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iPhone 18 Pro Max in US uses Qualcomm modem, teardown confirms
Key points
- iPhone 18 Pro Max in the US uses Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem.
- Other regions and iPhone 18 Pro use Apple's C2 modem.
- Apple's C2 modem supports mmWave 5G and offers efficiency improvements.
- The Qualcomm X80 is the same modem used in iPhone 17 Pro models globally.
US iPhone 18 Pro Max Modem Confirmed
A teardown by TechInsights confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the United States integrates a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem. This finding clarifies previous speculation regarding the modem component in the US variant of the device.
Regional Modem Differences
Apple's official tech specifications state that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in all regions except the United States utilize the Apple C2 cellular modem. The company did not specify the modem for the US iPhone 18 Pro Max, leading to the recent confirmation by the teardown. The Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem is the same model used in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max globally.
Apple's Modem Development
Apple's C2 modem is touted for "AI-powered improvements to cellular quality and reliability" and offers "meaningfully faster uploads" compared to the C1X, while consuming 15 percent less energy. The C2 modem also includes support for mmWave 5G, a feature not present in the C1 and C1X modems. This development suggests Apple is advancing its in-house modem capabilities.
Implications for Apple's Strategy
The continued use of a Qualcomm modem in the US iPhone 18 Pro Max suggests that Apple's transition to fully in-house modem technology is not yet complete for all its flagship models in all markets. This situation is likely influenced by existing contractual agreements with Qualcomm.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
A TechInsights teardown confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the United States uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, despite other regions and some new iPhone models using Apple's C2 cellular modem. This indicates Apple's continued reliance on Qualcomm for its highest-end US model, even as it develops its own modem technology.