Here’s an inside look at the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem and how it works with the A18 chip

The iPhone 16e is a unique phone for many reasons. The most notable feature, however, is that it includes Apple’s first-ever cellular modem, the C1. In an interview with Reuters this week, Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, teased that the C1 is “just the start” of Apple’s work in this industry.

Meanwhile, Andru Edwards also had the opportunity to tour Apple’s modem testing labs for a behind-the-scenes look at what went into the development of the new C1 modem.

In the Reuters interview, Srouji said:

“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 truly differentiate this technology for our products.”

Srouji also said that Apple didn’t set out to match the specifications of modems created by other companies like Qualcomm. Instead, the company prioritized meeting the specific needs of Apple products. “We’re not the merchant vendor to go compete with Qualcomm and MediaTek and others. I believe we’re building something truly differentiating that our customer will benefit from,” he explained.

Andru’s video offers a fascinating look inside Apple’s modem testing labs, where the C1 underwent rigorous evaluation before making its way to the iPhone 16e.

Andru also got the rundown on a handful of interesting C1 features and considerations in conversations with Srouji and Arun Mathias, Apple’s VP of wireless software. One of the most interesting tidbits is how the C1 interacts with the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e.

For example, in a congested network area, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e can instruct the C1 modem to dynamically manage traffic, prioritizing your needs in real-time. If you’re trying to send a photo or video to someone, for instance, the A18 will tell the C1 to prioritize that network traffic over other data tasks.

Additionally, Apple says that the baseband modem in the C1 is manufactured with a 4-nanometer fabrication technology, while the transceiver is made with a 7-nanometer technology.

I highly recommend watching Andru’s video, which we’ve embedded below.