A study by Cellular Insights Inc. found that Qualcomm’s mobile modems perform better than Apple’s C1 chip, which the iPhone maker has begun using in its smartphones.
IPhone 16e
In a series of tests, the iPhone 16e, Apple’s first smartphone with its proprietary C1 modem, downloaded and uploaded data on T-Mobile’s 5G network in New York City and was found to be slower than an Android phone with a Qualcomm modem.
Apple has spent years developing its own C1 modem, which is intended to be an alternative to Qualcomm chips. This work is part of a larger program by Apple aimed at replacing third-party components with its own analogues. The mobile modem is one of the most important components of any modern smartphone, since the device’s ability to connect to mobile networks and transmit data depends on it.
The report says that the smartphone with the C1 modem performed well under optimal conditions, but it lagged in “the very scenarios where next-generation modems are expected to excel.” “For users in dense urban environments, indoor environments, or under heavy bandwidth use, the benefits of higher 5G performance on Android smartphones are not just theoretical — they are quantifiable, replicable, and have practical implications,” the researchers said in their report.
By citing the study, Qualcomm is taking a swipe at one of its biggest customers. Apple has accounted for about 20% of Qualcomm’s revenue for years, and the chipmaker was the exclusive supplier of iPhone modems until the iPhone 16e debuted this year. Despite that, Apple is set to gradually transition all iPhones to its own modems. Qualcomm has previously told investors that they should expect revenue from Apple modems to eventually taper off, but that the company will make up for it by expanding its business elsewhere.
Earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook claimed the iPhone 16e had launched successfully, praising the inclusion of Apple’s own modem as “the most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone.” But a study by Cellular Insights found that two similarly priced Android phones with Qualcomm modems were 35 percent faster at downloading data and 91 percent faster at uploading data. The gap was even larger when the speeds were tested in busy conditions or when the phone was away from a cell tower.
The report also said the iPhone became “noticeably hot to the touch and significantly darkened the screen after just two minutes of testing.” It doesn’t say whether consumers will notice any dropouts in data transfers, nor does it address questions about the iPhone’s battery life. That’s because the standard way to improve call quality is to boost the signal, which requires more power and therefore drains the device’s battery faster.
Qualcomm has long said that it is more difficult to master the production of efficient modems for mobile devices compared to other chips. The company claims that it is an expert at replicating various network settings and ensuring that its modems work in a variety of conditions. Weather conditions, tall buildings, and network congestion can have a significant impact on the efficiency of a smartphone modem, as the Cellular Insights study found.