This year, Apple unveiled its first in-house 5G modem, the C1 chip, with the introduction of the iPhone 16e. However, it is anticipated that Apple will not debut this modem in its higher-end iPhones until next year at the earliest. Analyst Jeff Pu from GF Securities has confirmed this, indicating that Apple is developing an updated version of its modem for the iPhone 18 Pro models.
Apple’s Strategy for Its 5G Modem in the iPhone 18 Pro
According to a note to investors obtained by DMN, the analyst predicts that the “C2” chip will be integrated into the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max set to be released in 2026. This aligns with a recent report from Bloomberg suggesting that the C2 will debut in premium iPhones next year.
The C1 chip developed by Apple utilizes 4 nanometer baseband technology alongside 7 nanometer transceiver technology. As indicated by laboratory tests, this new 5G modem is significantly more efficient and consumes less power compared to Qualcomm modems used in other iPhones. Pu mentions that Apple aims to incorporate the C1 chip into the ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air later this year, although there could be changes to this plan.
Based on the gathered information, it remains uncertain if the standard iPhone 18 will be equipped with the C1 chip while keeping the C2 as a Pro model exclusive, or if the base model will continue utilizing a Qualcomm 5G modem for another year.
Given that the modem is a vital component of a smartphone, Apple likely intends to ensure that its modem is competitive enough to substitute Qualcomm’s offerings. Although tests indicate that the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e achieves comparable speeds to Qualcomm’s in most instances, it still does not support the superior 5G mmWave speeds.
Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple decided to integrate the C1 chip into other devices, such as cellular versions of the iPad and Apple Watch, prior to expanding its use in additional iPhone models.
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