Qualcomm Study Criticizes Apple C1 Modem Performance

A Qualcomm-funded study by Cellular Insights claims that Android phones with the latest Snapdragon X75 and X80 modems outperform Apple's in-house C1 modem, found in the iPhone 16e, in challenging urban 5G conditions. Qualcomm devices reportedly achieved up to 35% faster download and 91% faster upload speeds, with advantages attributed to advanced carrier aggregation and mmWave 5G support absent in Apple's modem. The study's credibility is questioned due to sponsor bias, exclusion of higher-end iPhones that still use Qualcomm modems, and comparisons to newer, pricier Android flagships. Previous independent analyses, such as those from Ookla, indicate Apple's C1 performs competitively in typical scenarios, suggesting real-world differences may be smaller. The findings underscore Apple's ongoing challenges in developing in-house modem technology. Apple continues its efforts to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers like Qualcomm.