Apple has just announced its iPhone 16e budget handset, which is slightly more expensive than we had previously anticipated. While most of the features and changes are the same, the company surprised us on various occasions, such as with the lack of MagSafe and the price. However, it did introduce its custom C1 modem, which has been in the works for years. The company mentioned its in-house modem in its press release and claimed that it would enhance the battery life of the iPhone 16e.
Apple's C1 5G modem on the iPhone 16e is so power-efficient it beats the iPhone 16 in battery life
The iPhone 16e is a massive upgrade over the previous version in terms of design and internals, as the device is packed with the latest chips from Apple. Coupled with the custom A18 chip, which is a modified version of the SoC found on the iPhone 16, the company also introduced its in-house C1 5G modem chip. Even though the modem does not feature 5G mmWave technology, it is more power-efficient than the Snapdragon modems on the iPhone 16 lineup.
Apple says the new modems consume significantly lower power and contribute to the iPhone 16e's battery life. The new C1 modem in iPhone 16e delivers the longest battery life on any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, which means that it is better than the latest iPhone 16 models in this regard. We have to consider that the C1 modem's efficiency is not the only aspect contributing to enhanced battery life, as the A18 chip is also playing its part.
Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon — including C1 — the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.
At this stage, the iPhone 16e is the only device that houses Apple's custom C1 5G modem, and it is reported that the chip will be available on the iPhone 17 Air later this year. Apple will gradually move away from Qualcomm and reduce its dependency on the supplier for customized modems. While it will take the company several years to fully transition from Snapdragon modems to its custom ones, we believe that the company will also enhance the performance of the chips. We will keep you posted on additional details related to the iPhone 16e, so be sure to stick around.
