Adieu Qualcomm: Apple C1 Modem Debuts In Iphone 16e

• Apple launches its first custom-designed C1 modem in the $599 iPhone 16e
• Promises better battery life and network performance
• Will reduce Apple’s reliance on Qualcomm to 20% of current levels

Apple has unveiled its C1 modem, the company’s first custom-designed cellular modem chip, marking an important moment in its attempts to reduce dependence on Qualcomm for iPhone components.

The C1 modem subsystem, which debuts in the $599 iPhone 16e, represents the culmination of several years of development and follows Apple’s $1 billion acquisition of Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019.

“We build a platform for generations. C1 is the start, and we’re going to keep improving that technology each generation, so that it becomes a platform for us that will be used to differentiate this technology for our products truly’, Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, told Reuters.

Apple C1 modem development

According to Srouji, the C1 subsystem combines a 4-nanometre baseband modem with a 7-nanometre transceiver, making it the most complex technology Apple has ever built. The chips underwent rigorous testing with 180 carriers across 55 countries to ensure global compatibility.

Kaiann Drance, vice president of iPhone product marketing at Apple, told Reuters the iPhone 16e achieves the best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone thanks to the C1 system. The 16e features the same A18 processor chip as the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup.

The device will also support Apple’s latest artificial intelligence features which are currently supplied by OpenAI until Apple’s own AI capabilities are market-ready.

Integration with iPhone systems

One key advantage of the C1 modem is its tight integration with Apple’s processor chips, according to the company. Arun Mathias, vice president for wireless software at Apple, explained that the integration allows the phone to prioritise time-sensitive data transfers when networks are congested, resulting in better overall responsiveness for users.

The C1 chips incorporate custom GPS systems and satellite connectivity capabilities when users are away from mobile data networks. However, they currently lack millimetre wave 5G capability, a technology where Qualcomm maintains significant expertise.

Apple executives declined to specify when their chips would incorporate this technology or detail any timeline for phasing out Qualcomm’s chips.

Industry impact and market response

The development of custom modem chips has been a significant challenge, any modem has to be compatible with hundreds of carriers in 100+ numerous countries. Only a handful of companies worldwide, including Samsung Electronics, MediaTek, and Huawei Technologies, have created such devices.

Qualcomm executives have indicated they expect their share of Apple modems to drop from 100% to as low as 20% by next year. However, Qualcomm’s technology licensing agreement with Apple extends until at least 2027. After Apple’s announcement, both companies’ shares barely shifted.

Apple’s journey to develop its modem technology included a protracted legal battle with Qualcomm, after alternative suppliers like Intel failed to deliver viable alternatives. The case was settled in 2019, and included new supply agreements.

Strategic differentiation

“We’re not the merchant vendor to compete with Qualcomm and MediaTek and others. I believe we’re building something truly differentiating that our customer will benefit from,” Srouji said. He emphasised that Apple’s goal was not to match the specifications of chip rivals but to design products specifically tailored to Apple devices’ needs.

The introduction of the C1 modem represents a significant milestone in Apple’s component strategy, which includes the shift to its own-design ARM processors in its desktop and laptop computers.

The post Adieu Qualcomm: Apple C1 modem debuts in iPhone 16e appeared first on TechHQ.