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Qualcomm Claims New X85 Modem Creates 'Huge Delta' in Performance Versus Apple

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Qualcomm believes its latest X85 5G modem will set a "huge delta" between the performance of high-end Android devices and Apple devices, largely thanks to its AI-powered features.

qualcomm-x85-modem.jpg

Announced at this year's ongoing Mobile World Conference 2025 in Barcelona, Qualcomm's next-generation X85 modem supports 5G mmWave, 400MHz download bandwidth in the Sub-6GHz spectrum with 1024-QAM modulation for better data speeds, and Satellite connectivity.

The X85 can deliver peak download speeds of up to 12.5Gbps and peak upload speeds of up to 3.7Gbps, according to Qualcomm. In addition, the modem can combine multiple frequencies from different carriers to deliver better performance.

In terms of AI features, its AI-powered Data Traffic Engine is said to be able to reduce latency and improve speed and efficiency.
"It's the first modem that has so much AI, it actually increases the range of performance of the modem so the modem can deal with weaker signals," Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told CNBC.

"What that will do will set a huge delta between the performance of premium Android devices, and iOS devices, when you compare what Qualcomm can do versus what Apple is doing."
Click to expand...
Apple claims its new C1 modem, which recently debuted in the entry-level iPhone 16e, is the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever, contributing to the iPhone 16e having the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone ever. The company also says the C1 is up to 25% more power efficient than Qualcomm modems in other iPhones. Third-party scientific testing appears to back up Apple's claims.

The C1 modem lacks support for ultra-fast mmWave 5G technology. This means users won't have access to the exceptionally fast speeds that mmWave technology can provide in specific locations such as stadiums, airports, and dense urban areas. However, Apple says the C1 is just the "start" and that it is going to keep improving the technology with each successive generation. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said the iPhone 17 Air will also be equipped with the C1 modem.


Apple's current agreement with Qualcomm extends through 2026, giving Apple ample time to perfect its modem technology while it has access to Qualcomm's modems for its premium iPhone models. The Qualcomm X85 5G modem is likely to debut on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chip, which is expected to arrive in October 2025.



Article Link: Qualcomm Claims New X85 Modem Creates 'Huge Delta' in Performance Versus Apple
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/05/qualcomm-claims-x85-modem-better-than-apple/
To be honest, the “performance” aspect of mobile radios feels over and done with to me. In my little hometown, on my iPhone 16 Pro, I have access to 5G UW, and clock speeds of over 800Mb/s.

I don’t need that. I don’t know a soul that does.

What I would really like? A modem that gets 200Mb/s, and just sips the battery. Or, give me a toggle switch to put just the modem into low power mode. I don’t want my whole phone in low power mode, but give the speed demons what they want, and a low power mode for people like me who just need a little GPS and music?

(Edited for clarity)
 
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I expect that's true. It is Apple's first go after all.

Gotta say, I don't really see the use-cases for this. It's already more than fast enough for web browsing and streaming media, what else are you doing with a phone or tethered device?

Edit: like @Wizec says - power efficiency seems far more important.
 
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Journalists were briefed regarding the X85 having 11gbit download speeds before the official announcement. Mediatek released in the meantime its new modem with 12gbit download speeds and suddenly Qualcomm‘s new modem can do 12,5gbit😂
 
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mazz0 said:
I expect that's true. It is Apple's first go after all.

Gotta say, I don't really see the use-cases for this. It's already more than fast enough for web browsing and streaming media, what else are you doing with a phone or tethered device?

Edit: like @Wizec says - power efficiency seems far more important.
Click to expand...
If we have access to unlimited, including tethered, cell data without any throttling, it would be great to theoretically get speeds that fast.

Even if the theoretical max speed is not met in real life conditions, having a higher maximum offers the potential for faster sustained speeds.
 
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Wizec said:
To be honest, the “performance” aspect of mobile radios feels over and done with to me. In my little hometown, on my iPhone 16 Pro, I have access to 5G UW, and clock speeds of over 800Mb/s.

I don’t need that. I don’t know a soul that does.

