Overview
- Apple's new iPad Air and 11th-generation entry-level iPad are equipped with the M3 and A16 chips, respectively, offering improved performance and storage capacity.
- Despite Apple's recent debut of its custom C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, the new iPads use Qualcomm modems for cellular connectivity.
- The C1 modem, praised for its power efficiency, lacks support for mmWave 5G, which limits access to ultra-fast speeds in specific areas like stadiums and airports.
- Qualcomm's newly announced X85 modem claims to outperform Apple's C1 modem with AI-powered features and support for faster 5G speeds, including mmWave technology.
- Apple's modem supply agreement with Qualcomm runs through 2027, providing time for Apple to refine its in-house modem technology, with the next-generation C2 and C3 modems reportedly in development.