Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Other C2 Modem?

J

JulianL

macrumors 68020
Original poster
I noticed that this was never mentioned during the iPhone Pro announcement but Apple did say a fair amount about it during the iPhone Duo announcement (and what was said sounded good). I wonder if that was because Apple thought that the flow of the presentation would work better if it held off talking about the C2 until it got to the Duo section of the event or if it is because the C2 is only being used for the Duo and the Pro/Pro-Max are still using Qualcomm modems. The pre-announcement rumours were pretty confusing with the suggestion that Qualcomm would still be used in the USA and the C2 elsewhere.

As someone who will be getting the Pro Max (in the UK) I really hope that it will be using the C2 but restricting it to just the Duo would be somewhat consistent with Apple trickling out new stuff year by year rather than all at once. Keeping the Apple modem exclusive to the Duo this year gives it the opportunity to use it as a sweetener for next year’s Pro/Pro-Max anniversary models (very possibly C3 by then) to give another boost in power efficiency leading to another notable boost in battery life, or preserving this year’s battery life while being able to reduce thickness and weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tybull
JulianL said:
I noticed that this was never mentioned during the iPhone Pro announcement but Apple did say a fair amount about it during the iPhone Duo announcement (and what was said sounded good). I wonder if that was because Apple thought that the flow of the presentation would work better if it held off talking about the C2 until it got to the Duo section of the event or if it is because the C2 is only being used for the Duo and the Pro/Pro-Max are still using Qualcomm modems. The pre-announcement rumours were pretty confusing with the suggestion that Qualcomm would still be used in the USA and the C2 elsewhere.

As someone who will be getting the Pro Max (in the UK) I really hope that it will be using the C2 but restricting it to just the Duo would be somewhat consistent with Apple trickling out new stuff year by year rather than all at once. Keeping the Apple modem exclusive to the Duo this year gives it the opportunity to use it as a sweetener for next year’s Pro/Pro-Max anniversary models (very possibly C3 by then) to give another boost in power efficiency leading to another notable boost in battery life, or preserving this year’s battery life while being able to reduce thickness and weight.
Click to expand...
Oh you are right - didn't hear about C2 until the Duo announcement.

Wondering if the Pro/PM are not getting the C2...
 
In my country looks like regular 18 Pro gets C2 modem while 18 Pro Max Snapdragon.
Idk to be honest as it shows C2 under just 18 Pro
 
jairopena said:
This is a let down. Why would they use it in the Pro and not Pro Max? 🙁
Click to expand...

Performance?

We won't see C2 v Qualcomm benchmarks for a while yet… my guess is that Qualcomm still has the edge in certain situations / environments, but it's not enough for Apple to hold back their own chip for most of their devices. Since Qualcomm is probably more expensive to Apple, and more power-hungry than the C2, Apple limits it to the Pro Max. (They don't need to increase the BOM price of the Duo any more than necessary, and the C2 is more power-efficient.)

Or I could be wildly speculating!
 
https://www.apple.com/iphone-18-pro/specs/

  • iPhone 18 Pro and Duo use the new C2 modem
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max continues to use a Qualcomm modem
  • C2 modem adds a new LTE band 106, which the Qualcomm modem doesn't support
  • C2 modem supports mmWave bands n258, n260, n261
  • C2 modem supports 21Mb HSPA+, Qualcomm supports 42Mb DC-HSPA (though not sure if any carrier is still using that)
 
After reading some comments here and on twitter it looks like it depends on the region.
In some regions both 18 Pro and Pro Max have C2 modem, while in others C2 is only in 18 Pro.

To be honest, if C2 is more power efficient than Snapdragon I'm totally fine with it, especially if it doesn't heat up the phone that much. My 17 Pro heats up pretty often while on LTE or 5G with Snapdragon.
Also smaller Pro phone would appreciate power efficient modem more with it's smaller battery.

Now the question is - which Snapdragon modem they use? Is it the same as in the 17 Pro or newer?
 
