iPhone X Intel vs. Qualcomm modems in X/8+

[raqball]

As far as I know carriers in the US have deals with Apple where they agree to buy and sell xxx number of iPhones (at least it use to be that way). If AT&T were to allow Best Buy to sell an unlocked, SIM free version of the iPhone and put it on AT&T payments then the model sold would not be an AT&T model and would not count towards AT&T quota.

I'm not 100% positive I am correct but that's the way I understand it. I suppose it could be based on activations but I don't think that what is used to meet their sales quota.

I assume AT&T and / or T-Mobile would be irate if Best Buy was selling 1865's (read: Qualcomm) and putting them on AT&T or T-Mobile payment plans. Maybe not, who knows. I've never purchased a phone from BB so I don't speak from experience.

How do you know they don’t sell Intel modem iPhones sim free too? Why wouldn’t they do so?

The only unlocked iPhone X for sale in the US at least is model A1865 and that is the Qualcomm version. There is no unlocked, SIM free version of the Intel. Now you can buy a Intel version and get it unlocked but that's not really the same.

 

[fischersd]

So it’s just an assumption then? Here n the U.K. as I understand you can end up with Qualcomm or Intel buying Sim free, and it doesn’t matter where you buy it from, apparently.

Very different landscape in Europe with so many different carriers. You can't even buy the Qualcomm version in Canada anymore.

As Intel will have a CDMA-capable modem for the fall, highly likely this is the last Qualcomm will be in an iPhone (unless they "kiss and make up" with Apple).

In the US, the "SIM free" has always been the CDMA/GSM flavour, so it will work on any US carrier - the same model that Verizon & Sprint sell as they were CDMA carriers.

This is the phone that (about a decade ago) the CDMA carriers were calling a "world phone" as it could roam onto GSM networks. Prior to dual-radio handsets their roaming capabilities were pretty limited.

 

[jav6454]

I'm thinking of switching carriers while AT&T has the BOGO going on. Is there much of a difference between Intel & Qualcomm modems inside either the X or 8+?

I'm thinking of going to Best Buy to do this if you all think it's worth it for the Qualcomm.

Thanks in advance!

None as any advantage the Qualcomm model has has been capped (speed-wise) by Apple. The only real difference is signal acquisition.

 

[kevink2]

How do you know they don’t sell Intel modem iPhones sim free too? Why wouldn’t they do so?

Helps with inventory management too. If they sold carrier specific models, they could be in the case where they have the ATT version, but someone wants to buy a phone for Verizon. There probably is enough issues with handling color options, storage options.
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So it’s just an assumption then? Here n the U.K. as I understand you can end up with Qualcomm or Intel buying Sim free, and it doesn’t matter where you buy it from, apparently.

No CDMA carriers in the UK, so that isn't an issue Apple has to worry about. It is likely that roaming partners for them in the US, for example, don't include Sprint or Verizon.

 

[maverick22]

Because it would come back and bite Best Buy in the ass if they did so - everyone's expectation is that the "SIM free" handset has the Qualcomm modem in it - so it can work on Verizon & Sprint's CDMA networks (ie - it works on ALL carriers in the US).

@maverick22 - lots of people bitch about T-Mo's coverage. A Qualcomm equipped iPhone X likely would have helped you if you were staying on T-Mobile (you could get one used?)
As raqball said, no-one's going to sell you a new "SIM free" (Verizon/Sprint/A1865) on a financing plan for either AT&T or T-mobile - not unless you have a really good friend that's a store manager.

Maybe I'm confused. The way the BB employees explained it to me, their iphones are not carrier specific. All they do is go back to their inventory, see what storage and color a customer wants, and they grab that box. That phone I thought will work for all of the carriers they sell (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint). For that to happen, I would assume they only sell the models with the Qualcomm modem inside. Once they insert your carrier sim, then it becomes locked to that carrier.

That's the way it was explained to me. The BB reps actually didn't know the difference between "Intel vs. Qualcomm."

 

[raqball]

Maybe I'm confused. The way the BB employees explained it to me, their iphones are not carrier specific. All they do is go back to their inventory, see what storage and color a customer wants, and they grab that box. That phone I thought will work for all of the carriers they sell (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint). For that to happen, I would assume they only sell the models with the Qualcomm modem inside. Once they insert your carrier sim, then it becomes locked to that carrier.

