Overview

• The C1X modem is exclusive to the ultra‑thin iPhone Air at launch, while the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max continue with Qualcomm modems.
• Apple says C1X delivers up to twice the speed of the original C1 with roughly 30% lower modem energy use, and the iPhone Air is rated for up to 27 hours of video playback, though reports conflict on whether C1X supports mmWave 5G.
• New Ookla Speedtest data shows Apple’s first‑gen C1 matched Qualcomm in many markets but fell behind on advanced 5G deployments; on T‑Mobile US, iPhone 16 hit a 317.64 Mbps median vs 252.80 Mbps for the 16e due to four‑ vs three‑carrier aggregation.
• Ookla found the C1 often performed better for users with weak signal and delivered higher median upload speeds in 15 of 21 markets, pointing to an emphasis on reliability over peak downloads.
• All iPhone 17 models include Apple’s new N1 wireless chip adding Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, with Apple touting more reliable features like AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.