Why is the VZW iPhone 4S more desirable/more expensive than the sprint/att iphone 4S?

[Jordan921]

Verizon has faster 3G. AT&T has HSPA+ which is like 3.5G. The AT&T 4S seems faster because it's connected to the HSPA+ network. Verizon has the fastest 3G network out of all of them.

The Verizon model is better because Verizon is a better carrier (for one they don't false advertise their networks).

That iPhone unlocking is only AFTER your contract is over.

Calling and Surfing the Web at the same time is kinda stupid if you ask me, anyways.

So being on a phone call and then wanting to look something while on the call with the person and responding to them without having to call them back is stupid? I guess so lol

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when i got my first very first phone which was the iPhone 2G service was good then it got worse overtime.

Then maybe you should have switched lol. For me At&t service is perfect I don't have issues with dropped calls.

 

[MattMJB0188]

In the end the iPhone on AT&T will win. GSM is far superior to any CDMA technology.

 

[cpuguy18]

Then maybe you should have switched lol. For me At&t service is perfect I don't have issues with dropped calls.[/QUOTE]

i switched when the 4s came out and im very happy with my decision

 

[Jordan921]

i switched when the 4s came out and im very happy with my decision

It only took you 4 iPhones to finally learn

 

[cpuguy18]

It only took you 4 iPhones to finally learn

Service got worse in my area in 2010. every year before 2010 it worked fine.

 

[0000757]

Everyone knows that Verizon 3G speeds are slower then At&ts.
The At&t 4S gets faster data speeds then the Verizon 4S
With an At&t iPhone you can be on a call and surf the web which you can't do with a Verizon iPhone.
Starting this Sunday people can have their iPhones unlocked and used with any GSM carrier local or international.

So no the Verizon model is not better then At&ts

So being on a phone call and then wanting to look something while on the call with the person and responding to them without having to call them back is stupid? I guess so lol

I've never had to do anything like that before. I rarely call people, however. I usually text/IM/Facebook Message/anything-but.

 

[posguy99]

In the end the iPhone on AT&T will win. GSM is far superior to any CDMA technology.

Except that it's not.

CDMA has better call quality, it penetrates buildings better, and it uses scarce spectrum more efficiently.

The only thing GSM has going for it is that there's so much more of it.

 

[cpuguy18]

Except that it's not.

CDMA has better call quality, it penetrates buildings better, and it uses scarce spectrum more efficiently.

The only thing GSM has going for it is that there's so much more of it.

i guess thats true my verizon iphone 4s sounds much better than my AT&T iPhone 4 ever did.

 

[PacificBeach]

When you're buying a used CDMA phone, any model you're taking a risk of it been blacklisted. In that case if the seller on ebay or CL lies and doesnt say it you're stuck with it and cannot use it as phone.
That's why AT&T used iphones always sell for more than Sprint or Verizon models. Because all one has to do is put in their AT&T sim and they're good to use. AT&T doesnt blacklist them unlike Verizon and Sprint if lost, stolen or account associated on that phone is not in good standing.
I dont know what you saw on ebay or CL but you need to look harder cause your claim is innacurate. There is no better iphone for verizon, they're both the same exact hardware components for all 3 US carriers.

Talking and surfing is very very rare. but I can talk and surf on my VZW iphone 4 just fine. I just connect to wifi whenever i need to talk and surf.

 

[Stealthipad]

now that AT&T will be offering unlocking once the contract term is finished they are really going to smoke the competitors. as far as resale goes imo

Not to sure about that as unlocked AT&T phones will be common place

 

[jmgregory1]

Verizon has faster 3G. AT&T has HSPA+ which is like 3.5G. The AT&T 4S seems faster because it's connected to the HSPA+ network. Verizon has the fastest 3G network out of all of them.

The Verizon model is better because Verizon is a better carrier (for one they don't false advertise their networks).

That iPhone unlocking is only AFTER your contract is over.

Calling and Surfing the Web at the same time is kinda stupid if you ask me, anyways.

I am constantly using data and voice at the same time. Everyday. It's what makes the current Verizon network seem antiquated and once you've gotten used to having this ability, there is no going back.

