Apple’s latest smartphones, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, could represent a major win for chipmaker Intel, according to industry analysis.
Announced last week, the technical specifications for the new devices indicate there are two variants of each device with one set supporting CDMA technology, which Verizon Wireless and Sprint use for their 2G and 3G networks.
The other variants would work on T-Mobile U.S., AT&T Mobility and many other LTE networks around the world that also rely on GSM-based technology for 2G and 3G services.
While none of this is spelled out by any companies involved, Qualcomm is a major Apple supplier and it produces CDMA-compatible LTE modems. Intel does not.
Fastcompany’s Mark Sullivan considered why Apple might purchase LTE modems from two different suppliers in a recent piece: “Dual-sourcing the modems in the iPhone 7 also give Apple the leverage it likes over its suppliers. That applies not only to component prices but also to timeframes, quantity numbers, and the level of customization of the produce being delivered.”
“On the other hand,” Aaron Tilley of Forbes points out, “dual sourcing of a critical component like the LTE modem could be a risky move for Apple, which prides itself on a consistent, high-quality experience. Qualcomm has some of the best modem engineering in the world and having multiple vendors could result in unequal performance between different versions of the iPhone 7.”
The iPhone 7 will start at $649 for the 32 GB model, and the iPhone 7 Plus will start at $769. The company estimates the iPhone 7 will cost roughly $27 per month for customers on carrier installment plans. The phone is set to begin shipping Sept. 16.
The new iPhones are powered by Apple’s newest processor, the A10 Fusion chip, which is a 64-bit 40-core processor with 3.3 billion transistors. Two cores are devoted to high-performance tasks like video and two are dedicated to energy efficiency. An Apple-designed performance controller makes sure the chip is optimizing for performance or battery life, depending on what the user is doing.
