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vngannxx

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 22, 2009
108
428
From looking at the iPhone 7 LTE band support, only the CDMA versions (Verizon and Sprint) of the iPhone 7 will have LTE support in China and Hong Kong. The CDMA version adds TD-SCDMA 1900 and 2000 bands. Only more reason to pick up the CDMA model over the GSM only one.
 

haruhiko

macrumors 604
Sep 29, 2009
6,691
6,245
Thanks for the info. In Apple's LTE supported carriers page, Hong Kong's networks are only supported by the CDMA versions of the iPhone 7/Plus. Does it mean that the iPhone 7 selling in HK are actually the CDMA version?
 

Juan007

macrumors 6502a
Jun 14, 2010
780
936
What a catastrophe this is, 99% of customers won't have a clue about this until it's too late. Can't wait for the Intel vs Qualcomm modem comparison too, if there's any difference at all then it's TSMC vs Samsung all over again.

Seriously stupid decision by Apple to screw over their customers paying $650+ for literally PENNIES. Tim Cook should be ashamed, this is SHAMEFUL.
 

sawah

macrumors 65816
Sep 13, 2010
1,126
686
It's not shameful. It's a good way to reduce scalping. Plus reading is also a good trait to have...if you want to use a phone in another country you should research before you buy it.
 
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Juan007

macrumors 6502a
Jun 14, 2010
780
936
Edit: Reducing scalping while at the same time screwing over unsuspecting customers. Spread the news, iPhone 7 GSM SKUs are iPhone 7 MINUS.
 
Last edited:

Juan007

macrumors 6502a
Jun 14, 2010
780
936
Watch how suddenly every MacRumors user frequents Japan and/or is planning a trip next month.

It's irrelevant whether you're traveling or not. Apple is selling one model that is inferior to the other. If you have a choice, why would you buy the inferior model? Even ignoring possible issues with the Intel modem vs Qualcomm, there's no reason anyone educated with the facts would choose a GSM model.

Maybe you don't even have a passport. Maybe you've been an AT&T customer for 10 years. What about when iPhone 8 launches? Maybe you'll want to sell your iPhone 7.. maybe you'll fine the resale market for an inferior phone is far weaker..
 

Mikedave

macrumors newbie
Sep 29, 2015
27
8
Hi everyone,
I think we do not have the correct spec list for GSM and CDMA models. Apple did that last year with iPhone 6s.

If you really pay attention how come Canadian cdma providers are listed on GSM version of iPhone 7 (model a1778). Please pay attention to that.
 
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RedOrchestra

Suspended
Aug 13, 2012
2,623
3,237
there's no reason anyone educated with the facts would choose a GSM model.


REALLY ... so I guess you're the only one with the facts, huh. I don't think you can even buy anything other than a GSM iPhone, in Canada ... and those are the facts.
[doublepost=1473772306][/doublepost]
I think we do not have the correct spec list for GSM and CDMA models.


Have you seen this list from Apple - http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
 

noobinator

macrumors 604
Jun 19, 2009
7,335
6,998
Los Angeles, CA
I live in the US, don't travel out of country and have no plans to use Verizon or Spring. I'll enjoy my iPhone 7 Minus Juan, while you enjoy your worldly travels, changing between various GSM/CDMA networks. In the end, you may just get $25 more than me reselling next year. Outside of the thousands you spend to travel to these locations and your bills for continuously changing between GSM & CDMA carriers.
 
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Agent OrangeZ

macrumors 68040
Mar 17, 2010
3,022
3,016
Planet Earth
This whole thing is dumb. The only reason some people are up in arms about this... their sense of entitlement. Someone people (many on this forum) cannot stand it if someone is getting something that they are not. Even if it is something they do not need. They are on a carrier that doesn't even use CDMA... they don't even need it... but they feel like... if other people are getting it... I should have it in my phone too.

It's like go to a place that serves steak for a fixed price, but they offer free sides of broccoli with the purchase of the steak. Some eat broccoli because they like it, but then you have the guys who don't like broccoli, won't eat it and will let it go to waste on their plate and toss it out... but they had to get the broccoli with their steak because the other people got it with theirs... and they can't have people getting something that they didn't get.
 
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Aston441

macrumors 68030
Sep 16, 2014
2,607
3,948
Hi everyone,
I think we do not have the correct spec list for GSM and CDMA models. Apple did that last year with iPhone 6s.

If you really pay attention how come Canadian cdma providers are listed on GSM version of iPhone 7 (model a1778). Please pay attention to that.

Correct. Last year I had to return a 6s+ because Apple changed the band specs on their website. TWICE. I'd wait a month for everything to settle before buying a new iPhone if ever planning to switch carriers or travel out of country.
 

Juan007

macrumors 6502a
Jun 14, 2010
780
936
This whole thing is dumb. The only reason some people are up in arms about this... their sense of entitlement.

