Study: Intel modem in iPhone 7 Plus achieves slow speeds in poor range

The Intel modem in the iPhone 7 Plus achieves lower 4G speeds than the Qualcomm modem in the same Apple smartphone with limited mobile coverage. That would appear from American research. Apple supplies iPhones with the Intel modem in the Benelux.

At a range of -85dBm, comparable to full range as shown by a phone, the Intel modem and Qualcomm’s hardware have the same internet speed, but when the range decreases, it quickly deteriorates. At a range of -110dBm, comparable to one or two dots on an iPhone, the Qualcomm modem reaches 100Mbit/s on the 2600MHz band, while the Intel modem remains around 45Mbit/s.

On all 4G frequencies tested, Intel’s modem significantly outperformed Qualcomm’s, writes Cellular Insights, a New York-based mobile network research firm. Compared to the competition, such as the LG G5 and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, the iPhone 7 Plus performs a little less in poor range with a Qualcomm modem, but with an Intel modem the performance is visibly much less.

Apple uses the Qualcomm modem in the United States and China, among others, while the rest of the world, including the Benelux, has a variant with the Intel modem on board. In recent years, iPhones have always had Qualcomm modems on board. The antennas of both models of iPhones are the same, so only the modems differ. Apple has not yet commented on the results of the investigation.