We might know as soon as reviewers post something. If it has the same modem firmware version as iPhone 16, we'll know.
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iPhone Air Gets Faster and More Efficient C1X 5G Modem, But No mmWave
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We might know as soon as reviewers post something. If it has the same modem firmware version as iPhone 16, we'll know.
I have one of those nearby, Verizon branded down the street. You truly need to be outside of your house and outside of car and within line of sight for it to work! Driving by you get 2Gbps speeds for seconds until its no longer visible. I don't get the point.
They kept the same Chip in the Apple Watch as last year and so they may do the same with the modem and keep the 17 with the same X71 modem so when the C2 debuts next year with 5G advanced and blow the socks 🧦 off the x71 old modem.
Apple doesn’t want to pay Qualcomm any more than they deserve so wouldn’t be surprised if they kept the same modem chip in the x71 as they did by keeping the same s10 chip in the new Apple Watch.
The C2 modem is going to be very good next year. Apple say the new C1X modem chip is 2 times faster than the C1 chip. So the C2 with 5g advanced should be great next year.
Yep. I've tried using data and hotspot with it disabled in subways, airports and large gatherings or places like Bourbon St, Vegas Strip, NYC. Its a miserable experience without it.
By my calculations, the iPhone Air’s display is effectively only 3mm smaller in either dimension than my current iPhone 12 Pro Max.
I can live with the single camera and without a LiDAR. It’ll still be a massive leap forward and I like the thought of going back to basics with a lighter, thinner phone that looks and feels like a jewel. This is the nicest looking iPhone since the iPhone X.
I've been considering the 17 Air as well (I've also only used Pro models for the past few years). Do you feel any drawbacks that would be to getting the Air vs the Pro Max? (not including the screen size). Thanks!
I’m a professional photographer leaning into videography so the telephoto lens, ProRes RAW and faster USB 3 transfers do have appeal but I use professional gear at work and my iPhone is just my fun camera. I’d rather have a lighter phone that I can slip into a pocket day to day than a heavy bulky phone I have to carry with me all the time, even when I don’t need pro gear.
A little useful thing I’ll miss is the measurement app which uses LiDAR to accurately measure things with the camera. iPhone Air doesn’t have LiDAR. I don’t often need to measure things but when I do, it’s a nifty little thing to have on hand.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge may disagree. Moreover, it uses Qualcomm chip that combines the modem and BT (no Broadcom).
I think its because the carriers in the US haven't update their profiles? iPhone 16 and 16 Pro support 5GA in China
I seriously wonder if it is....there are multiple nation states full of iPhones that do not even support mmWave. Heck Australia has mmWave but they don't even bother selling a mmWave iPhone there or at least didn't last I checked. It says a lot. I like mmWave but I see it as extremely limited for either capacity boosting in very very dense populated areas OR select use cases like perhaps providing cellular service in an area where the frequency would be disruptive and mmWave wouldn't propagate as much like an airplane or certain areas inside buildings with no traditional cellular coverage.
The Snapdragon X71 modem used in the iPhone 16 does not officially support full 5G Advanced (5GA) features, but it does implement several pre-5GA capabilities that align with the evolving standard.
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🧠 What It Supports
- ✅ mmWave + Sub-6GHz 5G
- ✅ AI-powered signal optimization
- ✅ Advanced carrier aggregation
- ✅ Low-latency uplink enhancements
- ✅ Improved energy efficiency
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🚫 What It Lacks (for full 5GA compliance)
- ❌ Dedicated AI tensor accelerator (found in Snapdragon X72 and newer)
- ❌ Layered spectrum sharing and slicing
- ❌ Full support for RedCap and NTN (non-terrestrial networks)
Its available in a handful of other countries but even in the Asia-Pacific countries that have it I dont think Apple even sells the mmWave version which is odd yet telling
Dedicated AI tensor accelerator? Why?! lol Why is that a requirement. Seems odd.
The plummeting value of 5G mmWave spectrum
Interesting article from a tech site focusing on communications industry, noting how US communications companies are writing down the the value of their $10 billion aucion purchases from 5 years ago, and noted that T-Mobile completely surrendered 520 mmWave spectrum licenses and is trying to rework its coverage obligations on the other licenses it did keep.
"Finally, it's worth noting that American operators are the only ones that ever chased mmWave spectrum licenses. "The price of US mmWave spectrum is about the highest in the world," Rayal told Light Reading. He noted that in most other countries where regulators have auctioned mmWave licenses, those licenses either went unsold or they sold at the minimum bid price."
The plummeting value of 5G mmWave spectrum
Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and others spent billions of dollars in the early days of 5G on millimeter wave spectrum licenses. But the value of those licenses appears to be rapidly declining.
The plummeting value of 5G mmWave spectrum
Interesting article from a tech site focusing on communications industry, noting how US communications companies are writing down the the value of their $10 billion aucion purchases from 5 years ago, and noted that T-Mobile completely surrendered 520 mmWave spectrum licenses and is trying to rework its coverage obligations on the other licenses it did keep.
"Finally, it's worth noting that American operators are the only ones that ever chased mmWave spectrum licenses. "The price of US mmWave spectrum is about the highest in the world," Rayal told Light Reading. He noted that in most other countries where regulators have auctioned mmWave licenses, those licenses either went unsold or they sold at the minimum bid price."
The plummeting value of 5G mmWave spectrum
Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and others spent billions of dollars in the early days of 5G on millimeter wave spectrum licenses. But the value of those licenses appears to be rapidly declining.www.lightreading.com
mmWave 5G is great in densely populated places like Manhattan and in airports (at least when using AT&T). T-Mobile tends to rely on n41 rather than mmWave in venues and stadiums, but I did connect to their n258 mmWave in Atlanta at a Beyoncé concert this past July, but it wasn't really functioning properly, so n41 was much more reliable.
Even the density argument is pretty weak since many Asian cities make do without them (very well) even in their high density areas like major train stations.
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Mark Gurman says : “ OOOOPPPPPPSSSSSS “
As usual, time after time after time, and again and again and again, 7 out of 10 WRONG predictions.
And yet macrumors keeps mentioning him 10-20 times a day!!
So the question is, macrumors, how much DOES he pay you?
As usual, time after time after time, and again and again and again, 7 out of 10 WRONG predictions.
And yet macrumors keeps mentioning him 10-20 times a day!!
So the question is, macrumors, how much DOES he pay you?
It will really suck if Apple stuck with the X71M and will cause me to keep my 16 Pro Max another year.
Apple added a 5G-A icon to 18.4. They do then go on to say only the 15 and 16 series (minus the 16e) support it though so I guess we will have to wait and see.