The next generation of Apple radio chips is expected to debut in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, but a new deal suggests the company doesn’t expect to complete a switch to its own cellular modems before 2031.
The company has committed to retaining and expanding its partnership with radio chip maker Broadcom through 2031 …
Apple’s first modem chip, known as the C1, was introduced in the iPhone 16E last year. That was followed by the C1X later the same year, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17E and some iPads.
Apple says that the C1 chip is more power-efficient than the third-party chips used in other iPhone models, but they do lack support for mmWave 5G. This is the ultra-high-speed, low-range form of 5G which is more akin to Wi-Fi. It is typically only available at high-traffic locations such as airports, transit stations, and stadiums.
This year’s flagship iPhone models – the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra – are expected to get a new C2 chip to add support for mmWave 5G.
