- iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max expected to use Apple’s C2 modem in 2026.
- iPhone 17 series will stick with Qualcomm modems, not Apple’s C1.
- Apple’s C1 modem lacks fast mmWave 5G, but C2 could improve performance.
Apple’s iPhone 18 series, still over a year away, is already making headlines. A new report from 9to5Mac says the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will come with Apple’s custom C2 modem in 2026. Analyst Jeff Pu shared this news in a note to investors, hinting at Apple’s next big step in modem technology. The company recently introduced its C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, moving away from Qualcomm modems after years of use.
However, the iPhone 17 series, set to launch later in 2025, won’t use the C1 modem in its flagship models. The C1 doesn’t support super-fast mmWave 5G, which offers top speeds in busy places like stadiums or cities. Apple has admitted this is a weak spot and plans to improve with future chips like the C2 modem. For now, the iPhone 17 will likely stick with Qualcomm modems, thanks to an agreement lasting until March 2027. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also noted the iPhone 17 Air might use the C1 modem instead.
This shift matters because modems control how fast your phone connects to the internet. Qualcomm’s CEO recently bragged that their new X85 modem far outpaces Apple’s C1, giving Android phones an edge. With the C2 modem, Apple hopes to catch up and bring better 5G performance to its premium iPhones in 2026, making the iPhone 18 series a potential game-changer.
