Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Verizon iPhone teardown reveals dual-mode GSM-CDMA potential, sparks ‘world phone’ iPhone 5 talk

Andrew Couts
By

verizon_iphone_qualcomm_GSM_CDMA_world_phoneTeardowns of the soon-to-be-released Verizon iPhone 4 shows promising signs that  a “world phone” iPhone could soon be on the way. The giveaway is Apple’s use of a Qualcomm chip that is both GSM- and CMDA-compatible.

Inside, it’s been discovered that the Verizon iPhone is, surprisingly, powered by a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip. The reason this is significant is, this particular chip is dualmode GSM and CDMA compatible. This means that, potentially, an iPhone 5 loaded with this chip could work on any network, worldwide — including AT&T.

Recommended Videos

Teardowns by iFixit, iFixYouri/9to5Mac, and UBM TechInsights have all confirmed the existence “world mode” chip.

The MDM6600 chip — which has never before been used by Apple — is the same chip used in the Droid Pro world phone, which is capable of connecting to both GSM and CDMA networks.

As Seth Weintraub at 9to5Mac notes, however, the lack of a SIM card slot on the Verizon iPhone means it “won’t be doing GSM duties.” It does, however, basically guarantee “that the iPhone 5 will be dual-mode, perhaps one phone that can be used on both Verizon and AT&T (and obviously every other carrier outside the US),” writes Weintraub.

According to Qualcomm, the MDM6600 chip supports HSPA+ with download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps, and EV-DO rev B up to 14.7 Mbps.

Other notable changes revealed in the iFixit teardown include:

•  Antenna: The Verizon iPhone “has four antenna segments (two “U” shaped pieces at the top and bottom, and two straight bars along the edge),” instead of the “three differently shaped antennas” on the AT&T iPhone 4. Of course, iFixit notes, “[o]nly time will tell if this new antenna design helps combat the reception problems plaguing the GSM iPhone 4.”

• Battery: After removing a series of tiny Pentalobe screws, and the phone’s back cover, “the battery is very easy to replace,” says iFixit.

•  Vibrator: According to iFixit, the Verizon iPhone’s vibrator “received a complete makeover.” In place of a rotating counterweight, the Verizon version uses a linear oscillating vibrator to give it its shake.

• Chip set: In addition to the Qualcomm MDM6600, Apple has packed its A4 chip, as well as a touchscreen controller chip by Texas Instruments.

So there you have it: Apple could, if it so chooses, quickly and easily modify the Verizon iPhone 4 to become a “world phone” iPhone 5. (All it really needs is a SIM card slot.) That’s not to say Apple will do so, however. So we’ll believe it when we see it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andrew Couts
Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
How to fix the ‘iPhone Unavailable’ error (4 easy ways)
Three iPhones showing security lockout screens and reset options.

From private photos to personal contacts and financial info, your smartphone likely contains a wealth of personal information that you wouldn't want falling into the wrong hands. Thankfully, Apple understands this and takes the privacy and security of your iPhone very seriously — to the point where even Apple's best engineers can't unlock your iPhone without knowing your passcode.

For security reasons, Apple also limits the number of times you can enter an incorrect passcode on your iPhone. Unless you use a really obvious passcode, this dramatically reduces the chances of somebody getting access to your iPhone simply by guessing multiple passcodes until they hit the right one.

Read more
Best Cricket phone deals: Get an iPhone 11 for free and more
cricket switcher credit rsz 1cricket store side view

Cricket Wireless is one of the most affordable wireless service providers, and right now they’ve got some amazing discounts on phones taking place that can easily get you onto the Cricket network. These aren’t just throwaway phones either, as they include the likes of Samsung’s, Motorola’s, and Apple’s phone lineups. Several of them are entirely free and they provide more capability than many of the best cheap phones, so read onward if you’re in the market for a really good phone at almost no cost and are looking to make Cricket your cell phone service provider.
TCL 30 Z — Free, was $90

You’re not going to find a better price than free, and the TCL 30 Z is a phone worth going out of pocket for. You’re getting quite a bit of phone at zero cost with the TCL 30 Z, as it has a 6.1-inch HD+ display that provides enhanced visuals and adaptive eye care modes. The rear camera has an 8-megapixel sensor and a Google Lens, and you can capture amazing selfies with the front-facing 5-megapixel camera. This phone also has a quad-core processor and 32GB of internal storage, making it a great option if you like to interact with media online or create your own.

Read more
How to fast charge your iPhone
iPhone 12 Mini with charger

While they may not be some of the longest-lasting smartphones on the market, modern iPhones boast more than respectable battery life that should be able to get you through an entire day's use without breaking too much of a sweat. Of course, that assumes a lot of things — including a battery that's still relatively new and in good health, plus a usage pattern that doesn't include all-day streaming or gaming.

If you fall into either (or both) of these categories, then overnight charging isn't going to cut it, and you'll want to get your battery topped up again as quickly as you can so you can get back on the road. Thankfully, every iPhone released in the past six years supports much faster charging, but the downside is that with very few exceptions, Apple has never supplied you with the right adapter to get the best possible charging speeds from your iPhone.

Read more