If you have an iPhone 7 running on the Verizon Wireless network in the United States then your device may not be living up to its fullest 4G potential, reports have claimed.
According to Bloomberg sources Apple may be deliberately tempering the speeds of the Verizon iPhone 7 models so they don’t make the AT&T version look bad.
In theory the Verizon model should be much faster than its rival’s due to the presence of a Qualcomm LTE modem compared with the Intel modem within AT&T's phone, but tests have shown little difference.
Now researchers are suggesting Cupertino may be have chosen not to enable certain features of the iPhone’s network chip to keep AT&T’s models on an even playing field.
“The data indicates that the iPhone 7 is not taking advantage of all of Verizon’s network capabilities,” said Twin Prime’s Gabriel Tavridis.
“I doubt that Apple is throttling each bit on the Verizon iPhone, but it could have chosen to not enable certain features of the network chip.”
Apple said there’s no discernible difference between network performance, but did not address whether this was by design.
“Every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus meets or exceeds all of Apple’s wireless performance standards, quality metrics, and reliability testing,” said Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller.
“In all of our rigorous lab tests based on wireless industry standards, in thousands of hours of real-world field testing, and in extensive carrier partner testing, the data shows there is no discernible difference in the wireless performance of any of the models."
Why would Apple hold back performance when it would surely love to be able to boast 4G speeds? Well it doesn’t want to create the sense that some versions of its phone are superior, according to Jan Dawson or Jackdaw Research.
"They don’t want one version to get the reputation that it is better," he said. "If Apple had a guiding principle it’s that they want to make sure customers were having a consistent performance.”
