Apple has finally introduced its first in-house modem alongside iPhone 16e, the C1, marking a major shift in its hardware strategy.
For years, Apple has relied on Qualcomm for iPhone modems, but that relationship has been winding down. The company took a big step toward independence in 2019 when it acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion.
That move set the stage for Apple to develop its own 5G modem, cutting out third-party suppliers and ensuring tighter hardware integration. It makes its debut in the iPhone 16e, but it isn’t clear if the in-house modem will be ready for Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup in the fall.
The long road to an Apple modem
Apple’s modem ambitions have been no secret. The company has invested heavily in research, but reports suggested that development hasn’t always gone smoothly.
By 2023, Apple was still finalizing its modem supply chain, with companies like ASE Technology and Amkor Technology competing to handle packaging for its custom chips.
Despite that progress, industry insiders speculated that Apple’s modem was running behind schedule. Some reports claimed that Apple’s in-house design lagged about three years behind Qualcomm’s top offerings, raising concerns about performance.
While the C1 is a major step toward full independence, it still has limitations. The current version doesn’t support millimeter wave 5G, a high-speed connectivity standard that Qualcomm modems have offered for years.
