The iPhone 16e employs Apple’s own internal cellular modem, the C1, for the first time, a departure from the Qualcomm modems used in previous iPhone models. The transition is part of Apple’s broader push to make its own parts, following its acquisition of Intel’s modem division in 2019. The C1 modem supports low and mid-band 5G spectrum but lacks mmWave technology, which is frequently employed for speedy data transfer over short distances.
In actual-world testing, the C1 modem generally delivers good performance, but it tends to fall behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon modems in download speeds. For instance, in areas with great network coverage, the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 achieved download speeds over a gigabit, while the C1 could only achieve half that speed. But in upload rates, the C1 modem provided more similar performance, which averaged out to tie with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71M but dropped where it counted inside buildings like gyms.
Despite all of these performance differences, the C1 modem is more power-efficient in its usage than Qualcomm offerings, which is a significant competitive selling point for Apple. Added to that with higher battery capacity in the iPhone 16e, this is equal to batteries that last longer than within the standard iPhone 16. Apple markets the C1 modem as the most efficient but utilized on an iPhone, which assists the 16e to offer up to 26 hours of video playback.
The placement of the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, rather than in high-end phones like the iPhone 16 Pro, is a sign of its present performance. Apple is developing the next generations of its modem technology, the C2 and C3, which will provide better performance and efficiency. This is required for Apple to be able to compete with Qualcomm’s top modems in high-end phones.
Notably, certain tests have indicated that the C1 modem beats Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 in certain circumstances. One such test performed in Toronto, Canada, resulted in the iPhone 16e, which featured the C1 modem, performing faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max using the Snapdragon X71. But such a difference might be geographical in nature and may not prove a universal better performance compared to Qualcomm’s modems in every context.
In total, while the C1 modem is a promising start to Apple’s own modem production, it still lags behind Qualcomm’s offerings in numerous significant ways. As Apple continues to enhance its modem tech further, future models will offer superior performance that can potentially surpass or match Qualcomm’s technology in the future.
