While the presentation of the C1 chip was only given a few seconds in the video of the iPhone 16th, and two and a half sentences on the Apple website, the 5G modem is nonetheless an essential element in the manufacturer's product strategy. "The C1 is the starting point, and we will continue to improve this technology with each generation, so that it becomes a platform that will allow us to truly differentiate this technology for our products," explained Jony Srouji, vice president of hardware technologies.
Beyond the 16th iPhone
"We are building a platform for generations," he told Reuters. A well-established habit at Apple: in 2020, the M1 served as the basis for subsequent versions of Mac chips, just as the A4 of the iPhone 4 in 2010 was for future smartphone chips. The C1 will have successors that will find a place in the next iPhone, iPad, and probably Mac too.
For Apple, developing its own cellular chip allows it to cut down on small bridges with Qualcomm, which has always supplied its modems to the Cupertino manufacturer (and to a good part of the industry). Not to mention the savings made...
But above all, this chip is adapted to the specific needs of Apple. "Our goal is not to compete directly with Qualcomm, MediaTek or other manufacturers", confides Jony Srouji. "We are developing something truly unique, which will bring real added value to our customers".
If an iPhone finds itself on a congested cellular network, the processor can ask the C1 to give priority to to such traffic, according to its importance and in real time. Another advantage: better battery management. The autonomy of the iPhone 16e is the longest of the manufacturer's 6.1-inch smartphones: 26 hours of video playback, compared to 20 hours for the iPhone 15, for example.
The modem also integrates GPS systems and satellite connectivity. Other functions are absent, however, such as access to the millimeter 5G network, which only really exists in the United States. YouTuber Andru Edwards had the opportunity to visit the Apple lab that developed the chip:
Technically speaking, the C1 subsystem ("the most complex technology Apple has ever developed," according to Jony Srouji) combines a modem chip etched in 4nm, and a transceiver etched in 7nm. It has been tested with 180 operators in 55 countries to ensure its smooth operation worldwide.
Source: Reuters
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