Almost hide within theannouncement of the iPhone 16e , Apple drop something of a bombshell : It is produce its own 5 G modems now . This has of path been bruit for a farseeing prison term , and has frankly occupy longer than expected;Apple bought Intel ’s modem division in 2019for its patents and engineer , with the intent of bring forth its own cellular modems instead of purchasing them from the likes of Qualcomm .
Therewas a time , in fact , when we were n’t even sure it would ever be released , but now that Apple ’s first cellular modem is here , what do we know about it ? Whatdon’twe know ? How is this going to work the future of the iPhone and other Apple mathematical product ? Here ’s everything we ’ve learned about the C1 modem so far .
What is the C1?
The C1 is Apple ’s first cellular modem . It follows the naming scheme of other processors Apple makes : the A series for “ program Processors , ” the H series for “ Headphones , ” the M series for “ Mac processors , ” the R serial for “ Reality processor , ” the U serial publication for “ Ultrawideband , ” and so on .
A cellular modem is the processor that rent signal from the antenna and turns them into usable data , and vice - versa . It ’s the elementary part responsible for your connection to cellular networks , and together with other design considerations , play a fully grown role in your iPhone ’s cellular connection speed and dependability as well as assault and battery life .
With the C1 , Apple is using a cellular modem of its own purpose for the first metre . Apple has been buying cellular modems from Qualcomm , primarily , since the original iPhone in 2007 . The iPhone 11 , iPhone XS / XR , and 2nd - generation iPhone SE , along with some variants of the iPhone X , featured some 4 GB LTE cellular modems made by Intel , but since the iPhone set out to support 5 G with the iPhone 12 , all modem have been made by Qualcomm .
The iPhone 16e’s C1 modem is the first step toward controlling every wireless component in the iPhone.
The iPhone 16e ’s C1 modem is the first footprint toward control every wireless component in the iPhone .
Apple
How does the C1 compare to other 5G cellular modems?
The C1 support most of the exist spectrum and bands of the modem find in Apple ’s iPhone 16 bloodline , include 4 G LTE and 5 G , with 4×4 MIMO . It is missing Dual - bearer HSDPA and mmWave . The more unwashed 5 G is call “ sub-6 GHz ” and uses the same world-wide frequency ranges as other cellular connection standard .
There ’s a luck a modem has to do to defend a reliable connection and good stop number , and we plainly do n’t sleep together yet how the C1 do in these esteem . It may be just as fast as Qualcomm ’s modem in the sub-6 bands , or it might be slower . It may unplug more often , or it may be more reliable . Until we get good independent testing , we just do n’t know .
In an interview with Reuters following the launch of the iPhone 16e , Apple says it built the C1 to better handle orbit with spotty service : “ For example , if an iPhone encounters engorged datum web , the phone ’s processor can signal to the modem which dealings is the most sentence - sensitive and put it ahead of other data point transport , making the phone feel more responsive to the substance abuser ’s needs , said Arun Mathias , frailty president for wireless software package at Apple . ”Apple says the chief baseband is made with a 4 - nanometer process and the transceiver with a 7 nm process . That ’s fairly advanced for a cellular modem , but not unheard of . Apple seems to suggest in its marketing that the C1 is specially power efficient , but we ca n’t simply seize that the long claimed battery life-time of the iPhone 16e is principally due to better cellular efficiency — there are many other factors at free rein , such as battery capacity , the A18 processor , presentation efficiency , and more .
The iPhone 16e’s C1 modem is the first step toward controlling every wireless component in the iPhone.
The lack of millimeter undulation is probable to get the most aid here in the United States , where these frequencies are more vulgar than in the repose of the world . These are the very degenerate but very short - cooking stove cell towers that give you multi - gigabit speed but do n’t travel more than a cylinder block or two and do n’t get through wall .
After the iPhone 16e is released and more self-governing examination can be done that targets the C1 modem specifically , we ’ll update this segment with the results .
Will Apple use the C1 in future products?
However , the cellular variation of the Apple Watch and iPad also utilize cellular modems , and those products could very well feature the C1 , particularly if it is more major power efficient , as top - end cellular velocity is less important than it is in the iPhone .
Apple Intelligence is the main feature of the iPhone 16e , but the C1 modem is just as important to the future .
Foundry
Apple Intelligence is the main feature of the iPhone 16e, but the C1 modem is just as important to the future.
Will there be a C2, C3, etc?
As Apple develops succeeding cellular modem , we expect the fellowship to eventually apply deoxycytidine monophosphate chips in all of its cellular - connected product . In an interview with Reuters , Apple ’s senior VP of ironware technologies Johny Srouji enunciate , “ C1 is the start , and we ’re going to keep improving that technology each contemporaries so that it becomes a platform for us that will be used to unfeignedly severalise this technology for our products . ”
Prior to releasing the C1 , it was rumour that Apple had a three - stage architectural plan in the oeuvre . The first chip would appear in lower - anteriority product and as such would be deficient to Qualcomm ’s top - of - the - bank line modem . The C1 in the iPhone 16e come along to satisfy that prediction .
The next potato chip ( C2 ) would come about a class after and catch up to Qualcomm ’s best . It would be featured in more of Apple ’s products , meaning we ’ll belike see it debut in the iPhone 18 line . After three years , Apple is supposed to be on its third - gen crisp , the C3 , which should “ beat ” Qualcomm , at which point Apple will switch to its own cellular modem for all mathematical product .
In add-on to progress capabilities through coevals , Apple signify to finally mix the modem into its primary SoC ( system - on - chip shot ) designs . This is common with some of Qualcomm ’s Snapdragon CPU used in Android earpiece , for example , and it helps improve world power efficiency and cut down the size and complexness of the iPhone ’s internal component part .
What about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ultra-wideband, and other wireless chips?
Apple already makes its own Ultra Wideband chips ( the U1 and U2 ) and habituate them in iPhones , AirTags , Apple Watch , and the charging casing for the AirPods Pro 2 .
The company relies on chips from companies like Broadcom for Bluetooth and Wi - Fi , but that wo n’t last too long . Apple isdeveloping its own Wi - Fi and Bluetooth chipand is expected to jump using it in products as early as this year . ( We ’ll have to wait for the first teardowns but it does n’t look to be part of the iPhone 16e , which only supports Wi - Fi 6 . ) The raw chip could debut in the iPhone 17 , or in another product such as the HomePod miniskirt or Apple TV , but it ’s unlikely we ’ll hear much about it before teardowns .
Apple ’s Wi - Fi chip is expect to support the latest Wi - Fi 7 spec and offer what report say is “ enhance connectivity ” .
