Apple recently launched its first proprietary cellular modem, the C1, as part of the iPhone 16e, which debuted in late February 2025. Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, conducted benchmark tests on the C1 modem and found that it performed surprisingly well compared to Qualcomm’s chips used in the more expensive iPhone 16 models.
Benchmark performance highlights
While the C1 modem lacks mmWave 5G support, it still achieved noteworthy speeds. The iPhone 16e recorded average download speeds of 560 Mbps among the top 90th percentile of users on AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. In comparison, the iPhone 16 with the Qualcomm modem reached an average of 756 Mbps in the same group.
We compare the iPhone 16e, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 3
However, in the bottom 10th percentile, the iPhone 16e outperformed the iPhone 16, achieving nearly 218 Mbps compared to 210 Mbps for the Qualcomm model.
Speedtest data indicated that users on AT&T and Verizon experienced better median download speeds with the iPhone 16e than with the iPhone 16. Nevertheless, T-Mobile users experienced higher performance on the iPhone 16, which recorded median download speeds of 357.47 Mbps compared to 264.71 Mbps on the iPhone 16e, highlighting a performance gap attributed to T-Mobile’s advanced 5G standalone network capabilities.
On Verizon, both the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 exhibited median download speeds lower than their performance on AT&T and T-Mobile. Additionally, while iPhone 16e users on Verizon and AT&T had higher median upload speeds, T-Mobile users reported slightly better upload performance with the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to integrate the Apple-designed C1 modem, marking a shift from Apple’s reliance on Qualcomm for modem technology. It supports low and mid-band 5G but does not include mmWave spectrum support, which is a notable distinction for the model. Apple’s design choice is significant as future iterations may incorporate mmWave support.
During testing from March 1 to March 12, the iPhone 16e demonstrated better performance in low-connectivity scenarios than its Qualcomm counterpart. Ookla noted that the C1 modem’s enhanced energy efficiency contributes to a lower impact on the device’s battery, allowing the iPhone 16e to offer a larger battery and improved battery life, rated up to 26 hours for video playback.
In terms of specifications, while the C1 modem supports up to three-way downlink carrier aggregation, Qualcomm’s solution allows for more advanced features including four and six-way aggregation on its mid-tier and premium models, respectively. This discrepancy may influence the combined performance metrics observed between the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16.
Overall, the initial performance analysis showcases the iPhone 16e’s competitive capabilities within its market segment, particularly in challenging network conditions.
Featured image credit: Apple
