A new Qualcomm modem study -- commissioned by the chipmaker -- found its modem chips outperformed Apple's C1 in real-world conditions. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A new Cellular Insights report commissioned by Qualcomm has found that two unnamed Android smartphone models equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 and Snapdragon X80 modems achieved faster 5G speeds compared to the iPhone 16e, which is equipped with Apple's first-ever, custom-designed C1 modem. Testing was conducted with T-Mobile's sub-6GHz 5G network in New York City, across a variety of real-world environments, according to Cellular Insights. The report found that the Android devices "consistently outperformed" the iPhone 16e in terms of 5G connectivity, especially indoors. Specifically, the Android devices achieved up to 35% faster download speeds compared to the iPhone 16e, and up to 91% faster upload speeds. The report also found that the iPhone 16e frequently became hot to the…

Apple C1 Apple’s new iPhone 16e made its commercial debut in late February with much fanfare because it’s the first device to include the Apple-designed C1 modem. Historically, Apple relied upon Qualcomm to provide most of its iPhone modems so its decision to use the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e is considered a significant move. Although it’s early in the adoption curve for the iPhone 16e, Ookla analyzed the performance of the new device from March 1st through March 12th, and compared it to the performance of iPhone 16. Both devices run on the same Apple-designed A18 SoC. However, it’s important to note that unlike the iPhone 16, the iPhone 16e does not support mmWave spectrum. This is the…

Qualcomm believes its latest X85 5G modem will set a "huge delta" between the performance of high-end Android devices and Apple devices, largely thanks to its AI-powered features. Announced at this year's ongoing Mobile World Conference 2025 in Barcelona, Qualcomm's next-generation X85 modem supports 5G mmWave, 400MHz download bandwidth in the Sub-6GHz spectrum with 1024-QAM modulation for better data speeds, and Satellite connectivity. The X85 can deliver peak download speeds of up to 12.5Gbps and peak upload speeds of up to 3.7Gbps, according to Qualcomm. In addition, the modem can combine multiple frequencies from different carriers to deliver better performance. In terms of AI features, its AI-powered Data Traffic Engine is said to be able to reduce latency and improve…

Apple plans to move away from Qualcomm modems in the Apple Watch while bolstering its new in-house alternatives, according to The Information's Wayne Ma. Later this year, Apple plans to eliminate the Qualcomm modem used in the Apple Watch Ultra. Rather than using the C1 modem or another custom Apple chip, Apple plans to switch from using Qualcomm units to MediaTek ones. MediaTek is one of the few companies capable of designing 5G modems. In 2026, Apple will debut a new custom modem with support for mmWave 5G. The C1 does not have this capability. The modem with mmWave support will be used in iPhones and "at least one iPad." This project has the codename "Ganymede." The C1 currently falls…

Inside the new entry-level iPhone 16e is Apple’s first in-house cellular chip — a critical component for smartphones that enables cellular connections. On Wednesday, Apple introduced its first in-house modem chip, called “C1,” which is designed to connect iPhones to wireless data networks, reducing its dependency on Qualcomm chips. This new chip is central to the $599 iPhone 16e, which was also unveiled that day. Apple executives told Reuters that these custom chips will be integrated into more of their products in the future, though they provided no specific timeline for this expansion. Aaron Tilley for The Wall Street Journal: ‎ The chip, which Apple dubbed the C1, is a long-awaited next step in Apple’s efforts to make more of…