Apple iPhone 18 Pro Series Expected to Feature the Company’s Next-Gen C2 Modem

The iPhone 16e is Apple’s first device to feature the company’s own C1 modem, and early 5G tests show impressive performance. With the success of this chip, Apple is expected to gradually phase out Qualcomm’s 5G modems, replacing them with its in-house silicon for connectivity.

Reports suggest that Apple is already preparing for the next-generation C2 modem, which will likely debut in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Unlike the current C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, the upcoming C2 chip is expected to address a significant issue — the lack of mmWave support.

The existing C1 chip is a combination of several 4-7nm baseband components and a 55nm PMIC for power management. Due to the absence of mmWave support, Apple continues to use Qualcomm’s 5G modem in the iPhone 17 series. The company aims to perfect its in-house technology before launching the C2 modem.

According to analyst Jeff Pu, the C2 chip will be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 18 and 18 Plus will likely use the existing C1 chip or a Qualcomm-based 5G modem.

Apple remains tight-lipped about these developments, and official confirmation may not come until the iPhone 17 series is launched. However, there are online rumors suggesting that the C1 modem