Cellular Insights Team
12 Posts
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From Mid-Band to Multi-Gigabit: How Device Capability Defines 5G Performance
Commissioned by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc This short-form analysis compares mmWave (FR2) and sub-6 GHz (FR1) performance in Verizon’s 5G Standalone (SA) network using devices from two leading OEMs. As with our previous study, the devices are powered by chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, representing the recent commercially available modem platforms from each vendor. Testing took place in Times Square, New York City in August 2025, an environment selected for its consistently high pedestrian density and unique RF conditions. Devices Under Test (DUTs): Our original intent was to conduct this evaluation inside a large-capacity venue such […]
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Comparative 5G Performance Report: Android Smartphones vs. iPhone 16e
Commissioned by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc Executive Summary This report presents a comparative evaluation of 5G performance between the iPhone 16e, equipped with Apple’s first-generation C1 modem, and two Qualcomm-powered Android smartphones. Testing was conducted across a variety of real-world radio environments–near-, mid-, and far-cell within New York City connected to T-Mobile’s sub6 GHz Standalone (SA) network. Across all RF scenarios, the Qualcomm-based Android devices consistently outperformed the iPhone 16e, revealing several key advantages: Average Throughput Advantage (3 Locations, NYC): These findings underscore the performance gap between iPhone 16e powered by Apple’s C1 modem and Android […]
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iPhone 7 Plus: A Tale of Two Personalities
Like clockwork, every September the entire tech world gets excited for the newest Apple device. The combination of a premium build, unmatched system performance, and tightly integrated software and services delivers what’s considered to be the gold standard in smartphone user experience. Over the past five years, Apple’s modem supplier was Qualcomm, but this year, Apple has taken a different approach with the decision to source two instead of one baseband chipset suppliers: Qualcomm and Intel. This created two distinct RF SKUs, one limited to GSM/WCDMA/LTE support (A1778, A1784), powered by Intel’s modem, and one with GSM/CDMA/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/LTE support (A1660, […]
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Welcome to Cellular Insights!
In our hyper-connected world, smartphones have taken center stage. Obsession with bigger screens, faster processors with more cores, and better cameras with higher megapixel count is reaching a new all time high. At the same time, mainstream tech blogs are increasingly struggling to differentiate from the rest, while the smartphone market is becoming extremely saturated. But rather than bombarding you with redundant smartphone unboxing videos, camera performance reviews, subjective opinions on design and user interface, we will evaluate the modem, antenna, and front end performance of popular smartphones. Our goal is to bring this essential and long forgotten topic to the forefront, […]
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iPhone 7 Plus: A Tale of Two Personalities
Like clockwork, every September the entire tech world gets excited for the newest Apple device. The combination of a premium build, unmatched system performance, and tightly integrated software and services delivers what’s considered to be the gold standard in smartphone user experience. Over the past five years, Apple’s modem supplier was Qualcomm, but this year, Apple has taken a different approach with the decision to source two instead of one baseband chipset suppliers: Qualcomm and Intel. This created two distinct RF SKUs, one limited to GSM/WCDMA/LTE support (A1778, A1784), powered by Intel’s modem, and one with GSM/CDMA/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/LTE support (A1660, […]
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Welcome to Cellular Insights!
In our hyper-connected world, smartphones have taken center stage. Obsession with bigger screens, faster processors with more cores, and better cameras with higher megapixel count is reaching a new all time high. At the same time, mainstream tech blogs are increasingly struggling to differentiate from the rest, while the smartphone market is becoming extremely saturated. But rather than bombarding you with redundant smartphone unboxing videos, camera performance reviews, subjective opinions on design and user interface, we will evaluate the modem, antenna, and front end performance of popular smartphones. Our goal is to bring this essential and long forgotten topic to the forefront, […]
-
Comparative 5G Performance Report: Android Smartphones vs. iPhone 16e
Commissioned by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc Executive Summary This report presents a comparative evaluation of 5G performance between the iPhone 16e, equipped with Apple’s first-generation C1 modem, and two Qualcomm-powered Android smartphones. Testing was conducted across a variety of real-world radio environments–near-, mid-, and far-cell within New York City connected to T-Mobile’s sub6 GHz Standalone (SA) network. Across all RF scenarios, the Qualcomm-based Android devices consistently outperformed the iPhone 16e, revealing several key advantages: Average Throughput Advantage (3 Locations, NYC): These findings underscore the performance gap between iPhone 16e powered by Apple’s C1 modem and Android […]
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From Mid-Band to Multi-Gigabit: How Device Capability Defines 5G Performance
Commissioned by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc This short-form analysis compares mmWave (FR2) and sub-6 GHz (FR1) performance in Verizon’s 5G Standalone (SA) network using devices from two leading OEMs. As with our previous study, the devices are powered by chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple, representing the recent commercially available modem platforms from each vendor. Testing took place in Times Square, New York City in August 2025, an environment selected for its consistently high pedestrian density and unique RF conditions. Devices Under Test (DUTs): Our original intent was to conduct this evaluation inside a large-capacity venue such […]