Shaking off Qualcomm dependency, Apple introduces its own modem chip, powering the iPhone 16e and paving the way for smarter, more efficient tech in future devices.
Last week, Apple unveiled its first custom-designed modem chip, marking a step in reducing its dependency on Qualcomm, which has provided chips for both Apple and Android devices.
This new chip will feature in Apple’s iPhone 16e, which will be launched alongside the announcement. According to Reuters, Apple executives revealed that the chip would be rolled out across its range of products in the future, though they did not specify a timeline.
The chips are part of Apple’s new C1 subsystem, a collection of key components, including processors and memory. The iPhone 16e, which features the A18 processor chip found in the rest of the iPhone 16 series, boasts the best battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone, thanks to the C1 system. The iPhone 16e will also incorporate the company’s latest AI features, according to Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of iPhone Product Marketing.
Modem chips are usually difficult to create, given their need to be compatible with hundreds of carriers across multiple countries. Few companies, including Samsung, MediaTek, and Huawei, have succeeded in developing such technology.
Apple previously sourced modems from Qualcomm, which also powers Android devices and Windows laptops, creating competition for Apple’s products.
After a lengthy legal dispute, Apple settled with Qualcomm in 2019, signing new supply agreements after attempts to find alternative suppliers, such as Intel, proved unsuccessful. However, Apple now believes it has developed a sophisticated chip that will serve as the foundation of a long-term modem platform.
The C1 subsystem represents the most complex technology Apple has ever built. The baseband modem is manufactured using advanced 4-nanometre chipmaking technology, while the transceiver is produced with 7-nanometre technology. Testing for compatibility involved working with 180 carriers in 55 countries.
According to Johny Srouji, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies, the C1 is just the beginning, with future generations expected to further improve and differentiate the technology across Apple’s products.
One way Apple intends to set the C1 apart is by integrating it with its processor chips. This integration will allow the phone’s processor to communicate with the modem in cases of network congestion, prioritising time-sensitive data transfers to ensure a smoother user experience, explained Arun Mathias, Apple’s Vice President for Wireless Software.
The C1 chips will also include custom GPS systems and satellite connectivity for use in areas without mobile data coverage. However, they will lack some features, such as the ability to connect to millimetre-wave 5G networks, a domain where Qualcomm excels.
Apple has not disclosed when its chips will feature this technology or when it plans to phase out Qualcomm’s modems. Qualcomm has predicted that its share of Apple’s modem market will drop from 100% to as low as 20% by next year, although a licensing agreement between the two companies remains in place until at least 2027.
Srouji clarified that Apple’s aim is not to compete with chip rivals like Qualcomm and MediaTek directly, but instead to create products tailored to Apple’s specific needs, offering distinctive technology that benefits its customers.
