Overview

• Ookla’s second study on the iPhone 16e reports broadly similar 5G performance between Apple’s C1 modem and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 in the vast majority of markets, with the C1 showing stronger results in weak-signal conditions.
• On T-Mobile in the U.S., median 5G download speeds were 317 Mbps on the iPhone 16 versus 252 Mbps on the iPhone 16e, a difference consistent with four-carrier aggregation being used at 65.4% of tested locations.
• Apple’s first-generation C1 supports up to three-carrier aggregation, which limits peak throughput on networks that frequently employ four-carrier aggregation.
• International results varied: the iPhone 16 outpaced the 16e on some advanced 5G deployments such as China and Saudi Arabia, while speeds were similar in most countries and even favored the 16e on a Spanish network.
• The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is expected to use the C1, making these carrier-dependent trade-offs relevant for near-term buyers.