I was curious about this as well and dig some digging. For some reason they didn't announce it during the Pro's segment and only mentioned it during the Duo. Anyway it seems its coming to the Pro in all countries and some countries the Pro Max as well. All data manually checked as of as of September 9, 2026

Apple MarketiPhone 18 ProiPhone 18 Pro Max
🇺🇸 United States✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇦 Canada✅ C2✅ C2
🇲🇽 Mexico✅ C2✅ C2
🇬🇧 United Kingdom✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇪 Ireland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇺 Australia✅ C2✅ C2
🇳🇿 New Zealand✅ C2✅ C2
🇩🇪 Germany✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇫🇷 France✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇹 Italy✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇪🇸 Spain✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇵🇹 Portugal✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇳🇱 Netherlands✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇧🇪 Belgium✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇭 Switzerland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇹 Austria✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇸🇪 Sweden✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇳🇴 Norway✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇩🇰 Denmark✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇫🇮 Finland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇵🇱 Poland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇿 Czech Republic✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇯🇵 Japan✅ C2✅ C2*
🇨🇳 Mainland China✅ C2✅ C2*
🇭🇰 Hong Kong✅ C2✅ C2*
🇹🇼 Taiwan✅ C2✅ C2*
🇰🇷 South Korea✅ C2✅ C2*
🇸🇬 Singapore✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇳 India✅ C2✅ C2
🇲🇾 Malaysia✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇹🇭 Thailand✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇧🇷 Brazil✅ C2✅ C2

* Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea use a shared cellular/wireless specification covering both Pro model numbers. Apple lists C2 once in that shared specification rather than separately beneath iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

✅ C2 = Apple lists the C2 modem for that model/market.

❌ C2 not listed = Apple lists C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro but does not list C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. This alone does not confirm which alternative modem the Pro Max uses.

Source: Click any country name to open Apple's official regional iPhone 18 Pro technical specifications page. On browsers that support text-fragment links, the page should automatically scroll to and highlight the C2 reference.


​
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: Mr.JARE_ee, bigup, Tybull and 4 others
cigz said:
In my country looks like regular 18 Pro gets C2 modem while 18 Pro Max Snapdragon.
Idk to be honest as it shows C2 under just 18 Pro
Click to expand...

Same in the UK. Weird because I would have thought that if Apple considers the C2 good enough for the Pro and the Duo then it would be in its interests to also put it in the Pro Max rather than continue to pay margins to Qualcomm for its modem. I’ll probably come up with more but right now 2 possibilities occur to me…

1 - It’s simply a mistake on the specs page and both the Pro and the Pro Max are getting the C2.

2 - Apple committed to a minimum volume in its currently-in-effect contract with Qualcomm in order to get a good price point. In that case Apple might have done a calculation to determine how to use it only in as few products as possible based on predicted sales volumes in order to get to the minimum volume commitment i.e. a rather messy reality arising from a contractual commitment.
 
JulianL said:
Same in the UK. Weird because I would have thought that if Apple considers the C2 good enough for the Pro and the Duo then it would be in its interests to also put it in the Pro Max rather than continue to pay margins to Qualcomm for its modem. I’ll probably come up with more but right now 2 possibilities occur to me…

1 - It’s simply a mistake on the specs page and both the Pro and the Pro Max are getting the C2.

2 - Apple committed to a minimum volume in its currently-in-effect contract with Qualcomm in order to get a good price point. In that case Apple might have done a calculation to determine how to use it only in as few products as possible based on predicted sales volumes in order to get to the minimum volume commitment i.e. a rather messy reality arising from a contractual commitment.
Click to expand...
Agree. Snapdragon was better than C1 tho -that generation. apples to apples. No idea about C2. Also 99.5% of customers wont know either way or even care
 
Last edited:
I think Apple might not be telling the whole truth with their power stats.

There are four models of 18 Pro Max:
  1. eSIM only, no C2 (US)
  2. eSIM only, C2 (Canada, Japan, Mexico, UAE, etc.)
  3. Physical SIM & eSIM, no C2 (Europe etc.)
  4. Dual physical SIM & eSIM, C2 (China)
Assuming two battery sizes (eSIM vs physical SIM), model 2 will be more efficient but 1 and 2 are listed with the same battery performance.

Annoying!
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: 4sallypat and Tybull
Placehold5894 said:
I was curious about this as well and dig some digging. For some reason they didn't announce it during the Pro's segment and only mentioned it during the Duo. Anyway it seems its coming to the Pro in all countries and some countries the Pro Max as well. All data manually checked as of as of September 9, 2026

