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More troublesome than the slower SSD speeds is the lower quality Intel Modem compared with the Qualcomm Modem -- at least in large cities where there are large

More troublesome than the slower SSD speeds is the lower quality Intel Modem compared with the Qualcomm Modem -- at least in large cities where there are large buildings that block signal. Meanwhile, the Samsung S7 has the Qualcomm Modem (MDM 9645M) with 4 antennas that allow for 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM DL, EVS (Enhanced voice services). On the Samsung phone the 4x4 MIMO is now turned on as is the EVS (Ultra HD voice), the later which provides higher quality voice and operable at lower signal strength than current HD voice. For those of us the own the Verizon/Sprint version, I wish that Apple would at least match the capabilities of the Samsung S7 that shipped 6 months before the iPhone 7. The difference is the quality of the voice and the ability to communicate when signals are weaker.

in_cahoots 10y ago
The Verizon/Sprint version has the Qualcomm modem. Are you saying that even with Qualcomm there's a noticeable difference between the iPhone and the S7?
- davidf18 10y ago
  Yes, the Samsung is better. Important is not only the baseband modem, the Qualcomm MDM 9645M, but also the RF Front End, the number of antennas, and the antenna design. Both units have the Qualcomm X12 MDM9645M baseband modem and two transceivers, Qualcomm WTR3925 and WTR4905. But the iPhone has only 2 antennas and only able to support 4x2 MIMO while the Samsung has 4 antennas does currently support the 4x4 MIMO. The 256 QAM DL/ 64 QAM UL can be turned on with a firmware upgrade in both phones. Neither phone has it turned on at this time. The EVS -- Enhanced Voice Services offers significantly improved voice quality over even the HD voice with an improved codec and a better packet communications layer. Samsung has EVS turned on, the iPhone does not. The 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM, and EVS are also contingent on the carriers implementing these features, but these are available on T-mobile and will soon be available on Verizon. I am disappointed that Apple did not do at least as good of a job as Samsung which provides the 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM, and EVS. The 4x4 MIMO and 256 QAM are important not only for better signal quality but also a better use of spectrum, which in large cities is going to be an issue in the (near) future. One other feature to look out for is Band 66 support which covers the newly purchased AWS-3 spectrum (US). The LG V20 phone coming out at the end of this month will be the first phone to support band 66. In this sense, both the Samsung phone and the iPhone are already obsolete.
  - algesten 10y ago
    voice?! what decade are you living in?
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
  - milan03 10y ago
    We could also just link to the source: http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/ http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/
    - davidf18 10y ago
      CellularInsights was a source. My undergrad is EE/CS and I studied digital comms as well as meet Qualcomm people mobile health summit and other health computer conferences. Sources included iFixit which discussed the chips involved (but neglected to mention whether there were 2 or 4 antennas in iPhone 7 which cellular insights did provide), Qualcomm data sheets, Tmobile and Verizon press releases, fiercewireless, howardforums, Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) specs and datasheets from Ericcson, Nokia, and others.
kalleboo 10y ago
I was also surprised to see the iPhone 7 doesn't do 4x4 MIMO/256 QAM seeing how many operators are pushing it as their solution for LTE congestion (Docomo just announced their fall lineup of phones, T-Mobile in the US, Telstra in AU...)
- davidf18 10y ago
  Verizon is adding 4x4 MIMO and I expect all of the US providers will be doing so because spectrum is a scarce and very expensive resource and at least in the case of Verizon, use is increasing substantially. While the 4x4 MIMO requires the 4 antennas, the 256 QAM can be provided by a firmware upgrade without the 4 antennas.
givinguflac 10y ago
I understand the bandwidth issues with low signal strength, but what are you basing a reduction in voice quality on?
- davidf18 10y ago
  Well, I'm specifically referring to VoLTE. The towers have more powerful transmitters than the handsets, so a user might hear voice just fine, but the person on the other end can hear breaking up voice which is precisely what happened to me in Manhattan on Verizon prior to the 10.03 update with the 1.00.05 modem firmware upgrade. I was being switched to a tower that had only -124 dBm. The Enhanced Voice Services spec also mentions working at lower signal strength.
rasz_pl 10y ago
doesnt matter because Intel modem is practically free. Intel is subsidizing it at the Atom levels from few years back, in other words Intel is paying Apple for the privilege.

