You are probably aware that iPhone 7 / 7 Plus smartphones are not built using the same components. Therefore, it’s easy to understand why a specific model will perform better. In this case, we are talking about the cellular performance.
In an earlier post, I mentioned that there are some variants of the iPhone 7. The model number will tell you which modem hardware you have on your new phone. If you have the iPhone 7 A1660 or 7 Plus A1661, it is equipped with Qualcomm MDM9645M modem. If you have the iPhone 7 A1778 or 7 Plus A1784, you have the Intel XMM7360 modem.
We’ve already known that the Qualcomm modem is more comprehensive because it will work on any carrier in the US including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. The modem supports all the available networks like GSM/CDMA/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/LTE. You can also easily use it overseas as it is sold as the unlocked sim-free version on Apple Store now. However, that’s not all the benefit of this modem.
A recent testing by Cellular Insights points out a significant difference between the Qualcomm and Intel modem. They conducted a test to compare the 4G LTE performance of the 2 modems on band 12 (10MHz), Band 4 (20MHz), and Band 7 (20MHz). And here are the results:
Surprisingly, the difference between the 2 modems is quite significant and I believe it could affect your buying decision as well. In all tests, the average performance delta is always more than 30% in favor of the Qualcomm modem. In the worst scenario, the data speed on Intel modem was 40Mbps slower.
Another notable discovery is that both of the new iPhone 7 have worse cellular performance than the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
Which iPhone 7/7 Plus did you purchase and are you satisfied with its signal reception? Let us know in a comment below.
Disclosure: We might earn commission from qualifying purchases. The commission help keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!
Paul says
I have a A1784, iPhone 7 Plus 128GB Rose Gold MN5K2LL/A. The reception at my workplace is worse than my Samsung Galaxy J7, which surprised me a lot. I can barely get data on my iphone 7 plus there. This explains it, because it was running Intel’s modem. I work in Sunnyvale, CA, and the network is T mobile. It’s close to the bay so T mobile only has fair reception there.
JohnL says
Could this relate to product maturity, as Intel modem firmware versions do seem to be changing at a rate? It would be interesting to see a retest in 3-4 months time.
Darryl Owens says
I live in Lithonia, Georgia and my wife and daughter have the iPhone 7 Plus, one is 32GB and the other is 128GB. We just switched to T-Mobile and the they constantly complain that when they are talking the other party always say “I can’t hear you” or the call drops. They get one and sometimes two signal strength bars. I had the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and got three to four bars at the same location and now I have the Galaxy S7 Edge and get four bars and never had a dropped and bad reception call. They really like the iPhone so I hope Apple comes out with a solution soon.
Susie says
That’s not all because of Apple, it’s T-Mobile and the bands they use. Not to mention they have horrible reception in most places except inner cities.
Sohail Kazi says
The Android phones (Pixel XL) & APPLE PHONES (iPhone 7) both contain Snapdragon Processors. I wanted to know that if both devices contain same processors then what makes iPhone more faster as compared to Android Phones ?
Ahmed siam says
Modem & processor are not same thing :)
tim amstrong says
What are you talking about?
Victoria namupa says
Which iphone 7plus is the best when you in Africa, Intel or qalcomm and which mode A1661 or A1778 help me pls and where i china i can get or if anyone ever bought iphone from AliExpress before.
Osman Khushk says
Due to operating systems
Logan says
My A1778 regular iphone 7 128 gb freezes. And now i know why. #AnnoyingIntel
God these china made phones are so frustrating
Phil says
Every phone is made in china
sky1 says
assembled in china….best way to say…
sky1 says
no its not china….its the apple in california who made the decision on parts..got me.!!
all iphone are assembled in china coz of the low cost in labor…ask apple…. >:
Pavel Verevkin says
iPhones do not have Snapdragon processors. They have Apple’s own processors, A10 in iPhone 7.
Scott says
That is the CPU processor. The modem or cellular processor referred-to in these discussions is separate.
Mark says
Another poster said the iPhone had a Snapdragon processor. It doesn’t. That’s what this poster was referring to.
Guido says
in Milano – Italy (Europe) I have an iPhone A1778 are very happy with the operation of the 4G cellular network. Speed test (by Ookla) in Milan report Ping 26 ms, download 144.10 Mbps and upload 43,40 Mbps carrier is TIM LTE
Phil says
Awesome
Azim says
My iphone 7 (1778) Bahrain..I am happy this internet speed good….