What I would really like? A modem that gets 200Mb/s, and sips battery like there’s no tomorrow. Or, give me a toggle switch to put it alone into low power mode. I don’t want my whole phone in low power mode, but give the speed demons what they want, and a low power mode for people like me who just need a little GPS and music?
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. I always wondered what I'm missing. I'm in Boston/Cambridge and our internet and mobile internet is as fast as it goes. But I never felt that my old iPhone is the limiting factor. Usually it's somewhere serverside from the providers of the websites or shoddy programming of the website or apps. Maybe there is some latency factor that matters but unless you game I don't see what that would be. So even if the qualcom is 10% faster who cares. Power efficiency, reliability and small size (integrated into cpu) for a mobile device are way more important.
 
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The claims are ideal condition lab based numbers which is fine for specs but in reality, I think either modem brand will be fine for day-to-day use. The bigger issue is signal strength. I have multiple providers and happy I do, I get to pick the best provider for the location regardless of the modem brand.
 
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neuropsychguy said:
If we have access to unlimited, including tethered, cell data without any throttling, it would be great to theoretically get speeds that fast.

Even if the theoretical max speed is not met in real life conditions, having a higher maximum offers the potential for faster sustained speeds.
Click to expand...

what you seem to be saying is that theoretically more is better
 
No one cares about performance.
Just like with the Apple silicon transition, and the PPC>Intel transition before it, it’s all about performance per watt.

It’s also quite dumb to try to compare this chip to Apple’s simply by the fact that this chip won’t be in most devices until 2026 at the earliest.
And unlike QUALCOMM, Apple does not announce their new chips several months beforehand.
By late 2026 we could be already on the C3 hypothetically.
It would be like Intel comparing their chip they plan to launch in late 2026 to the M4, when late 2026 we could be on the M6.
 
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mazz0 said:
I expect that's true. It is Apple's first go after all.

Gotta say, I don't really see the use-cases for this. It's already more than fast enough for web browsing and streaming media, what else are you doing with a phone or tethered device?

Edit: like @Wizec says - power efficiency seems far more important.
Click to expand...
I saw a video sometime last year that we need extremely fast speed 5g modems for other things such as self driving cars, drones, AI features, etc. A normal user with a phone might have no use for these speeds but other utilities can.
 
Apple will end up as Atari. The negt gen X elite 8 (for mobile) is already faster than the A18 pro. Qualcomm is specialized in making modem chips and I’ve little faith in Apple to surpass them.

On the software side Apple is also years behind competitors. By the time Apple is ready releasing a working smart Siri it will be 2026 at the earliest. At that time I’m curious what the competition is capable of.
 
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Wizec said:
To be honest, the “performance” aspect of mobile radios feels over and done with to me. In my little hometown, on my iPhone 16 Pro, I have access to 5G UW, and clock speeds of over 800Mb/s.

I don’t need that. I don’t know a soul that does.

What I would really like? A modem that gets 200Mb/s, and sips battery like there’s no tomorrow. Or, give me a toggle switch to put it alone into low power mode. I don’t want my whole phone in low power mode, but give the speed demons what they want, and a low power mode for people like me who just need a little GPS and music?
Click to expand...

There are settings on your iPhone that already let you accomplish these things.

You can find them under "cellular" (or "carrier", in some cases)
 

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Tried and trusted vs thinly veiled beta release. Hmmm.

It’ll take Apple at least 2 or 3 generations at the very least to get their in-house modems even anywhere close to equivalence. And even that comes with a ton of assumptions.
 
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Princejb134 said:
I saw a video sometime last year that we need extremely fast speed 5g modems for other things such as self driving cars, drones, AI features, etc. A normal user with a phone might have no use for these speeds but other utilities can.
Click to expand...

sure but Qualcomm was specifically speaking about phones
 
HJM.NL said:
Apple will end up as Atari. The negt gen X elite 8 (for mobile) is already faster than the A18 pro. Qualcomm is specialized in making modem chips and I’ve little faith in Apple to surpass them.

On the software side Apple is also years behind competitors. By the time Apple is ready releasing a working smart Siri it will be 2026 at the earliest. At that time I’m curious what the competition is capable of.
Click to expand...
Apple is starting to feel like an outdated brand, clinging to past glories rather than pushing real innovation. Honestly, it’s getting pretty cringe.
 
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The problem is coverage 99.99999% of the time, but I think that's mostly the network. Maybe the AI features can help, but I wouldn't count on it.
 
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