7 is to buy it full price. It is unlocked, and activates and works just fine on AT&T or T-Mobile.

If you are on the iUP, it's worth knowing that your old AT&T or T-Mobile 6S or 6S plus has a Qualcomm modem and will activate and work just fine on Verizon. I tried it with my AT&T 6S Plus. So, you can sell your old 6S or hand it down safely without worrying about network compatibilities. Just don't forget you still have to pay it off. ;)

I don't know how flexible Sprint devices are on Verizon nor how easy it is to activate a non-Sprint device on Sprint. I didn't try either.
 
theshoehorn said:
My understanding is you theoretically can use the Intel modem iPhone on Verizon, but wouldn't have access to any of the CDMA... you'd be reliant on LTE and VoLTE.
Click to expand...

Hmm
Mr. Zarniwoop said:
This question is the only easy one.

It does not work that way this year. The change-to-any-carrier benefit is no longer advertised, and only the Qualcomm models work this way.

On the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program, at least this year, you must activate the phone you are buying with the correct carrier. This means if you want to trade-in your AT&T iPhone 6S for a Verizon iPhone 7 under the iUP, you must also activate it in-store on a postpaid Verizon plan.

If you don't have a postpaid Verizon plan, the only way to buy the Verizon iPhone 7 is to buy it full price. It is unlocked, and activates and works just fine on AT&T or T-Mobile.

If you are on the iUP, it's worth knowing that your old AT&T or T-Mobile 6S or 6S plus has a Qualcomm modem and will activate and work just fine on Verizon. I tried it with my AT&T 6S Plus. So, you can sell your old 6S or hand it down safely without worrying about network compatibilities. Just don't forget you still have to pay it off. ;)

I don't know how flexible Sprint devices are on Verizon nor how easy it is to activate a non-Sprint device on Sprint. I didn't try either.
Click to expand...

I spoke to the Apple Store. They told come in return ur GSM specific handset. Exchange for a CDMA and don't need Verizon account. They'all activate it on At&T since it supports it. Problem solved :)
Also this is on iUP. Not buying it on full price
 
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kjotwani said:
Hmm


I spoke to the Apple Store. They told come in return ur GSM specific handset. Exchange for a CDMA and don't need Verizon account. They'all activate it on At&T since it supports it. Problem solved :)
Also this is on iUP. Not buying it on full price
Click to expand...

Woot woot! Let us know how the outcome. Would like to know if they ask you to apply for a new loan...
 
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kjotwani said:
Another question. Being a part of iUP we get unlocked phones and also get a chance to change carriers anytime we like. Now since the current GSM ones don't work with CDMA networks and if someone switches carriers, how are things supposed to work?
Click to expand...
The phones are unlocked. However, just because a phone is unlocked does not mean it is interoperable with carriers. That was not part of the "voluntary agreement" that the carriers worked out with the FCC. All they agreed is that they would unlock phones once customers met contractual requirements and they would not refuse to allow a compatible phone onto their network.

Note that Samsung and Motorola have, at least in the past, released different versions of the same phone to each carrier, sometimes supporting only the LTE bands that those carriers used.

Unfortunately, the iUP requires a participating carrier account, so you are stuck with the carrier-assigned inventory. Last year it wasn't an issue (except for the minor difference in that the AT&T model supported Band 30), but this year it is an issue in that AT&T & T-Mobile phones do not support Verizon or Sprint's CDMA networks.
[doublepost=1474228543][/doublepost]
kjotwani said:
Hmm


I spoke to the Apple Store. They told come in return ur GSM specific handset. Exchange for a CDMA and don't need Verizon account. They'all activate it on At&T since it supports it. Problem solved :)
Also this is on iUP. Not buying it on full price
Click to expand...
That's good to hear. Perhaps after the initial rush new buyer will be able to choose the Verizon version at purchase.

That said, I wonder if AT&T will be writing carrier settings compatible with both the Intel and Qualcomm modems. Sure, the Qualcomm modems will work, but will things such as 3x carrier aggregation be turned on?
[doublepost=1474228615][/doublepost]
nivekr11 said:
I noticed field test mode doesn't work in intel modems.
Click to expand...
It's been producing nonsensical results for a while. My guess is that it was written for older Qualcomm modems and is basically abandonware.
[doublepost=1474228923][/doublepost]
lancastor said:
So in Europe you get the Intel version?

Or is it a lottery (like Samsung and TSMC CPU) last year?
Click to expand...
It might be a lottery since the rumor was that Intel was getting about 1/3 of Apple's orders. The Japanese, Korean, and Chinese versions of the iPhone get the Qualcomm modem, as do the Verizon and Sprint models in the US. That doesn't seem like 2/3.
 
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realeric said:
I expected it.

Intel baseband modem = Cat 10(450Mbps), 2015 technology, 28nm fabrication, use more battery.
Qualcomm baseband modem = Cat 12(600Mbps), 2016 technology, 14nm fabrication, use less battery.
Click to expand...

Except that the X12 is software locked Cat 10 speeds. And you're never going to see 600 Mbit in the real world.

This test proves very little. Apart from the tester having poor T-Mobile coverage.
 
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kjotwani said:
I spoke to the Apple Store. They told come in return ur GSM specific handset. Exchange for a CDMA and don't need Verizon account. They'all activate it on At&T since it supports it. Problem solved :)
Also this is on iUP. Not buying it on full price
Click to expand...
I was told the same thing over the phone.

However, in-store, no go with apologies for incorrect information. This was on Friday.

If it works for you let us know.
 
Mr. Zarniwoop said:
I was told the same thing over the phone.

However, in-store, no go with apologies for incorrect information. This was on Friday.

If it works for you let us know.
Click to expand...

On phone was it the store rep or a Apple rep? I had called a store rep and they told as long as there's phone available they'll do it.
 
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