Apple Eyes C2 Modem for iPhone 18 Pro, Replacing Qualcomm With 3 Upgrades

3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Jun 9

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to swap Qualcomm’s 5G modem for Apple’s in-house C2 chip, extending Apple’s push to control more core iPhone components.
3 touted advantages center on tighter Apple silicon integration: better battery efficiency, support for the “Limit Precise Location” privacy setting, and smoother performance on congested or weak cellular networks.
Apple has not disclosed hard battery-life gains for earlier C1 and C1X modems, but the report says iPhone 18 Pro is also expected to get a larger battery, which could compound efficiency gains.
The privacy feature already works on devices using Apple-designed modems, including iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, iPhone Air and the M5 iPad Pro, limiting carriers to less precise location data.
The move would mark another step away from Qualcomm in premium iPhones, with Apple arguing its processor-modem coordination can prioritize time-sensitive traffic when networks are congested.