New iPads This Week Aren't Equipped With Apple's C1 Modem for 5G

Apple debuted its custom-designed C1 modem in the iPhone 16e last month, as part of a multi-year plan to transition away from Qualcomm modems. However, the C1 modem does not extend to the new iPads unveiled earlier this week.

M3 iPad Air
Daring Fireball's John Gruber today said he spoke with an Apple representative who confirmed that the new iPad Air and entry-level iPad models are not equipped with the C1 modem. In addition, FCC documents viewed by MacRumors indicate that cellular configurations of both new iPads are equipped with a Qualcomm modem.

There is still at least one other device that is expected to have an Apple-designed modem this year. According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the rumored "iPhone 17 Air" model coming in September will also be equipped with the C1 modem.

apple c1
Apple's modem supply agreement with Qualcomm runs through March 2027, so the company still has time to transition to its own custom-designed modems. Apple develops chips several years before they ship, so it should come as no surprise that the company is reportedly already working on its next-generation C2 and C3 modems.

Apple said the C1 modem is already the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever, and it held up fine in both real-world and simulated 5G speed test results.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Air
Tag: C1
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Top Rated Comments

bigglow Avatar
7 weeks ago
Reasons why C1 5G modem chip isn't in other newly released Apple products

- super secret project isolated to the iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16e is a test bed for new tech... such as this Apple-made 5G modem chip
- C1 chip fab cannot fulfill demand beyond iPhone 16e
- 5G modem chip contract obligations to Qualcomm
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
segfaultdotorg Avatar
7 weeks ago
Shame on Apple for using inferior parts!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FlyingDutch Avatar
7 weeks ago
Hardly a surprise: the “new” iPads are just a SoC swap.




So now an iPad has better connectivity than an iPhone. What a weird timeline. What product are they going to cripple with the C1 next?
Based on what ? According to the tests, C1 isn’t crippling anything.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
7 weeks ago
Well, if it were in the new iPads, I’m sure Apple would have mentioned it in the release announcement.
The board might have required a more significant redesign to accommodate the C1.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
StoneJack Avatar
7 weeks ago

Reasons why C1 5G modem chip isn't in other newly released Apple products

- super secret project isolated to the iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16e is a test bed for new tech... such as this Apple-made 5G modem chip
- C1 chip fab cannot fulfill demand beyond iPhone 16e
- 5G modem chip contract obligations to Qualcomm
yes, I agree with those reasons. C1 and its iterations will probably pop up in later generations
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M1 Max Avatar
7 weeks ago
It would be miraculous and fitting if they put it in the new MacBook Air. Getting a 5G chip in the MacBooks has been asked for from the moment Jobs pulled one out of his envelope.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)