 

[aristobrat]

Verizon has faster 3G. AT&T has HSPA+ which is like 3.5G. The AT&T 4S seems faster because it's connected to the HSPA+ network. Verizon has the fastest 3G network out of all of them.

Not here (Virginia Beach, VA's largest city)!

Here are two speed tests I did at the same time/spot.

1st = AT&T iPad 2 (HSPA, not HSPA+) ... 5.15mbps down
2nd = Verizon iPhone 4s ... .67mbps down

Here where I live, it's unusual to see Verizon 3G break 1mbps, and you honestly have a better chance of seeing a leprechaun that you do of seeing Verizon 3G break 2mbps around here. AT&T's HSPA (not HSPA+) network, on the other hand, averages between 3-5mpbs down.

I'm pretty sure the theoretical maximum speeds Verizon's 3G (EVDO) is something like 3.1mbps down, whereas AT&T's 3G (HSPA) is something like 14mbps down. Neither networks run anywhere near that maximum speed, but AT&T doesn't need to do much to Verizon's maximum.

Having said that, my new iPad is Verizon, because they offer LTE coverage here, and AT&T doesn't.

 

[MattMJB0188]

Except that it's not.

CDMA has better call quality, it penetrates buildings better, and it uses scarce spectrum more efficiently.

The only thing GSM has going for it is that there's so much more of it.

NO! I don't know what your reading but CDMA does not penetrate better through buildings. It's outdated technology. Its EVDO beats EDGE, yes, but the technology is severely limited. As far as managing spectrum more efficiently, your right but in the end that won't matter because all carriers will be going LTE which is a GSM technology. Though LTE still manages spectrum better.

 

[0000757]

I am constantly using data and voice at the same time. Everyday. It's what makes the current Verizon network seem antiquated and once you've gotten used to having this ability, there is no going back.

Well then a GSM network is obviously for you.

Not here (Virginia Beach, VA's largest city)!

Here are two speed tests I did at the same time/spot.

1st = AT&T iPad 2 (HSPA, not HSPA+) ... 5.15mbps down
2nd = Verizon iPhone 4s ... .67mbps down

Here where I live, it's unusual to see Verizon 3G break 1mbps, and you honestly have a better chance of seeing a leprechaun that you do of seeing Verizon 3G break 2mbps around here. AT&T's HSPA (not HSPA+) network, on the other hand, averages between 3-5mpbs down.

I'm pretty sure the theoretical maximum speeds Verizon's 3G (EVDO) is something like 3.1mbps down, whereas AT&T's 3G (HSPA) is something like 14mbps down. Neither networks run anywhere near that maximum speed, but AT&T doesn't need to do much to Verizon's maximum.

Having said that, my new iPad is Verizon, because they offer LTE coverage here, and AT&T doesn't.

My experience in my area is that Verizon has been faster than AT&T. Even still, while AT&T is faster, Verizon has more coverage across the US. (AT&T is pretty much a deadzone in my whole region). You can go ahead and stay with AT&T, but I'm going to stick with Verizon.

 

[aristobrat]

That's the problem. I did switch from AT&T to Verizon. Now I have an iPhone 4s that feels fractionally faster than my original iPhone on edge back in 2007. :/

The only reason I haven't paid the Etf and moved back to AT&T is the hope that Verizon's LTE network is so good the next iPhone will never drop back to their horribly slow 3G network.

 

[Applejuiced]

Talking and surfing is very very rare. but I can talk and surf on my VZW iphone 4 just fine. I just connect to wifi whenever i need to talk and surf.

When did I say anything about talk and surf above?
But usually Verizon users act like they don't want to be able to do that away from wifi. I'm sure not all your calls come in when you're connected to a router.

 

[cynics]

I have a Verizon 4S and in my area I have better call and 3G coverage then my friends with AT&T.

However the 3G speeds don't hold a candle compared to my friends AT&T iPhones (in my area). Even compared to they standard HSPA (not +).

Matter of fact a good buddy of mine and I will text our speed test back and forth on occasion. His is always faster except one time in Atlantic City DE. And I don't mean just a little faster I've seen him have me beat by 2+ mb/s.

