Key Points:
• Apple is transitioning from Qualcomm to in-house modems, starting with the new C1 modem in the iPhone 16e.
• The C2 modem, codenamed Ganymede, will debut in 2026 and catch up with Qualcomm’s modem, while the C3 modem, codenamed Prometheus, will surpass Qualcomm’s performance in 2027.
• Apple is also working on a new Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, codenamed Proxima, which will debut later this year and support Wi-Fi 6E.
The Road to In-House Modems at Apple
In 2020, Apple made the bold move to transition its Mac lineup from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon. The result? Faster and more efficient chips, all in just under three years. Now, Apple is taking on a new challenge: replacing Qualcomm’s modems with its own in-house solution.
The journey began with the C1 modem, launched in the iPhone 16e last month. While it’s not the most powerful modem on the market, it’s designed to be extremely efficient. Apple calls it "the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity." While it won’t be appearing in most iPhone 17 models, it will likely make its way into the iPhone 17 Air, where its efficiency will be a big plus given the thin form factor.
But Apple isn’t stopping there. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the company is already working on future generations of 5G modems. The C2 modem, codenamed Ganymede, will debut in 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 lineup and future iPad models in 2027. And the good news is that it will catch up with Qualcomm’s modem, adding support for mmWave, download speeds of 6 gigabits per second, and more.
The C3 modem, codenamed Prometheus, will take things even further. Debuting in 2027, it’s expected to surpass Qualcomm’s performance and add features like artificial intelligence and support for next-generation satellite networks.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Next Up
Apple isn’t just stopping at modems. It’s also looking to replace Broadcom’s networking chips with its own Proxima chip, codenamed Proxima. This new chip will debut in refreshed versions of the HomePod mini and Apple TV later this year, and will also appear in some iPhone models this year and some iPad and Mac models in 2026.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo takes it a step further, predicting that the Proxima chip will indeed debut in the entire iPhone 17 lineup this year.
The Future of Modem Integration
After Apple is done with its modem transition, it’s considering integrating those modems into the main Apple Silicon chipset. Instead of a separate A18 chip and C1 chip, it would all be one package. This wouldn’t happen until at least 2028, but it would bring cost and efficiency benefits.
For now, Apple is taking the first step towards greater control over its own ecosystem. With the new C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, we can expect more efficient and reliable connectivity. And with future modems in the works, the possibilities are endless. So, what are you waiting for? Head to Amazon to grab some of my favorite iPhone accessories and start enjoying the best of the best.
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