Wesley Hilliard
Apple only just revealed the C1 modem with iPhone 16e on Wednesday, but there's already a rumor about the C2 being tested internally.
Apple has spent years trying to distance itself from Qualcomm and use its own in-house modem. The company has finally landed on the C1 modem used in iPhone 16e, calling it a "platform for generations."
According to a report from MacRumors sourced from an accurate leaker that uses a private account on X, Apple is already working on the future of the C-series platform. The leaker called it the C2 and shared it has the identifier C4020.
No other details were shared beyond the modem's existence.
Apple will use the C1 in upcoming devices like the rumored iPhone 17 Air (or Slim). Rumors suggest that the C1 won't be used in the other iPhone 17 models.
Presumably, the C1 would also be used in an iPhone 17e that would release early in 2026. The C2 could be destined for the iPhone 18 lineup, iPads, or even Macs.
C1 lacks some features that Qualcomm's modems offer, like mmWave 5G. Apple is likely working to ensure feature parity with Qualcomm modems as it brings the C-series modems to other devices.
This C2 rumor is being rated likely since Apple is usually working years ahead on future generations of products. The included identifier and alleged accuracy are enough to suggest this is a reliable rumor.
Charles Martin
Oliver Haslam
Marko Zivkovic
Amber Neely
5 Comments
I agree with the rumor score. Even without this article I already figured Apple would be working on the next version. As with their SOCs I’m sure they are working years out.
To make the target dates they’re probably working on the C3 and the M6 and M7 too…… oh and M5 series has been finished for some time too.
It’s not much of a leak. The only thing revealed is a code name for a presumed 2nd gen Apple modem.
1. This C1. No mmWave, limited band aggregation. For lower end products.
3. “C3” in 2027. Beats high end QCOM modems.
Put an Apple modem in a new Airport. With an Apple branded VPN in it. Then put an HDMI port and optical audio out on the back. And lastly...take my money.
C1 is not suitable for high end phones like previous posters have highlighted. C2 will likely be MVP for high end line.
Personally I think this is the beginning of a beautiful evolution and progressive synergy between the different features in the iPhone. Maybe the modem will progressively share compute with the rest of the SoC over time?
Similar to how another poster earlier said - connectivity everywhere and battery life is all what it is about. Mobile network providers are struggling with investment burden of modernizing the networks with ever shortening generational cycles of tech. Dont care if 8Gbps in the phone if no coverage.
I do think that Apple should buddy up closer to Starlink as GlobalStar is dead on arrival in comparison.