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

[FoxD]

I went to the Apple Store to pick up my third replacement this weekend. I finally got an Intel modem version, A1784.
It is less yellow and more bright for sure than my last two Qualcomm versions. Plus, the signal strength is better and no dropped calls yet. Ive compared them all to my wife's Intel iPhone 7 Plus and this one is very close to hers unlike my others.

This all could be coincidence but I finally am happy with my 7 Plus. I also looked at the store models and they were all the A1784s in my store.

 

[jtwlbz]

I went to the Apple Store to pick up my third replacement this weekend. I finally got an Intel modem version, A1784.
It is less yellow and more bright for sure than my last two Qualcomm versions. Plus, the signal strength is better and no dropped calls yet. Ive compared them all to my wife's Intel iPhone 7 Plus and this one is very close to hers unlike my others.

This all could be coincidence but I finally am happy with my 7 Plus. I also looked at the store models and they were all the A1784s in my store.

Do you hear buzzing? I notice intel modem ones making louder buzz than qc

 

[Thor_1]

I went to the Apple Store to pick up my third replacement this weekend. I finally got an Intel modem version, A1784.
It is less yellow and more bright for sure than my last two Qualcomm versions. Plus, the signal strength is better and no dropped calls yet. Ive compared them all to my wife's Intel iPhone 7 Plus and this one is very close to hers unlike my others.

This all could be coincidence but I finally am happy with my 7 Plus. I also looked at the store models and they were all the A1784s in my store.

so now we are saying that the intel modems are causing the yellow screens?

Do you hear buzzing? I notice intel modem ones making louder buzz than qc

What proof?

 

[Low country]

Since the Sim-Free Model is the Sprint/Verizon Model, it's definitely going to have the Qualcomm Chip in it oppose to intel. Sim-Free model has both GSM and CDMA.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-7-iphone-7-plus.

Thank you. But I'm really confused on if it truly matters which modem the iPhone 7/7+ has. I've read pages of non scientific hearsay. This is probably a good thing as I await Apple to get their $ H I T together with quality control before I buy another 7+

 

[tekjunkie]

Thank you. But I'm really confused on if it truly matters which modem the iPhone 7/7+ has. I've read pages of non scientific hearsay. This is probably a good thing as I await Apple to get their $ H I T together with quality control before I buy another 7+

No it doesn't matter unless you have a sim free version or plan on switching carriers all the time. But you can't have the intel modem if you have a sim free iPhone. There would be no point.

 

[Low country]

No it doesn't matter unless you have a sim free version or plan on switching carriers all the time. But you can't have the intel modem if you have a sim free iPhone. There would be no point.

I'm definitely staying with AT&T as I have a discounted corporate account and AT&T has treated me fairly well over the last 11 years. I buy my phones outright and never finance them. What I'm trying to get to the bottom of is if there is a noticeable difference between the Intel modem vs the qualcomm modem. Do I want the SIM free Qualcomm version OR the AT&T Intel version?

The following is most important:

1. Signal strength

2. Battery life

3. Data speed

4. Call quality


Thanks very much

 

[tekjunkie]

I'm definitely staying with AT&T as I have a discounted corporate account and AT&T has treated me fairly well over the last 11 years. What I'm trying to get to the bottom of is if there is a noticeable difference between the Intel modem vs the qualcomm modem in:

1. Signal strength

2. Battery life

3. Data speed

4. Call quality

These are the four things that matter most to me and probably everyone here....

Thanks very much

Nope, no difference.

 

[Daniel L]

Just throwing another wrench into things. I used the speedtest app to compare an Intel 7+ to a 6s. Prior to 10.1 beta 4, the 6s would beat the 7+ consistently, with the results looking like the ones joelP22 posted back on page 8. Before beta 4, the 7+ would speed up and slow down during the speed test. After the update, I haven't noticed this behavior and the results are relatively similar.

 

[Mr. Zarniwoop]

More fuel for the fire: http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/

 

[blackberrycubed]

intel model iphone is inferior. Period.

 

[Thor_1]

intel model iphone is inferior. Period.

I am having trouble getting to the site, could you cut and past the text?

 

[FoxMike]

Off topic but Intel destroys Qualcomm when it comes to wifi cards. My laptop had an atheros card in it from Qualcomm. It was complete rubbish. The intel card has way faster speed and reliability.

 

[headcase]

More fuel for the fire: http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/

More like definitively answered the question of this thread. This is the kind of comparison testing I was waiting for...

