i. Phone 18 Pro and Pro Max use different 5G modems?

Insights found that the device uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 5G modem. Meanwhile, the i. Phone 18 Pro is equipped with Apple’s own C2 5G modem.

The development means the two Pro models from the same i. Phone generation are using different modems for the first time. Apple’s C2 modem.

Apple introduced its C2 modem during its September 9 “Surprise and Shine” event. The company’s latest in-house modem adds support for millimetre-wave (mm. Wave) 5G, which can deliver very high download speeds but has a shorter range and weaker building penetration than mid-band 5G.The C2 also reportedly consumes 15% less power than Apple’s previous C1X modem, potentially improving energy efficiency.

The C1X was used in the i. Phone Air and i. Phone 17e, while the i.

Phone 17 series used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 modem.i. Phone 18 Pro Max hardware. Besides the Snapdragon X80, the i.

Phone 18 Pro Max teardown revealed Apple’s N1 custom network processor, which handles short-range connectivity such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Apple introduced the N1 with the i. Phone 17 series, replacing a Broadcom component.

The company’s in-house design allows closer integration between the hardware and iOS, with improvements reported in areas such as Air. Drop reliability and power efficiency. The i.

Phone 18 Pro Max also features Apple’s A20 Pro processor and 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Samsung is reportedly the primary memory supplier, with SK Hynix and Micron also supplying components. C3 modem expected in 2027Apple is reportedly developing its next-generation C3 modem, internally known as “Prometheus”.

The upcoming modem is expected to deliver higher performance and additional capabilities, including support for next-generation satellite networks. Apple is also reportedly aiming for the C3 to compete with future Qualcomm Snapdragon modem technology.