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Apple is apparently intending to embed its own 5G cellular modem into the main chipset. According to the article, the business is already testing the replacement to the C1 modem, with the ultimate objective of reducing reliance on Qualcomm-sourced components. After months of speculation, the Cupertino-based tech giant eventually unveiled its first cellular modem alongside the iPhone 16e device. However, the modem now occupies a separate slot on the device's motherboard, which is not ideal for energy efficiency or cost savings.
Apple will reportedly integrate its modem with its main chipset
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stated in his Power On newsletter that the tech giant is now internally testing the C2 and C3 modems (anticipated names), which will replace the C1 5G cellular modem. According to anonymous sources, the C2 modem might arrive in 2026 and be incorporated throughout the company's 2026 iPhone lineup.
Gurman noted that Apple's in-house modem is presently not as strong as the Qualcomm equivalent used in the iPhone 16 models, which might explain why the tech titan did not make much of the milestone with the iPhone 16e introduction. The business claimed that the C1 modem is the "most power-efficient modem ever" on an iPhone, although efficiency is a more difficult statistic to quantify.
Apple is rumored to outperform Qualcomm with the third edition of the modem, which might come in 2027. Gurman asserted that the modem could be installed in an independent slot till that moment. Apple apparently does not intend to incorporate the modem into the main chipset until 2028. The integration is considered to be part of the company's long-term strategy since it will improve energy efficiency while also lowering costs.
Notably, Apple's technical specs for the iPhone 16e indicate that the C1 modem does not support mmWave, an extremely high frequency (EHF) band. It might reduce the phone's download and upload speeds.
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