It's very irritating when I'm getting the .30 mbs down BS. Half the time I usually give up on what I'm trying to do.

 

[aneftp]

Except that it's not.

CDMA has better call quality, it penetrates buildings better, and it uses scarce spectrum more efficiently.

The only thing GSM has going for it is that there's so much more of it.

Yes CDMA (Verizon) voice quality is better than gsm (edge) quality.

But wcdma voice quality is much clearer than Verizon CDMA voice.

Last I checked Verizon does not have wcdma voice. AT&T does.

 

[kilj0y]

When did I say anything about talk and surf above?
But usually Verizon users act like they don't want to be able to do that away from wifi. I'm sure not all your calls come in when you're connected to a router.

Just because people do it, does not mean everyone wants to talk and surf at the same time.

There are very few instances where I have needed/wanted to talk and surf at the same time and luckily I was on my vzw 4g phone which can do it, but the only time I needed was when I was on a long hold from apple/qwest and I am usually at home when I make those calls so having 4g was invalid as I could of use my wifi but my 4g is 7x faster than my home wifi.

There are people who "shockingly" do not use calls much anymore and use text/facebook/email as means of communication. The only time I call people is for work or for complaining about my service(usually bills).

 

[Shanekarpi251]

There's a lot of AT&T users on this forum I can tell. I wouldn't say one is more desirable over any carrier. It could be that there was something else that came with the phone or that was on the phone that people were also wanting/bidding more for.

 

[takeshi74]

CDMA has better call quality, it penetrates buildings better

Depends on how towers are set up. CDMA doesn't guarantee better indoor coverage across the board. Coverage isn't a single variable matter.

I am constantly using data and voice at the same time. Everyday. It's what makes the current Verizon network seem antiquated and once you've gotten used to having this ability, there is no going back.

Subjective despite all assertions to the contrary. Stop assuming that your preferences are universal. I never use data and voice simultaneously on my at&t device.

But usually Verizon users act like they don't want to be able to do that away from wifi.

Again, subjective. I don't do so with or without WiFi.

I'm sure not all your calls come in when you're connected to a router.

Sure they do. Why wouldn't they? Why would you comment on something you apparently know nothing about?

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

So much misinformation!

All iPhone 4S models (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint) are IDENTICAL. Look at your Verizon/Sprint phone... it's got a SIM slot! They all have both a CDMA and GSM transmitter in them regardless of carrier. Thus the only difference between them all is the carrier they're locked to, which can be broken via jailbreak if wanted. So you're not buying a GSM or CDMA phone depending on what carrier you buy.

This means ALL iPhone 4Ss will work overseas, you just have to use your carrier's international plan to do it (which is usually a bit more expensive than going local). So that's just not a factor.

Used Verizon iPhones are probably more expensive because more people want them. Simple supply and demand, nothing more.

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I am constantly using data and voice at the same time. Everyday. It's what makes the current Verizon network seem antiquated and once you've gotten used to having this ability, there is no going back.

Err... it's an inherent limitation of the CDMA standard, not the network. Sprint has this issue as well, and so do all other CDMA networks. Verizon's network is capable of it if the CDMA chips were.

 

[antman2295]

Uh... At&t now unlocks your iPhone (Upon request) after your done with your 2 year contract. (Starting tomorrow April 8th)

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/att-will-unlock-off-contract-iphones-starting-sunday-april-8/

 

[cpuguy18]

That's the problem. I did switch from AT&T to Verizon. Now I have an iPhone 4s that feels fractionally faster than my original iPhone on edge back in 2007. :/

The only reason I haven't paid the Etf and moved back to AT&T is the hope that Verizon's LTE network is so good the next iPhone will never drop back to their horribly slow 3G network.

Verizon has a great LTE network 4g is very fast on my iPad.

 

[iThinkergoiMac]

Uh... At&t now unlocks your iPhone (Upon request) after your done with your 2 year contract. (Starting tomorrow April 8th)

Very true. However, the discussion is mainly centered around the 4S which can't possibly be done with a 2-year contract yet, which is probably why that point hasn't been brought up.