Apple achieved a major milestone yesterday, when it launched an iPhone with its own in-house modem instead of a Qualcomm one: the C1 chip.
This has been a key goal for the company for a great many years for two reasons, so finally ticking the box is a pretty big moment …
The twin benefits of the C1 chip
As we noted yesterday, ditching a Qualcomm modem for the C1 is a double-win for Apple.
First, Qualcomm’s fee structure, which Apple has long considered unfair. When Apple bought modem chips from the company, it had to pay twice: once for the chip itself, and again for a royalty permitting the use of the technology. Apple referred to this practice as “double dipping.”
It would be like Apple selling you an iPhone but then demanding you buy a separate software license for iOS. Or including an iPhone backup feature but then making you pay extra for enough iCloud stor– Uh, ok, maybe not that one.
Second, Apple cited the power efficiency of its new chip.
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.
The more of the hardware Apple designs, the more the company can maximize efficiencies in the way everything works together.
But no mmWave 5G
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