Apple’s C1 Modem Next Iteration Tipped To Support MmWave 5G

Apple recently launched the iPhone 16e as the most affordable smartphone in its current lineup. While the device isn’t as cheap as the iPhone SE models, the Cupertino giant still had to make some compromises to hit the price tag. However, a new report claims that an upgraded version of the C1 modem debuting in the iPhone 16e will include mmWave 5G support.

Apple did not include mmWave 5G in the C1 due to energy efficiency concerns, Kuo claims

Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known tech industry analyst, claims that the company is working on a “refreshed” version of the C1 modem. The component will go into mass production next year, according to the source. The improvements would mainly be in power consumption, transmission speed, and mmWave 5G compatibility.

It appears that Apple intended to include mmWave 5G in the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem. However, Kuo claims that the company failed to integrate the feature without significantly affecting power consumption. The analyst describes the situation as a “key hurdle“ for the American firm. As a result, iPhone 16e users cannot enjoy the ultra-fast 5G speeds present in certain locations. The technology enables very high 5G speeds in areas where the signal is often weakened by the density of people and devices. This includes dense urban areas, stadiums, and airports, among others.

However, an upcoming version of the modem will solve this problem, according to Kuo. It is possible that the analyst is actually talking about the C2 modem that Apple could integrate into the iPhone 18 Pro models. In the meantime, the current C1 modem will still make it to at least one entry-level iPad. Some rumors even claim that Apple will implement it in the vanilla iPhone 18. However, it’s possible that it will be a variant with mmWave 5G support, as the vanilla iPhone 16 supports it.

Apple wants to overtake Qualcomm in the field of modems

A report from late 2024 claimed that Apple even aims to surpass Qualcomm’s modems in performance by 2027. So, the company would implement in-house modems in all its products starting in 2027 or 2028. This could be a financial blow to Qualcomm, the company’s main modem supplier.

Unless Apple changes its launch strategy, it’s unlikely that an iPhone 17e will arrive anytime soon. The iPhone 16e replaced the iPhone SE models that didn’t receive new annual models. However, perhaps Apple will surprise us and start releasing annual “iPhone e” devices now. Note that this is just speculation for now.

It’s noteworthy that, in addition to mmWave 5G, the Apple C1 modem also lacks WiFi 7. That said, most people probably won’t notice this omission.