 

[cc999]

This sums it up from the article:

"In all tests, the iPhone 7 Plus with the Qualcomm modem had a significant performance edge over the iPhone 7 Plus with the Intel modem. We are not sure what was the main reason behind Apple’s decision to source two different modem suppliers for the newest iPhone. Considering that the iPhone with the Qualcomm modem is being sold in China, Japan and in the United States only, we can not imagine that modem performance was a deciding factor. "

Case closed............Those with the Intel modems that paid the same as I did with the world Qualcomm modem I think you made a mistake.

CC

 

[thadoggfather]

Eh I'm still happy with my Intel 7+

 

[blackberrycubed]

This sums it up from the article:

"In all tests, the iPhone 7 Plus with the Qualcomm modem had a significant performance edge over the iPhone 7 Plus with the Intel modem. We are not sure what was the main reason behind Apple’s decision to source two different modem suppliers for the newest iPhone. Considering that the iPhone with the Qualcomm modem is being sold in China, Japan and in the United States only, we can not imagine that modem performance was a deciding factor. "

Case closed............Those with the Intel modems that paid the same as I did with the world Qualcomm modem I think you made a mistake.

CC

Boom. Agreed.

 

[ilifecomputer]

I've noticed a huge decrease in speed moving to my intel 7+ from my 6S (in same bedroom environment) and always assumed it was the switch to intel.

 

[normanfox]

Case closed............Those with the Intel modems that paid the same as I did with the world Qualcomm modem I think you made a mistake.

CC

dude, look like you are on mission to destroy Intel modem because your Qualcomm has an extra "$100" value, from your post history. Good for you.


real life difference is less than 1%. this is a non-story. I bought two AT&T iphone 7 plus, and I am not worried a bit. In fact, I am kind of like Intel since it has no CDMA legacy.

 

[thadoggfather]

dude, look like you are on mission to destroy Intel modem because your Qualcomm has an extra "$100" value, from your post history. Good for you.


real life difference is less than 1%. this is a non-story. I bought two AT&T iphone 7 plus, and I am not worried a bit. In fact, I am kind of like Intel since it has no CDMA legacy.

Amen. Plus Johnny Ive would approve of the intel radio removing the cdma clutter. In fact, this very fact, I have it on good authority that this inspired him to birth the jet black color and radical new design and removal of the headphone jack clutter.

 

[kevinkyoo]

Of course Apple has to do something like this. Of course Intel's performs worse than QC's. For those who are saying it doesn't matter, I get it - at the end of the day, the 7+ is a great phone. But when I'm paying $1000, I don't want to have the inferior version of the phone, in which the better one has 30% better performance.

Does anyone know if Apple's phones will all be sim-free if you were to swap out under warranty? I have unrelated issues with the phone as well.

 

[normanfox]

Of course Apple has to do something like this. Of course Intel's performs worse than QC's. For those who are saying it doesn't matter, I get it - at the end of the day, the 7+ is a great phone. But when I'm paying $1000, I don't want to have the inferior version of the phone, in which the better one has 30% better performance.

Does anyone know if Apple's phones will all be sim-free if you were to swap out under warranty? I have unrelated issues with the phone as well.

I agree that you would expect alot from $1000 cash. some of us don't pay full price since carriers subsidize 90% of the cost through their promotions. iphone 7 Plus is a great phone. even better, it has an excellent deal.

 

[Givmeabrek]

Of course Apple has to do something like this. Of course Intel's performs worse than QC's. For those who are saying it doesn't matter, I get it - at the end of the day, the 7+ is a great phone. But when I'm paying $1000, I don't want to have the inferior version of the phone, in which the better one has 30% better performance.

Does anyone know if Apple's phones will all be sim-free if you were to swap out under warranty? I have unrelated issues with the phone as well.

Apple will only swap for the exact same model.

 

[Juan007]

Shame on Apple for releasing an inferior product to save literally a few pennies.

 

[DeSlaye]

Shame on Apple for releasing an inferior product to save literally a few pennies.

Uh, not paying fees for CDMA plus saving money with Intel is a lot more then a few pennies per phone.

 

[mjb59463]

Would this modem difference have any impact on international roaming?

My dad is using his 7 Plus (T-Mobile version) overseas in India and is unable to obtain service for more than 15 mins, at which point it displays "No Service" and needs the network settings reset every single time for it to work again for the next 15 mins.

His backup phone, an iPhone 6, is maintaining signal perfectly.