Kuo: Apple is developing an updated C1 modem chip for mass production in 2026 with mmWave support and improved power consumption and transmission speed
From Ben Lovejoy's “Here's why the C1 chip doesn't have mmWave 5G” posted Thursday by 9to5Mac. Aleksandar Anastasov / PhoneArena : Apple's iPhone 16e C1 modem is missing mmWave 5G—analyst explains why it makes sense Jack Purcher / Patently Apple : Ming-Chi Kuo: The 2026 version of Apple's C-Modem will support mmWave and more William Gallagher / AppleInsider : Apple's mmWave C1 modem won't launch until 2026 Mastodon: Peter Cohen / @flargh@mastodon.social : Yes, there are solid technical reasons the C1 didn't launch with mmWave. — Another is that Apple didn't need to launch with mmWave. mmWave 5G is still an edge case for most users, not widely deployed and not generally sought after by phone buyers. — It just doesn't matter. — https://9to5mac.com/... X: @mingchikuo : Apple's C1 modem process technology: - Baseband: 4/5nm (both technologies are similar) - Low-frequency/Sub-6 TRx (Transceivers): 7nm - Intermediate Frequency (IF) TRx: 7nm - PMIC: 55nm The C1 refreshed version is under development for mass production next year, aiming to improve power consumption and transmission speed and support for mmWave (including TRx and front-end components, built on a 28nm process) ... Forums: r/apple : Kuo: Apple Developing Faster ‘Refreshed’ C1 Modem With mmWave Support for Mass Production Next Year MacRumors Forums : Kuo: Apple Developing Faster ‘Refreshed’ C1 Modem With mmWave Support for Mass Production Next Year
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple’s first in-house cellular modem was introduced as a replacement for Qualcomm hardware, with Apple emphasizing power efficiency in its initial C1 rollout. This update outlines the next engineering step: closing the current modem’s mmWave gap while improving power use and transmission speed.
The roadmap also fits Apple’s broader connectivity-silicon push: reporting had already tied an in-house modem pipeline to possible cellular-capable Macs and headsets, while Apple was also planning in-house Wi-Fi chips across the iPhone 17 line.
First-order effects
- Apple’s modem program now has a defined 2026 target for a refreshed C1 with mmWave support, including its own mmWave transceiver and front-end components.
- The current C1’s limitations become a staged product decision rather than a permanent platform constraint, while Apple’s modem engineers must integrate power and speed improvements alongside the new radio capability.
Second-order effects
- Apple can keep modem adoption selective while it matures the platform: an earlier report that only the slim iPhone 17 would use C1 suggests a phased deployment path rather than an immediate portfolio-wide switch.
- Adding mmWave radio and front-end functions increases the scope of components Apple must qualify within its own modem design, raising the importance of integration across several process technologies.
Third-order effects
- If successive C1 revisions reach more products, Apple will gain greater control over the connectivity stack—not only modem selection but the coordination of cellular and Wi-Fi silicon.
- The staged approach points to a broader industry pattern in which complex chips move in-house first on narrower products, then expand only as feature parity and efficiency improve.
The trend: Apple is progressively internalizing connectivity silicon through phased deployments that trade immediate breadth for tighter long-term hardware integration.