Apple’s C1 modem launched this yr within the iPhone 16e, however with out a lot firm fanfare. However Tim Prepare dinner simply expressed C1’s strengths in a approach that Apple—for good motive—shied away from beforehand.
C1’s strengths deliberately under-marketed by Apple
When Apple launched C1, it was the fruits of a few years of effort. However not like plenty of the corporate’s different improvements, Apple needed to be cautious to not tout C1’s advantages too extremely.
Why? As a result of Qualcomm’s competing modem continues to be in its hottest and costly iPhones.
Apple presently sells 4 iPhone fashions which are extra ‘premium’ than the 16e, they usually all have Qualcomm modems.
And later this yr, the costliest iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max will proceed to stay with Qualcomm.
So in the case of the C1’s arrival, Apple couldn’t precisely come proper out and say it had beat Qualcomm’s modem. To take action would have meant dissing the tech in its personal, extra premium iPhones.
Apple talked about C1 as a part of the iPhone 16e’s announcement press launch, however it didn’t get a lot consideration.
The one large declare Apple made was that C1 is “essentially the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone.”
It was a protected boast: “most power-efficient” doesn’t equal “finest.”
Since launch although, we’ve realized the C1 has much more advantages, together with outperforming Qualcomm in lots of real-world benchmarks.
Apple can’t but shout these claims from the rooftops. However CEO Tim Prepare dinner did slip a bit on Apple’s newest earnings name.
Tim Prepare dinner admits Apple’s personal modems ‘produce higher merchandise’
When requested about Apple’s launch of C1 and future modem technique, right here was Prepare dinner’s response:
We’re tremendous excited to ship the primary one and get it on the market, and it’s gone effectively. We love that we are able to produce higher merchandise from a standpoint of actually specializing in battery life and different issues that clients need. And so, we now have began on a journey, is the best way I might put it.
In addition to Prepare dinner’s hints at Apple’s future modem efforts, essentially the most fascinating a part of his response was the second sentence: “We love that we are able to produce higher merchandise…”
He mentions specifics of battery life beneficial properties, plus the imprecise “and different issues that clients need.”
However the begin of the sentence says all of it: C1 makes Apple’s merchandise higher than the modems supplied by Qualcomm.
With Apple’s very first in-house modem, it believes it has overtaken the market chief, Qualcomm.
And when its Qualcomm contract expires, and the complete iPhone lineup will get an Apple-designed C1 or C2 modem, the corporate can cease being shy about it.
Do you would like C1 was coming to the complete iPhone 17 lineup? Why or why not? Tell us within the feedback.
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