The iPhone 17 is just around the corner, but there are already a few reports that may make you want to skip it and wait for the iPhone 18 instead. Putting aside the obvious improvements — processor, cameras, or newer versions of iOS — there’s also another, minor reason to wait for next year’s flagships.
After years of trial and error, Apple was finally able to make an in-house cellular modem to decrease its dependency on Qualcomm. This modem, the C1, debuted in this year’s new budget model: the iPhone 16e. However, it wasn’t good enough to make it to the top-of-the-line models, and the same will hold true this year for the iPhone 17 lineup as well.
How has the C1 modem served you?
It's been perfectly fine
23.08%
It's performed better than Qualcomm's
0%
It's been a mixed bag
7.69%
It's been pretty bad
7.69%
Don't use an iPhone 16e
61.54%
But, according to Apple insider Mark Gurman, with next year’s flagships, Apple is bringing its in-house cellular chip to the Pro models as well. This will obviously not be the C1 modem, but rather the C2, or even the C3 if reports about the C2 being a test-only chip are accurate.
Whether Apple is able to bring up its performance to be on par with Qualcomm’s chips is completely up in the air for now, but there is almost certainly going to be another advantage.
The iPhone 16e debuted with Apple’s in-house cellular modem. | Image credit — PhoneArena
With an in-house modem, Apple will be able to do what it already does with its A-series and M-series chips on its phones and MacBook laptops, respectively. The hardware and software synergy could be optimized to such an extent, that the iPhone 18 Pro may have slightly better battery life than it would have done with a Qualcomm chip.
The iPhone 18 Pro will also get the second gen Apple modem. This year’s Pro phones will use Qualcomm still. The slim phone though will use the first gen Apple modem, like the 16E. https://t.co/fhoI2CdIOu
While that extra boost wouldn’t really be too noticeable on the Pro models — Apple is fattening them up again for bigger batteries — it will still be a welcome addition. This is also why this year’s super slim iPhone 17 Air is expected to have Apple’s own modem as well, as it only has a battery capacity of 2,900 mAh.
And, even if the battery life isn’t a noticeable jump up for the consumer, Apple will definitely notice the reduction in manufacturing costs. Whether the company passes on those reductions to its users, however, remains to be seen.
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Abdullah loves smartphones, Virtual Reality, and audio gear. Though he covers a wide range of news his favorite is always when he gets to talk about the newest VR venture or when Apple sets the industry ablaze with another phenomenal release.
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