That's the way it was explained to me. The BB reps actually didn't know the difference between "Intel vs. Qualcomm."

If that's what BB does then sweet but I don't know how AT&T and T-Mobile would allow them to remain selling their services if that's the case.. I'd assume (and maybe wrongly so) that they want their phone sold if it's on their payment plan.

I've never purchased from BB so maybe that's what they do and with approval to do so. The only way to find out 100% is to go do it I suppose..

 

[apolloa]

Helps with inventory management too. If they sold carrier specific models, they could be in the case where they have the ATT version, but someone wants to buy a phone for Verizon. There probably is enough issues with handling color options, storage options.
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No CDMA carriers in the UK, so that isn't an issue Apple has to worry about. It is likely that roaming partners for them in the US, for example, don't include Sprint or Verizon.

I know their are no CDMA carriers in the U.K., I was referring the OPs post in relation to where they live. But roaming is a big thing.

 

[fischersd]

Maybe I'm confused. The way the BB employees explained it to me, their iphones are not carrier specific. All they do is go back to their inventory, see what storage and color a customer wants, and they grab that box. That phone I thought will work for all of the carriers they sell (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint). For that to happen, I would assume they only sell the models with the Qualcomm modem inside. Once they insert your carrier sim, then it becomes locked to that carrier.

That's the way it was explained to me. The BB reps actually didn't know the difference between "Intel vs. Qualcomm."

Well, they'll know the "SIM Free" SKU - which is the one that has the Qualcomm modem (as the current Intel modems don't do CDMA - which Sprint and Verizon are, unfortunately, still running). Last I heard Verizon's turning down their CDMA network end of 2019.

I don't know why you'd have it locked to any carrier if you're paying full "pop" for the phone....shouldn't be. It should only be the carrier-specific SKU's that get locked to the carriers on activation.

 

[raqball]

Well, they'll know the "SIM Free" SKU - which is the one that has the Qualcomm modem (as the current Intel modems don't do CDMA - which Sprint and Verizon are, unfortunately, still running). Last I heard Verizon's turning down their CDMA network end of 2019.

I don't know why you'd have it locked to any carrier if you're paying full "pop" for the phone....shouldn't be. It should only be the carrier-specific SKU's that get locked to the carriers on activation.

OP wants the Buy One Give One (BOGO) offer from AT&T. To do that both phones need to be financed and you get a bill credit for one of the phones (the least expensive one). I don't think AT&T allows them both to be an X though. One can be an X and the other needs to be an 8 or an 8 Plus.

 

[maverick22]

OP wants the Buy One Give One (BOGO) offer from AT&T. To do that both phones need to be financed and you get a bill credit for one of the phones (the least expensive one). I don't think AT&T allows them both to be an X though. One can be an X and the other needs to be an 8 or an 8 Plus.

Yeah I won't be paying full price anyways. I was told both can be a X.

 

[raqball]

Yeah I won't be paying full price anyways. I was told both can be a X.

Yup...

https://www.att.com/deals/your-iphone-bogo-thing.html

 

[Princejb134]

Considering millions and millions of non geeks have the T-Mobile and ATT version of the Intel phones and they never notice any difference whatsoever, I'd say the debate over the 2 is just for a niche user-base.

I've never bother worrying about it and honestly I've never noticed any difference whatsoever. I've had unlocked and AT&T versions of the same iPhones and I suppose if I ran test I would have seen a difference but in day to day normal person use? None, nada, zilch.

To each their own I suppose.

I agree the difference may be so little that the normal user won't notice. I know I wouldn't since I just do basic things on my phone like text, music and solitaire

 

[AnthroMatt]

If that's what BB does then sweet but I don't know how AT&T and T-Mobile would allow them to remain selling their services if that's the case.. I'd assume (and maybe wrongly so) that they want their phone sold if it's on their payment plan.

I've never purchased from BB so maybe that's what they do and with approval to do so. The only way to find out 100% is to go do it I suppose..

From what I understand, BB does sell Qualcomm models for AT&T. The phones are sold locked so they are still tied to AT&T.

 

[Newtons Apple]

From what I understand it will be Intel for all models in September.

 

[VineRider]

From what I understand, BB does sell Qualcomm models for AT&T. The phones are sold locked so they are still tied to AT&T.

I have purchased an AT&T X from Best Buy. It is indeed the A1865 variant. I also purchased an AT&T X from the Apple Store, and it is the A1901 variant.