in_cahoots 10y ago

The Verizon/Sprint version has the Qualcomm modem. Are you saying that even with Qualcomm there's a noticeable difference between the iPhone and the S7?

davidf18 10y ago
Yes, the Samsung is better. Important is not only the baseband modem, the Qualcomm MDM 9645M, but also the RF Front End, the number of antennas, and the antenna design. Both units have the Qualcomm X12 MDM9645M baseband modem and two transceivers, Qualcomm WTR3925 and WTR4905. But the iPhone has only 2 antennas and only able to support 4x2 MIMO while the Samsung has 4 antennas does currently support the 4x4 MIMO. The 256 QAM DL/ 64 QAM UL can be turned on with a firmware upgrade in both phones. Neither phone has it turned on at this time. The EVS -- Enhanced Voice Services offers significantly improved voice quality over even the HD voice with an improved codec and a better packet communications layer. Samsung has EVS turned on, the iPhone does not. The 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM, and EVS are also contingent on the carriers implementing these features, but these are available on T-mobile and will soon be available on Verizon. I am disappointed that Apple did not do at least as good of a job as Samsung which provides the 4x4 MIMO, 256 QAM, and EVS. The 4x4 MIMO and 256 QAM are important not only for better signal quality but also a better use of spectrum, which in large cities is going to be an issue in the (near) future. One other feature to look out for is Band 66 support which covers the newly purchased AWS-3 spectrum (US). The LG V20 phone coming out at the end of this month will be the first phone to support band 66. In this sense, both the Samsung phone and the iPhone are already obsolete.
- algesten 10y ago
  voice?! what decade are you living in?
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
- milan03 10y ago
  We could also just link to the source: http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/ http://cellularinsights.com/iphone7/
  - davidf18 10y ago
    CellularInsights was a source. My undergrad is EE/CS and I studied digital comms as well as meet Qualcomm people mobile health summit and other health computer conferences. Sources included iFixit which discussed the chips involved (but neglected to mention whether there were 2 or 4 antennas in iPhone 7 which cellular insights did provide), Qualcomm data sheets, Tmobile and Verizon press releases, fiercewireless, howardforums, Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) specs and datasheets from Ericcson, Nokia, and others.

kalleboo 10y ago

I was also surprised to see the iPhone 7 doesn't do 4x4 MIMO/256 QAM seeing how many operators are pushing it as their solution for LTE congestion (Docomo just announced their fall lineup of phones, T-Mobile in the US, Telstra in AU...)

davidf18 10y ago
Verizon is adding 4x4 MIMO and I expect all of the US providers will be doing so because spectrum is a scarce and very expensive resource and at least in the case of Verizon, use is increasing substantially. While the 4x4 MIMO requires the 4 antennas, the 256 QAM can be provided by a firmware upgrade without the 4 antennas.

givinguflac 10y ago

I understand the bandwidth issues with low signal strength, but what are you basing a reduction in voice quality on?

davidf18 10y ago
Well, I'm specifically referring to VoLTE. The towers have more powerful transmitters than the handsets, so a user might hear voice just fine, but the person on the other end can hear breaking up voice which is precisely what happened to me in Manhattan on Verizon prior to the 10.03 update with the 1.00.05 modem firmware upgrade. I was being switched to a tower that had only -124 dBm. The Enhanced Voice Services spec also mentions working at lower signal strength.

rasz_pl 10y ago

doesnt matter because Intel modem is practically free. Intel is subsidizing it at the Atom levels from few years back, in other words Intel is paying Apple for the privilege.