Apple’s own in-house modem, the C1, has also impressed us so far in recent benchmark tests, considering the troubles that the company faced in developing it. The C1 modem is featured in the iPhone 16e and is being pitted against the Qualcomm Snapdragon X71 modem used in other iPhones like the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
In terms of performance, the C1 modem does not have support for the extremely fast mmWave 5G technology that is not as yet available in most of the world outside America. However, it delivers the same amount of 5G speed as Qualcomm’s modems in most real-world conditions. For instance, some tests have shown that the iPhone 16e with the C1 modem achieved slightly more download speeds than the iPhone 16 Pro Max in certain scenarios. In a test on the Dave2D YouTube channel, performed by Dave Lee, the iPhone 16e beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max by some 30 to 40 Mbps on the Bell network in Toronto.
The C1 modem is not a record-breaker, but it is extremely power-efficient. Apple claims that it is up to 25% more power-efficient than Qualcomm modems, and this has been largely borne out by independent testing. For example, Geekerwan’s lab tests found that the iPhone 16e consumed much less power than the iPhone 16, as Apple has claimed. This is crucial to battery life extension, especially for a device like the iPhone 16e, which already includes a larger capacity battery than the previous models.
But performance is greatly determined by both location and network conditions. With clogged or low connections, the C1 modem sometimes cannot keep up with Qualcomm modems. For instance, in a challenging indoor environment like a gym, the Qualcomm modem was faster compared to C1 when upload speeds were measured. Despite such fluctuations, the C1 modem is known to provide stable call quality and tolerable speeds most of the time.
The launch of the C1 modem is a huge milestone for Apple, an enormous step towards reducing its reliance on third-party components. Apple’s acquisition of Intel’s modem business and years of research finally paid off with the C1 modem, as it proves Apple is capable of developing competitive, internal technology. While not the fastest modem available, its power efficiency and comparable performance make it a viable candidate for future Apple products.
In real-world tests, consumers have reported that the C1 modem is adequate for everyday use such as streaming and uploading large files. The modems’ efficiency is particularly helpful for consumers with high data usage because it saves battery life without compromising performance. Overall, the C1 modem is a somewhat unsung but nevertheless significant accomplishment on Apple’s part that demonstrates its capacity to design competitive, one-off items that enhance user experience and decrease third-party dependence.