Apple MarketiPhone 18 ProiPhone 18 Pro Max
🇺🇸 United States✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇦 Canada✅ C2✅ C2
🇲🇽 Mexico✅ C2✅ C2
🇬🇧 United Kingdom✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇪 Ireland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇺 Australia✅ C2✅ C2
🇳🇿 New Zealand✅ C2✅ C2
🇩🇪 Germany✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇫🇷 France✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇹 Italy✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇪🇸 Spain✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇵🇹 Portugal✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇳🇱 Netherlands✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇧🇪 Belgium✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇭 Switzerland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇹 Austria✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇸🇪 Sweden✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇳🇴 Norway✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇩🇰 Denmark✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇫🇮 Finland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇵🇱 Poland✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇨🇿 Czech Republic✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇯🇵 Japan✅ C2✅ C2*
🇨🇳 Mainland China✅ C2✅ C2*
🇭🇰 Hong Kong✅ C2✅ C2*
🇹🇼 Taiwan✅ C2✅ C2*
🇰🇷 South Korea✅ C2✅ C2*
🇸🇬 Singapore✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇮🇳 India✅ C2✅ C2
🇲🇾 Malaysia✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇹🇭 Thailand✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates✅ C2❌ C2 not listed
🇧🇷 Brazil✅ C2✅ C2

* Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea use a shared cellular/wireless specification covering both Pro model numbers. Apple lists C2 once in that shared specification rather than separately beneath iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

✅ C2 = Apple lists the C2 modem for that model/market.

❌ C2 not listed = Apple lists C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro but does not list C2 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. This alone does not confirm which alternative modem the Pro Max uses.

Source: Click any country name to open Apple's official regional iPhone 18 Pro technical specifications page. On browsers that support text-fragment links, the page should automatically scroll to and highlight the C2 reference.


​
Click to expand...
Interesting, the Australia and New Zealand pages say YES to C2 for 18 Pro Max, but the model number is exactly the same as models that elsewhere do not have C2 (A3717). Must be a mistake?

EDIT: there is a similar inconsistency for the UAE. Website says no, model number suggests yes.

EDIT 2: this is a complete mess. Dip-sampling other countries: Germany says no C2 on the website, but specifically says the Max does get the C2 in the press release.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JulianL
I just searched the Apple UK iPhone 18 Pro press release (https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2026/09/apple-debuts-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max/) for all mentions of "C2". Here's what I found ...

Apple debuts iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max​

...

Both models feature N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. iPhone 18 Pro introduces C2, Apple’s next-generation cellular modem system, which brings AI-powered improvements to cellular quality and reliability. C2 delivers meaningfully faster uploads when compared to C1X while consuming 15 percent less energy.

...
Click to expand...

It's also quite ambiguous. It explicitly says "both models" when talking about the N1 but by the time that paragraph gets to the C2 it only says that the "iPhone Pro introduces C2".

Based on seeing the same 18 Pro Max model number (A3717) for instance in Australia that explicitly state C2 for its Pro Max vs the UK that doesn't explicitly state C2 for its Pro Max does make me think that all those countries with the A3717 Pro Max model number will be getting the C2 and that it might be a monumental screw-up by Apple on the specification pages in quite a few countries (and some very poorly/wrongly worded press releases like the above) but then again surely a company of Apple's size and resources should have corrected that by now?

If it is an Apple screw-up then for the sake of all of us planning to buy a new phone this release cycle I certainly hope that Apple paid more attention to detail regarding this year's hardware and software design than it did with its attention to detail in the marketing materials!
 
JulianL said:
I just searched the Apple UK iPhone 18 Pro press release (https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2026/09/apple-debuts-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max/) for all mentions of "C2". Here's what I found ...



It's also quite ambiguous. It explicitly says "both models" when talking about the N1 but by the time that paragraph gets to the C2 it only says that the "iPhone Pro introduces C2".

Based on seeing the same 18 Pro Max model number (A3717) for instance in Australia that explicitly state C2 for its Pro Max vs the UK that doesn't explicitly state C2 for its Pro Max does make me think that all those countries with the A3717 Pro Max model number will be getting the C2 and that it might be a monumental screw-up by Apple on the specification pages in quite a few countries (and some very poorly/wrongly worded press releases like the above) but then again surely a company of Apple's size and resources should have corrected that by now?

If it is an Apple screw-up then for the sake of all of us planning to buy a new phone this release cycle I certainly hope that Apple paid more attention to detail regarding this year's hardware and software design than it did with its attention to detail in the marketing materials!
Click to expand...
Agree 100%.

The press release you quote is the wording on the UK and US release, i.e. "iPhone 18 Pro introduces C2".

In Australia, the release says the same but the Tech Specs page shows C2 on Max. Likewise for India and others.

In Germany, the press release says (translated): "With iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, C2 is also introduced", but the Tech Specs page says no C2 on Max. Likewise for UAE and others.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back