iPhone 16e Introduces Apple’s Proprietary C1 5G Cellular Modem With Improved Efficiency

Apple claims the new C1 chip is the “most power-efficient modem ever” on an iPhone.

Written by Shaurya Tomer, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 20 February 2025 09:49 IST

iPhone 16e Introduces Apple’s Proprietary C1 5G Cellular Modem With Improved Efficiency

Photo Credit: Apple

iPhone 16e is the company's latest entry level iPhone model, replacing the iPhone SE (2022)

Highlights

Apple’s C1 modem aims to reduce reliance on Qualcomm-sourced chips
It lacks mmWave 5G support, potentially affecting data speeds
iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback on a single charge

After months of anticipation, Apple debuted the successor to the iPhone SE (2022) dubbed the iPhone 16e on Wednesday. The phone comes with several firsts in the company's affordable iPhone lineup, including an OLED display, a notch design with Face ID, and support for Apple Intelligence. However, a key addition which surprisingly only got a few lines of mention in the official press release and thus, might have been overlooked by many, is Apple's new proprietary C1 modem which powers the cellular connectivity on the iPhone 16e.

Apple C1 Chip

The C1 chip is the culmination of Apple spending billions of dollars over many years in a bid to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm for sourcing 5G modems. While it was expected to be launched a few years ago following the company's acquisition of Intel's modem business in 2019, the development has time and again been delayed due to various factors. This resulted in the iPhone maker extending its deal with Qualcomm last year to outsource the 5G modems for the iPhone till 2026.

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Apple claims the new C1 modem is the first in its category to be designed by the company in-house and is the “most power-efficient modem ever” on an iPhone whilst maintaining fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. The improved efficiency of the modem, coupled with the iPhone 16e's internal design and iOS 18's advanced power management, is said to result in “extraordinary” battery life on the new iPhone; up to 26 hours of video playback, according to Apple.

In comparison, the base iPhone 16 is claimed to deliver up to 22 hours of video playback on a single charge.

However, the iPhone 16e is not without its caveats. A look at the technical specifications of the phone reveals that it lacks support for mmWave — the extremely high frequency (EHF) band. This claim was first made by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman a few days ago and Apple's launch confirms it. Thus, its absence may result in slower download and upload speeds, at least on paper.

Apple iPhone 16e

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Light and compact design
Powerful Apple A18 SoC
Customisable Action Button
Good battery life

Bad
Low light camera performance is below average
Available in just two basic finishes
Large display notch with thick borders
60Hz refresh rate display
Slow wireless and wired charging

iPhone 16

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A18

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 18

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Powerful SoC
IP67 rating, wireless charging
Slim and light
Regular software updates

Bad
Small, low-res display
Gets warm when stressed
Average low-light camera performance
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone SE (2022) review

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Further reading: Apple, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16e Price in India, iPhone 16e Specifications, iPhone 16 Series

Shaurya Tomer

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Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence... more »