Tech giant Apple has officially unveiled its first in-house iPhone modem, the C1, with the launch of the iPhone 16e, marking a pivotal move in Apple’s strategy to reduce reliance on Qualcomm’s 5G chips.
The C1 modem is touted as the most power-efficient modem ever to appear in a smartphone, enhancing the iPhone 16e’s impressive battery life. According to Apple’s website, the device’s internal architecture has been optimized to accommodate a larger battery, offering up to 26 hours of video playback.
Designed to support a range of low-end 5G spectrums, the C1 modem delivers connectivity comparable to the standard iPhone 16, though it doesn’t support mmWave technology, which offers gigabit-level speeds. Despite this limitation, Apple’s use of its proprietary modem in the iPhone 16e reinforces the company’s drive toward self-sufficiency in chip development. The iPhone 16e also integrates Apple Intelligence features, bringing advanced AI capabilities such as Visual Intelligence for smarter image processing and real-time enhancements.
For photography fans, the iPhone 16e may fall short with its single 48MP Fusion camera, offering solid image quality but lacking an ultrawide sensor.
Apple’s modem ambitions began with its 2019 acquisition of Intel’s cellular modem business, signaling the company’s desire to take more control over its hardware ecosystem. While questions about the C1’s performance relative to Qualcomm’s established offerings remain, launching it in the more affordable iPhone 16e allows for wider market testing and may help ease consumer concerns.
Another notable omission is the Camera Control button, though the iPhone 16e keeps the Action Button for creating quick shortcuts to frequently used features. The iPhone 16e is available for pre-order starting tomorrow, with shipments set to begin on February 28th.
