Qualcomm Unveils X85 Modem, Claims Advantage Over Apple's In-House Modem

Qualcomm's new AI-powered modem promises enhanced performance, while Apple's C1 modem debuts with improved power efficiency in the iPhone 16e.

Qualcomm announced its X85 5G modem at Mobile World Congress 2025, highlighting AI-powered features that improve signal performance and efficiency.
The X85 modem offers peak download speeds of 12.5Gbps and upload speeds of 3.7Gbps, along with support for mmWave 5G and satellite connectivity.
Apple introduced its first in-house modem, the C1, in the entry-level iPhone 16e, which is reportedly 25% more power-efficient than Qualcomm's previous modems.
The C1 modem lacks mmWave 5G support but has received positive early reviews for its efficiency and performance comparable to Qualcomm's modems.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon claims the X85 will create a significant performance gap between premium Android devices and Apple's iPhones as Apple transitions to its own modem technology.