iPhone Air Gets Faster and More Efficient C1X 5G Modem, But No mmWave

[MacRumors]

Before the iPhone Air debuted, rumors suggested that it would adopt the C1 modem chip that Apple first introduced with the iPhone 16e. It turns out Apple had another idea in mind, and the iPhone Air is equipped with a new C1X chip.

Apple says the C1X modem is up to 2x faster than the C1, while using the same cellular technologies. It is apparently faster than the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 Pro, while using 30 percent less energy. According to Apple, the C1X is the most power-efficient modem in an iPhone.

Apple seems to be referring to sub-6GHz 5G speeds when it says the C1X is faster than the modem in the iPhone 16 Pro, because the chip still doesn't support mmWave 5G speeds.

The C1X is limited to sub-6GHz 5G bands, while the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave. Sub-6GHz is the more widespread version of 5G, while mmWave is more limited and is typically found in major cities and urban areas.

The iPhone Air has longer battery life than the iPhone 16 despite its thin size, and it also offers better battery life than the iPhone 16e with C1 modem. The iPhone Air lasts for up to 27 hours when watching videos, while the iPhone 16e lasts for up to 26 hours.

Article Link: iPhone Air Gets Faster and More Efficient C1X 5G Modem, But No mmWave

 

[JPack]

The other part of this story is, why is there still no 5G-A for iPhone 17 Pro/Max? This suggests X71M.

X75 from 2023 supports 5G-A. X80 for sure. Let's not even talk about X85.

If you handicap the competition, it's not a fair race. I'm more interested than ever to see what baseband is in 17 Pro/Max.

 

[max2]

The other part of this story is, why is there still no 5G-A for iPhone 17 Pro/Max? This suggests X71M.

Exactly. I totally agree. Does not make sense.

 

[Sammy in SoCal]

I have to hand it to Apple. The iPhone air is an amazing feat of engineering.

 

[ipedro]

Energy efficiency was one of the reasons Apple had to abandon Intel and make their own silicon. The same is true for their modems and radios. The iPhone Air would not have been possible with Qualcomm and Broadcom's chips.

I've been a Pro user since there's been iPhone Pro but I'm definitely getting the iPhone Air this time around. It feels like "the future of smartphones today", the direction they're going in just like the iPhone X launched the next generation iPhones at the time.

 

[Falco McGregor]

I have to hand it to Apple. The iPhone air is an amazing feat of engineering.

When people complain about the lack of innovation, they're definitely discounting how Apple's work in miniaturization and in-house chip design enables these sorts of designs with fewer trade-offs (at least before reviewers tell us otherwise) than initially thought.

 

[VisceralRealist]

Energy efficiency was one of the reasons Apple had to abandon Intel and make their own silicon. The same is true for their modems and radios. The iPhone Air would not have been possible with Qualcomm and Broadcom's chips.

I've been a Pro user since there's been iPhone Pro but I'm definitely getting the iPhone Air this time around. It feels like "the future of smartphones today", the direction they're going in just like the iPhone X launched the next generation iPhones at the time.

That’s how I feel too. Been a pro user since 2019, but I think I’m going to switch to Air. It does seem like a glimpse of a future design. Yes, there are compromises in the first model, but I’m no longer interested in having the bulkiest, heaviest phone. They’re testing some newer technology in the Air and I’m looking forward to it.

 

[Woodcrest64]

Total missed opportunity by Apple not to offer the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack Bandoleer with 5 day battery life. 😂

 

[Velin]

This iPhone looks amazing.

 

[Astuces iOS]

Total missed opportunity by Apple not to offer the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack Bandoleer with 5 day battery life. 😂

View attachment 2545488

Bro that's an iPhone 12 🤣

 

[Astuces iOS]

This iPhone looks amazing.

Until you realize that it has one cam

 

[miku2002]

There are like only 2 square miles in the entire US where you can actually experience 5G mmwave speeds.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Remember when mmWave was supposed to be the hottest new thing?

But it only worked well if you were standing on the street directly under the antenna?

🤣

 

[Harmonious Zen]

Until you realize that it has one cam

And that's why I'm not getting it. I want a phone that'll do what I want it to do, not one with gimped functionality for the sake of less weight.

 

[rnizlek]

There are like only 2 square miles in the entire US where you can actually experience 5G mmwave speeds.

I don’t think there’s anywhere near accurate, at least for Verizon. Just in DC and Baltimore, there are Verizon mmWaves sites all over the place. That being said, I don’t think mmWave is critical for most users with a cell phone, but Verizon deploys it pretty widely in major cities. I think a more relevant metric would be the percent of people who encounter mmWave coverage daily - since the places that it is have much higher density, I’d guess it’s something like 30% of the US population.

I know other carriers deploy it significantly less.

 

[platinumaqua]

mmWave is a dud anyway, not a big deal to not have it

 

[neall]

Apple says the C1X modem is up to 2x faster than the C1, while using the same cellular technologies.

2x faster, or 2x as fast?

 

[adrianlondon]

I was checking battery differences between the US and UK models of the other 17 models (eSIM-only versions get larger batteries!) and I noticed that the UK versions don't support mmWave.

Is this a US only thing?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Until you realize that it has one cam

I can only take one picture at a time.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Remember when mmWave was supposed to be the hottest new thing?

But it only worked well if you were standing on the street directly under the antenna?

🤣

View attachment 2545496

Exactly. Outside of very niche cases, I don't see this being a problem for the Air and its users.

 

[JPack]

I was checking battery differences between the US and UK models of the other 17 models (eSIM-only versions get larger batteries!) and I noticed that the UK versions don't support mmWave.

Is this a US only thing?

In terms of deployment, mmW is a U.S. thing only, due to politics. The physics and economics of mmW never made sense which is why no other country deployed it to any appreciable degree. In short, don't worry about it.

 

[iObama]

mmWave is the main reason I’m considering just going with the base model. It matters to people who have it most everywhere they go and get great speeds from it.

 

[Baritone_Guy]

That’s how I feel too. Been a pro user since 2019, but I think I’m going to switch to Air. It does seem like a glimpse of a future design. Yes, there are compromises in the first model, but I’m no longer interested in having the bulkiest, heaviest phone. They’re testing some newer technology in the Air and I’m looking forward to it.

I am with you. Preorder on the Air.

I think this thing might sell well.

 

[Hammerd]

The other part of this story is, why is there still no 5G-A for iPhone 17 Pro/Max? This suggests X71M.

X75 from 2023 supports 5G-A. X80 for sure. Let's not even talk about X85.

If you handicap the competition, it's not a fair race. I'm more interested than ever to see what baseband is in 17 Pro/Max.

OMG I really HOPE you’re wrong and there better be a x80 in there

 

[vvvvvv]

Exactly. Outside of very niche cases, I don't see this being a problem for the Air and its users.

It sure was a point of contention for 16e haters just a few months ago.