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Apple's Chip Choices May Leave Some iPhone Users in Slow Lane (bloomberg.com)
Not all iPhone 7s are created equal, it turns out. The latest flagship smartphones from Apple that run on Verizon's network are technically capable of downloading data faster than those from AT&T. Yet in testing, the two phones perform about the same, according to researchers at Twin Prime Inc. and Cellular Insights. From a Bloomberg report: Neither firm is clear on the reason, but Twin Prime says it may be because Apple isn't using all the potential of a crucial component in the Verizon version. "The data indicates that the iPhone 7 is not taking advantage of all of Verizon's network capabilities," said Gabriel Tavridis, head of product at Twin Prime. "I doubt that Apple is throttling each bit on the Verizon iPhone, but it could have chosen to not enable certain features of the network chip." "Every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus meets or exceeds all of Apple's wireless performance standards, quality metrics, and reliability testing," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said. "In all of our rigorous lab tests based on wireless industry standards, in thousands of hours of real-world field testing, and in extensive carrier partner testing, the data shows there is no discernible difference in the wireless performance of any of the models." It would be an unusual step for a major phone company to restrain its devices. Normally, companies battle to make the fastest, most reliable handsets. Apple may be doing this because it wants to ensure a uniform iPhone experience, according to analysts.
Apple isn't using all the potential of a crucial component in the Verizon version
Oh! Is it the barometric pressure sensor? It's the barometric pressure sensor isn't it?
My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
Maybe it's because I haven't had my afternoon eight ball, but I have no idea what that's supposed to mean.
How about some real news for nerds, like star wars fan fiction where Princess Leia and Han Solo fuck or something.
First post!
Posted on my Apple iPhone 7 with Verizon Wireless
They're trying to break free of Qualcomm's draconian licensing costs for their modem chipsets, which is understandable from a business perspective. However the replacement Intel chips that can only power the GSM/UMTS/LTE versions of the phones aren't quite as capable as those Qualcomm units used in the CDMA and SIM-free versions.
So that leaves them with two options, a CDMA model that has better LTE performance than the GSM version, in which case people would absolutely scream bloody murder, or disable the advanced functionality of the CDMA version so they both perform similarly, in which case people will absolutely scream bloody murder.
Of course, since there is no cost savings for buying the Intel-modem based version over the Qualcomm-modem based version, anyone in the market for an iPhone should just buy the SIM-free unit that has the better performing chipset. And given the high cost of the iPhone to begin with, all versions should probably have the Qualcomm chipset and benefit from the options that enable faster performance.
We sure the memory speed isn't the bottleneck? Wasn't it reported the iphone 7 32gb has significantly slower memory?
Neither firm is clear on the reason, but Twin Prime says it may be because Apple isn't using all the potential of a crucial component in the Verizon version. "The data indicates that the iPhone 7 is not taking advantage of all of Verizon's network capabilities," said Gabriel Tavridis, head of product at Twin Prime
There is a possible reason for it. Apple has 2 sources for the iPhone 7 - a Qualcomm chipset, that would support the extended capabilities, and an Intel chipset, which won't. It's not that the Intel one won't work w/ Verizon at all, just that it will be incompatible if it has to work w/ the legacy Verizon CDMA network. In order to keep things even so that the 2 part numbers are interchangeable, Apple makes the tests the lowest common denominator.
If they wanted, Verizon could optimize the phones so that they'd go full throttle, except that they would then be supply constrained to use only one part number, instead of either
A bit of a dupe, it was reported before on /. though it was citing different sources.
"Every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus meets or exceeds all of Apple's wireless performance standards, quality metrics, and reliability testing."
So the phone meets or exceeds your undisclosed standards and metrics. That puts the matter to rest.
People use phones to play war games, take cat videos, and send texts. Nobody needs eleventy-G LTE and a petabyte of storage. How about a damn phone that works for days on a charge?
This deficit between iPhones is kind of a moot point because if you actually manage to get the top speed for more than a few seconds then you're going to blow through your monthly bandwidth limit.
Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
What incredible courage!
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Until they're made in the U.S. again.
Realistically, I doubt most customers will care. The idea that this will be some kind of revelation that angers people into switching to Android alternatives seems far fetched to me. The people who are hell bent on focusing on specs already chose something other than the iPhone anyway, because "Phone Z has a camera with more megapixels!" or "Phone A has better battery life."
The Qualcomm modems support LTE modes that Intel's do not, but no network on the planet is currently supporting those modes. You can show a significant different when testing with lab equipment, but no one calls lab equipment.
iPhone Users in Slow Lane
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the two phones perform about the same
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