14 DAY TRIAL // It's a common fact that Apple uses components from different suppliers with each iPhone the company launches, and this year's model is no exception.
For example, in the United States, there are two different versions of the iPhone 7, but they're only different because they embed different components, not because one performs better than the other.
Bloomberg reports that Verizon's iPhone 7 is equipped with a Qualcomm X12 modem, while the AT&T/T-Mobile version comes with an Intel XMM 3360. On paper, the Qualcomm X12 modem should perform much faster than the Intel XMM 3360.
According to their respective specifications, Qualcomm's latest X12 modem is capable of downloading data at up to 600 megabits per second, while the Intel modem can only reach up to 450 megabits per second.
However, in reality, both modems are about the same when it comes to performance. Apparently, Apple has decided to throttle down the Qualcomm X12 modem, as not to upset carriers and customers alike.
A field test that put the Galaxy S7 equipped with the Qualcomm X12 and the iPhone 7 with the same modem chip against each other showed that Samsung's smartphone was twice as fast on the same network.
Basically, we now have two iPhone 7 versions that perform the same, but one of them could be faster than the other if Apple enabled the full power of the Qualcomm X12 modem.
Obviously, that's not going to happen since the Cupertino-based company has no intention of angering either AT&T or T-Mobile, as well as their customers in the United States, by making one of the iPhone 7 variants weaker than Verizon's model.
Currently, there's a small performance difference between the Verizon iPhone 7 and those from AT&T and T-Mobile (in favor of the former), but it's almost negligible.
Apple refused to comment on the matter, though a spokeswoman did state that “every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus meets or exceeds all of Apple's wireless performance standards, quality metrics, and reliability testing.”