Charles W says
I live in Ohio, (North America) have Verizon iPhone 7 and I drop calls or voice interruption with 3 out of 5 calls. It’s infuriating because Verizon gives no real answers. They tell me cell reception in this area may be a little low. My wife has iPhone 6 Plus and doesn’t have this problem. I had a iPhone 5 for 3 years and never dropped a single call.
Thuan says
Correct
Susie says
I have the global 128gb iPhone 7 Plus Model A1661 and my speeds have increased dramatically over my iPhone 6s Plus… I used to get 2 bars in the living room because we live in a weird valley spot. Now I get 4 bars and my speed tests went from 15.49 to 77.59 and that’s just from home. Once I’m out of the house it jumps to over 100mbps… I am very happy with my Christmas gift and that I got Qualcomm instead of Intel.
Tanya Rhinestone says
All iPhone 6S phones used Qualcomm.
Antonio says
Who is your carrier?
Dan says
I’m interested to buy an Apple iPhone 7 Plus Unlocked Phone 32 GB – (Black) US version ? I ask YOU I need to buy only model A 1784 because I need to use iin Europe in GSM network.
Marek says
No qualcomm working too in GSM.
difference is:
Intel – working in GSM
Qualcomm-working in GSM/EDGE
Will Herritage says
I have the 1778 and it is terrible. Wish I saw this article before I bought it. Tried to switch to Sprint but unable bc of the model #. I’m at Apple store now and SOL, on the phone with Apple now. Safe to say this will be my last Apple product.
Collin says
Well I was just reading up on the I phone 7 plus for fun I have one apparently with the Intel processor. And honestly the cellular reception freaking sucks in my apartment I can’t get service for the life of me and I have AT&T. besides that though the phone is amazing I had lost faith in Apple for a few years but the iphone7 plus restored my appleness in full!
Roberto Garcia says
Mi Iphone 7 plus A1661 funciona perfectamente. Muy satisfecho con ese equipo.
Mahbub says
Why apple then taking the exact same price with two different quality SKUs??? And what does Apple says about the issue
K Edwards says
My iPhone 6+, A1524, works great with Sprint. Never had any problem when using a Verizon supplied iPhone, either. But both ATT and T-Mobile supplied iPhones had very poor reception at home. I blamed it on cell towers. Now the real reason reveals itself. Thanks!
Andy Trout says
I purchased the AT&T iPhone 7 plus. I am very unhappy with the cellular performance. I was first told by apple to turn off “cellular and voice over LTE” and change it to “data only”. I did this but still experienced dropped calls, missed calls and SMS as well as iMessages not sending. I was told to use Wi-Fi calling, but call quality was bad, and if I was on a call and left the Wi-Fi range, the call ended. I am in the process of doing the impossible and asking to exchange my AT&T model for the SIM-free or Verizon model. “Impossible” because Apple says there exchange system only works with the same model. Which they did for me, and I still have the same issues.
Aeis says
I just purchased iPhone 7 20 days ago. Interestingly I came upon this page to find out which wifi chip is on my phone because of the Broadpwn bug affecting Quadcomm chips but not Intel chips. So mine is A1778 which means Intel modem. Is cellular modem and wifi chip the same thing?
As for the reception strength I only get 3 out of 5 bars signal strength most times in my house. Yet the download speed has been very fast and I am very happy. I think the carrier’s signal strength is much more significant than whether it is a Quadcomm or Intel chip.
Dilip says
I like to bh iPhone 7 and most of time I will use this in India when I travel a lot there so which model be batter A 1778 or A1660 ? Lots people say A 1778 ? I am confused need Halp please .can I by sem free from Apple and what model I get ?
Wayne says
I am purchasing a used IPhone 7Plus tomorrow. It was locked to AT&T it will be unlocked so I can use it on the T-Mobile network. I hope it’s a 1661 not a 1784 from what I’m seeing here
Prasanth says
My a1661 i phone 7 plus space 128 gb but i see setting and go to about phone i see capacity is 128 but i go es file exproller file manger i see only 2 gb what is the problem i how to get my speace 128 gb on my mobile
Voltguy says
When Apple designed the 7 and 7 plus phones, they removed the external antennas (the stripes that you can see on the ends of the 6, 6S, 6 plus). I have owned both the 6S and the 7 plus, both have the better Qualcomm modem, but the 6S has superior cellular performance over the 7 plus. Apple removed the external antennas from the 7 design in order to guve it a “cleaner” look. But virtually everyone puts a case on it which makes the visual stripe antennas a non-issue.
Jou says
The stripes are there, just relocated to make them harder to see.