Apple Puts C2 Modem in iPhone 18 Pro as Pro Max Keeps Qualcomm

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Sep 10

Apple split its flagship modem strategy in the new lineup: the iPhone 18 Pro uses Apple’s C2 cellular modem, while U.S. specs for the iPhone 18 Pro Max still point to a Qualcomm part.
C2 supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G in the U.S., and Apple says it brings faster uploads than the C1X plus 15% lower energy use and AI-driven gains in signal quality.
The uneven rollout suggests Apple is still phasing in its in-house modem effort, possibly because C2 is already shared across the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo or because of supply limits.
That marks another step away from Qualcomm after Apple introduced its first custom modem in the $599 iPhone 16e in 2025, extending a broader push to control more of the iPhone supply chain.