Apple is growing a “refreshed” model of its C1 modem for mass manufacturing subsequent 12 months that may enhance energy consumption and transmission velocity, in addition to carry assist for mmWave, in keeping with trade analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a publish on X (Twitter), Kuo mentioned that whereas supporting the mmWave baseband is not notably difficult, reaching secure efficiency with low energy consumption stays a “key hurdle” for Apple.
The C1 modem that debuted within the iPhone 16e lacks assist for ultra-fast mmWave 5G expertise. This implies customers haven’t got entry to the exceptionally quick speeds that mmWave expertise can present in particular places corresponding to stadiums, airports, and dense city areas. Nonetheless, Apple says the C1 is simply the “begin” and that it will hold enhancing the expertise with every new technology. Kuo has beforehand mentioned the iPhone 17 Air, anticipated later this 12 months, may even be geared up with the C1 modem.
It isn’t instantly clear which gadget will likely be first to make use of the refreshed C1 modem, however a rumored iPhone 17e might be one risk. Apple might additionally use the chip in an iPad and/or the usual mannequin in Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup. The Data‘s Wayne Ma has additionally predicted that Apple in 2026 will debut a brand new customized modem with assist for mmWave 5G. The modem with mmWave assist will likely be utilized in iPhones and “not less than one iPad,” in keeping with Ma.
Based on Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple’s next-generation C2 modem can be anticipated to reach in 2026, and can debut in Apple’s iPhone 18 Professional fashions.
In his social media publish, Kuo additionally divulged some extra technical node particulars about Apple’s C1 modem course of expertise:
- Baseband: 4/5nm (each applied sciences are related)
- Low-frequency/Sub-6 TRx (Transceivers): 7nm
- Intermediate Frequency (IF) TRx: 7nm
- PMIC: 55nm
Kuo says that in contrast to processors, baseband chips don’t essentially profit from utilizing the newest superior node (3nm, for instance), because it doesn’t considerably enhance baseband transmission velocity. Because of this, “it is unlikely that Apple’s baseband will shift to a 3nm course of subsequent 12 months,” mentioned Kuo.
Apple claims the C1 modem is probably the most power-efficient modem it has utilized in an iPhone, contributing to the iPhone 16e having the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone ever.
