Apple, iPhone 16 family, the most affordable model of the iPhone 16E’de decided to use its own C1 5G modem. However, the lack of MMWave support of the device, which initially caused some concerns. However, speed tests show that the Apple C1 modem can reach a higher download capacity than the Snapdragon X71 modem, which is already used in other iPhone 16 models.

C1 is sometimes faster but …

According to Ookla Speedtest results by Youtuber Dave2D, the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem was 40 percent faster than the Snapdragon X71. This shows that even a more expensive model like the iPhone 16 Pro Max is behind in terms of performance.

In the tests, the iPhone 16e reached the speeds of 200 Mbps, but under the same conditions, the iPhone 16 Pro Max remained behind. This shows that Apple’s own modem technology offers a strong alternative to Qualcomm’s flagship solutions.

However, there is an important point here: the tests were held in Toronto, Canada. Since this region is an advanced metropolis with intensive 5G infrastructure, the results may not be the same in all countries or in different coverage areas. In particular, the lack of MMWave support means that the Snapdragon X71 in certain areas can provide obvious advantage. That is, the performance difference between the two modems will change according to the region you live in.

However, in Tom’s Guide, it was underlined that there was no big difference between Apple’s C1 modem and Qualcomm’s modem in terms of performance. In addition, in three tests in New York, one C1 reached higher speeds. The Verge’s test also stated that there is no consistent difference between the two modems. Therefore, when MMWave is removed from the equation, it will be difficult to feel the difference in daily use.