There’s a lot to like about Apple’s newest $599 iPhone 16e, but one of the more interesting features in the device is the Apple-designed 5G modem. Apple has spent at least seven years developing the chip,

Phone 17 5G modems will be made by MediaTek, as Apple moves away from Qualcomm. Future iPhones will use Apple's solutions instead.

Apple is testing its proprietary 5G modems, aiming for full integration into its chipsets by 2028. While the current C1 modem is less efficient than Qualcomm's, future models may enhance performance and reduce dependency on external suppliers,