Highlights
- Apple’s upcoming C2 and C3 modems (2026 and 2027) aim to match and surpass Qualcomm’s capabilities.
- Apple plans to replace Broadcom’s networking chips with its own Proxima chip, expected to launch in 2025.
- This chip will support Wi-Fi 6E and may debut in HomePod mini, Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
- Apple is considering integrating its modem technology directly into Apple Silicon chips by 2028.
Caption – Apple introduced an in-house C1 modem earlier this year with the iPhone 16e. (Image credit – Apple)
It has been obvious for a while that Apple wants more control over the chips inside your iPhone. A recent report has now shed some light on Apple’s strategy when it comes to chips.
C1 Modem Was Built for Efficiency
Apple introduced its first in-house modem, the C1, with the iPhone 16e earlier this year. It’s focused on efficiency, not peak performance. It doesn’t support 5G mmWave and lacks support for some wavelengths handled by Qualcomm’s modems. Even so, it performs well in testing. Apple calls it “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity.”
Because it’s more about saving power than delivering the fastest speeds, the C1 isn’t coming to most iPhone 17 models. But it’s expected to appear in the iPhone 17 Air, where efficiency is key for the thinner design.
C2 and C3 Modems Are on the Way
Apple is already working on future modems. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to fully replace Qualcomm within two generations.
In 2026, Apple will launch the C2 modem codenamed Ganymede with the iPhone 18 lineup. It’s also coming to iPads in 2027. Gurman says, “The big difference is that Ganymede will catch up to current Qualcomm modems by adding support for mmWave, download speeds of 6 gigabits per second, six-carrier aggregation when using Sub-6, and eight-carrier aggregation when using mmWave.”
Then in 2027, the C3 modem codenamed Prometheus will debut alongside the iPhone 19 series. Gurman adds, “In 2027, Apple aims to roll out its third modem, code-named Prometheus. The company hopes to top Qualcomm with that component’s performance and artificial intelligence features by that point. It will also build in support for next-generation satellite networks.”
Meanwhile, Apple is also thinking about bringing cellular connectivity to MacBooks, possibly starting in 2026, thanks to these new in-house modems.
New Networking Chip: Proxima
Apple isn’t just looking to ditch Qualcomm. It also wants to stop using Broadcom’s networking chips. A new in-house chip, codenamed Proxima, might launch later this year.
According to Gurman, it supports Wi-Fi 6E and is most likely to debut in updated HomePod mini and Apple TV models this year. Gurman also notes that it could potentially serve as a Wi-Fi router and is expected in some iPhone models this year, and iPads and Macs in 2026
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will go even further. He says the entire iPhone 17 lineup will feature the chip, not just the iPhone 17 Air and that it will “enhance connectivity across Apple devices,” while also reducing cost.
Modem Integration Into Apple Silicon
Once Apple finishes switching to its own modems, it may go a step further and build them right into its main Apple Silicon chips. So instead of having an A18 chip and a separate C1 chip, everything would be in one package.
Gurman says this integration won’t happen until 2028 at the earliest, but it’s being considered. If it happens, it could lead to big improvements in both cost and efficiency.
FAQs
Q1. What is Apple’s first in-house modem, and how does it differ from Qualcomm’s modems?
Answer. Apple’s first in-house modem, the C1, was introduced with the iPhone 16e. It focuses on efficiency rather than peak performance, lacking support for 5G mmWave and certain wavelengths handled by Qualcomm modems. Despite this, Apple calls it “the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity.”
Q2. What is the Apple Proxima networking chip, and when will it be released?
Answer. Apple is developing an in-house networking chip called Proxima to replace Broadcom’s chips. Expected to launch in 2025, it supports Wi-Fi 6E and may debut in updated HomePod mini, Apple TV, iPhone models and iPads and Macs in 2026.
Q3. When does Apple plan to integrate its modems into Apple Silicon chips?
Answer. Apple may integrate its modem technology directly into its main Apple Silicon chips by 2028 at the earliest. This move could lead to significant improvements in cost and efficiency.