Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The iPhone 16 and 16e showed similar network speeds in most regions. The iPhone 16 outperformed the 16e on more advanced networks. The iPhone 17 is expected to continue to use Qualcomm modems. Looking for an iPhone with the best connection speeds and undecided between an iPhone 16 and an iPhone 16e. (Or do you wait for an iPhone 17?) The average download and upload speeds tend to favor the iPhone 16. However, the 16e performs as well as or better in certain situations, at least according to a new report from Ookla. Also: Apple iPhone 17 event live updates: The biggest rumors on AirPods, Apple Watch Series 11, more iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16e connection speeds For a report released Monday, Ookla used its popular Speedtest tool to compare the online performance of the iPhone 16 against the iPhone 16e. With a starting price of $799, the iPhone 16 comes with a traditional Qualcomm modem, specifically the Snapdragon X71 5G. In contrast, the $599 iPhone 16e is outfitted with Apple's first in-house 5G modem, the C1. Apple has been on a tear the past few years to replace key components normally obtained from outside vendors with its own in-house parts. And that includes the modem used in the iPhone series. To measure the differences between the Qualcomm and Apple modems, Ookla said that it tested the online speeds across a range of markets and countries, especially ones in which people have gravitated toward the lower-cost 16e. The company specifically chose the iPhone 16 and 16e since both devices are similarly designed and sport the same 6.1-inch screen, with the modem being the major difference between them. Also: Every iPhone model compatible with iOS 26 (and which ones don't support the update) Here's how they fared. Depends on your carrier and country In most of the markets that Ookla analyzed, the iPhone 16e with the Apple C1 modem performed similarly to the iPhone 16 with the Qualcomm modem at median download speeds. The biggest difference was in Saudi Arabia, where the iPhone 16 recorded a speed of 353.49 Mbps compared with the 16e's 295.01 Mbps. On the other end, Spain saw the iPhone 16e in the lead with a median download speed of 139.88 Mbps versus the iPhone 16's 110.38 Mbps. Overall, though, the iPhone 16's Qualcomm modem captured better download speeds on mobile networks with a 5G standalone (SA) footprint supporting higher carrier aggregation combinations and uplink MIMO technology. The 16e's C1 modem lacks these technologies and therefore can't compete as well on such networks. To put it simply, a 5G standalone footprint uses a 5G network with a 5G core as opposed to one with a 5G network and a 4G LTE core. Higher carrier aggregation combinations can use multiple frequency bands simultaneously for better performance. Uplink MIMO means that the device can receive multiple data streams at once. Also: If these iPhone 17 Air rumors are confirmed, I'm saying goodbye to my phone Among the supported networks that give the edge to the Qualcomm modem are those in the US, Saudi Arabia, China, and India. In the US, for example, T-Mobile subscribers saw better speeds with the iPhone 16, which supports four-carrier aggregation, than those who used an iPhone 16e, which supports a maximum of three-carrier aggregation. The median download speed on T-Mobile's network was 317.64 Mbps with the Qualcomm modem compared with 252.80 Mbps with Apple's modem. More than 65% of the locations on T-Mobile's network use four-carrier aggregation, offering a huge advantage to the iPhone 16. Blame it on bottlenecks If the Qualcomm model seems so much better on paper, why did Apple's modem perform just as well in many markets? Blame it on bottlenecks. Also: My 5 simple tricks to extend iPhone battery life when traveling (including older models) Many networks can't yet benefit from the Qualcomm modem's more advanced capabilities. As more providers upgrade their networks with 5G SA, carrier aggregation, and advanced MIMO for downloads and uploads, Ookla said it expects the network performance of the iPhone 16 to outpace that of the 16e. So does all this mean you should pay the extra $200 for an iPhone 16 instead of an iPhone 16e? Well, that depends on how much you value the faster connection speeds. And you'll probably want to hold off anyway, as Apple is about to release its new iPhone 17 lineup. The standard iPhone 17 models (base, Pro, and Pro Max) are expected to continue using Qualcomm modems, while the rumored iPhone 17 Air will likely include Apple's C1 modem.