Yup, you're 100% right. When I spend $650+ on a phone, I'm entitled to the best version of the phone, not a nearly-secret gimped inferior version. iPhone 7 MINUS, spread the word.
 

theshoehorn

macrumors 6502a
Jul 6, 2010
505
490
Come one guys... If you put the specs side-by-side, the CDMA and GSM models have the exact same LTE bands. Only difference is the lack of a CDMA radio.

CDMA GSM
1 (2100 MHz) 1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz) 2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz) 3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS) 4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz) 5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz) 7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz) 8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz) 12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz) 13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz) 17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz) 18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz) 19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD) 20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz) 25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz) 26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz) 27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz) 28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz) 29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz) 30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600) 38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900) 39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300) 40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500) 41 (TD 2500)
 

perkedel

macrumors 6502a
Dec 30, 2014
534
203
California
there's no reason anyone educated with the facts would choose a GSM model.

We get it you're fuming about the difference. You can just stop now dude.
I'm educated enough about the fact and chose GSM model, as the CDMA makes no difference to my life at all. Don't be a condescending prick.
 

dontwalkhand

macrumors 603
Jul 5, 2007
6,464
3,023
Phoenix, AZ
REALLY ... so I guess you're the only one with the facts, huh. I don't think you can even buy anything other than a GSM iPhone, in Canada ... and those are the facts.
[doublepost=1473772306][/doublepost]


Have you seen this list from Apple - http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
So from the looks of that, my GSM phone will do just fine and in China I'll just have to "suffer" with HSPA+. I'm ok with that. I'm hitting Australia soon, and looks like my gsm phone will do just fine.
 

ahostmadsen

macrumors 65816
Dec 28, 2009
1,109
854
This is rather terrible, if true. I have become used to using my iPhone worldwide on travels. With T-mobile, texts are free and calls only 20c/minute. I preordered the iPhone 7, but I might return it.

But the list doesn't make quite sense to me. I have a T-mobile iPhone 5s, and I have used it (at least) in Denmark, Korea, and Hong Kong, and according to the list I should have been unable to use it any of those places.
[doublepost=1473776516][/doublepost]Or maybe I misunderstand the list. The (T-mobile) iPhone 7 can still be used in other countries, just not on LTE? Anyway, T-mobile just offers low speed wireless internationally.
 

Agent OrangeZ

macrumors 68040
Mar 17, 2010
3,022
3,016
Planet Earth
Come one guys... If you put the specs side-by-side, the CDMA and GSM models have the exact same LTE bands. Only difference is the lack of a CDMA radio.

CDMA GSM
1 (2100 MHz) 1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz) 2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz) 3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS) 4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz) 5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz) 7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz) 8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz) 12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz) 13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz) 17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz) 18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz) 19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD) 20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz) 25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz) 26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz) 27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz) 28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz) 29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz) 30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600) 38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900) 39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300) 40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500) 41 (TD 2500)

THANK YOU!!! I said the same thing earlier in the thread. There will only be 2 things preventing the GSM iPhone from being used on a carrier.

#1. If the carrier NEEDS CDMA support...
As it stands now... you can use a NON-CDMA LTE phone on Verizon... and well... only get LTE. This was a problem at first, but now that VoLTE is out in the wild... you will be fine in LTE coverage areas... you just won't have the CDMA fallback network.

#2. If the carrier only allows whitelisted IMEI/MEID/ESN numbers. Sprint is notorious for this. But then again... if you are with Sprint... you WILL need the CDMA support because their LTE Network is garbage, and LTE coverage is sparse. Plus they do not offer VoLTE... so no calls over the LTE Network.

As for the Chinese carriers... both phones offer TD-LTE... so unless the carriers are outright blocking the phones... both phones can support the Chinese networks. I don't know if any of the Chinese carriers have any CDMA coverage... but still...


The bottom line is....
Your respective carrier will sell you an iPhone that is compatible with your network. If you are traveling overseas... you will be able to use your phone with whatever LTE network is available... either via roaming or local SIM.
 

ahostmadsen

macrumors 65816
Dec 28, 2009
1,109
854
THANK YOU!!! I said the same thing earlier in the thread. There will only be 2 things preventing the GSM iPhone from being used on a carrier.

#1. If the carrier NEEDS CDMA support...
As it stands now... you can use a NON-CDMA LTE phone on Verizon... and well... only get LTE. This was a problem at first, but now that VoLTE is out in the wild... you will be fine in LTE coverage areas... you just won't have the CDMA fallback network.

#2. If the carrier only allows whitelisted IMEI/MEID/ESN numbers. Sprint is notorious for this. But then again... if you are with Sprint... you WILL need the CDMA support because their LTE Network is garbage, and LTE coverage is sparse. Plus they do not offer VoLTE... so no calls over the LTE Network.

As for the Chinese carriers... both phones offer TD-LTE... so unless the carriers are outright blocking the phones... both phones can support the Chinese networks. I don't know if any of the Chinese carriers have any CDMA coverage... but still...


The bottom line is....
Your respective carrier will sell you an iPhone that is compatible with your network. If you are traveling overseas... you will be able to use your phone with whatever LTE network is available... either via roaming or local SIM.
OK, this is comforting.
 
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