Apple’s C1 Modem Expected in iPhone 17 Air Hits 213 Mbps in India, Global 5G Performance Varies: Ookla Report

Highlights

• Apple’s in-house C1 modem offers better upload speeds and reliability in congested areas but trails Qualcomm in peak downloads.
• In India, the C1 modem reached up to 213 Mbps on Jio.
• Ookla’s data shows the C1 excels in 10th percentile and upload metrics across most regions.

Apple is gearing up for its September 9, 2025 event and we are expecting the brand to unveil the iPhone 17 Air and other next-gen models. Meanwhile, Ookla has shared fresh insights into the company’s first in-house 5G modem. The Apple C1, which debuted earlier this year in the iPhone 16e, has been tested against the Qualcomm-powered iPhone 16 to evaluate how it stacks up across global 5G networks.

Apple C1 Modem – Background

Apple has spent years developing its own mobile modem to reduce reliance on Qualcomm. The result is the C1, first seen in February 2025 inside the iPhone 16e. That device mirrors the 6.1-inch design of the iPhone 16, making performance comparisons straightforward. Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence pulled data from Q2–Q3 2025 to analyse how the two modems perform around the world.

Breakdown

• The Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 supports up to 6CA downlink aggregation and uplink MIMO.
• The Apple C1 modem, by contrast, offers 3x downlink aggregation but lacks uplink MIMO.
• Apple has tuned the C1 for stronger low-band coverage, aiming to boost reliability for users at the edge of coverage zones or in crowded areas.
• Beyond cellular, Apple is also developing proprietary Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chipsets to improve wireless efficiency and extend battery life in future devices.

Global 5G Performance

Median Download Speeds

The Qualcomm modem still holds the advantage in 12 out of 21 advanced 5G markets including India, the U.S., China, and Saudi Arabia. The widest gap appeared in Saudi Arabia, where the iPhone 16 clocked a median 353.49 Mbps versus the iPhone 16e’s 295.01 Mbps. However, in regions with fewer carrier aggregation options, the C1 modem managed to match or even surpass Qualcomm’s performance.

10th Percentile Speeds

The C1 modem excelled here, outperforming the Qualcomm-based iPhone 16 in 15 of 21 markets. This suggests stronger reliability for users in congested conditions or far from cell towers.

Upload Speeds

The iPhone 16e led in 15 of 21 markets for uploads. In Canada, for instance, it posted a median of 23.91 Mbps compared to 11.57 Mbps on the iPhone 16. In the U.S., AT&T and Verizon favoured the C1 modem for uploads, while T-Mobile results were nearly identical.

Country-Specific Insights

India

Vi India: Median 110.87 Mbps (C1) vs 112.13 Mbps (Qualcomm); 90th percentile 242.19 Mbps vs 271.09 Mbps.

Airtel: Median 182.29 Mbps (C1) vs 183.28 Mbps (Qualcomm); 90th percentile 368.23 Mbps vs 392.91 Mbps.

Jio: Median 213.26 Mbps (C1) vs 225.54 Mbps (Qualcomm); 90th percentile 494.40 Mbps vs 501.53 Mbps.

These results show the Qualcomm modem leading in peak performance, while Apple’s C1 maintains steadier results at network edges.

United States

On T-Mobile and Verizon, the iPhone 16 posted higher median download speeds thanks to its 4CA support. But uploads leaned in favour of the 16e on AT&T and Verizon. Importantly, the C1 modem consistently performed better at the 10th percentile across all carriers.

Saudi Arabia

Advanced networks from stc and Zain favoured the Qualcomm modem, giving the iPhone 16 an edge in download speeds and a 200 Mbps lead at the 90th percentile. Uploads, however, were stronger on the iPhone 16e.

Japan

The iPhone 16e made up 11.3% of total iPhone 16-series samples in Ookla’s dataset. It posted faster median download and upload speeds across most operators, with standout performance at the 10th percentile on SoftBank and Rakuten.

France

Here, the iPhone 16e delivered similar median download speeds to the iPhone 16, except on Free, where it trailed by 11%. It performed better at the 10th percentile across nearly all operators but lost ground at the 90th percentile due to Qualcomm’s superior carrier aggregation.

Ookla’s analysis paints a clear picture. Apple’s C1 modem may not beat Qualcomm at peak speeds on advanced 5G networks, but it delivers reliable uploads, stronger performance in congested conditions, and stable coverage for edge users.

Ookla says it will continue monitoring the rollout of the C1 and Apple’s upcoming wireless solutions to see how they shape overall performance in the years ahead.

FAQs

Q1. What is Apple’s C1 modem and where was it first introduced?

Answer. Apple’s C1 is its first in-house 5G modem, designed to reduce reliance on Qualcomm. It debuted in the iPhone 16e in early 2025 and is expected in the upcoming iPhone 17 Air.

Q2. How does the C1 modem perform compared to Qualcomm’s in global 5G networks?

Answer. While Qualcomm leads in peak download speeds across most advanced markets, Apple’s C1 modem delivers better upload speeds and more reliable performance in congested areas.

Q3. What were the C1 modem’s 5G results in India?

Answer. In India, the C1 modem reached up to 213 Mbps on Jio and showed steady performance across Vi and Airtel, though Qualcomm still led slightly in peak download speeds.

Also Read –

https://www.mymobileindia.com/apple-is-upgrading-its-c1-modem-with-faster-mmwave-5g-kuo-reports/

https://www.mymobileindia.com/apples-c1-modem-in-iphone-16e-outperforms-qualcomm-in-iphone-16-new-study-shows/