iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17e Set to Feature Apple’s Custom 5G Modem, But Leaked Code Remains Silent on C1 vs C2 Baseband Chip

This year’s iPhone 16e introduced Apple’s proprietary C1 chip, which represents the company’s ongoing commitment to innovate its technology in the face of numerous challenges. The quest for autonomy in its hardware development has accelerated, leading to the expectation that future models, including the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17e, will incorporate a custom baseband chip according to recent leaks. However, uncertainties persist about whether these models will utilize the existing C1 chip or feature an upgraded version.

Implications of C1 Usage in iPhone 17 Models

Recent code leaks reveal that Apple plans to introduce its homegrown 5G modem in the iPhone 17 Air by the end of this year, with plans for the iPhone 17e to follow in 2026. For the broader iPhone 17 series, Apple will likely continue its partnership with Qualcomm, although there are reports suggesting that an in-house Wi-Fi chip may accompany the new models. If accurate, this move would mark a significant milestone for the iPhone 17 Air, establishing it as Apple’s inaugural model to utilize two wireless components developed entirely in-house. However, a critical question looms: will these devices come equipped with the C1 or an enhanced C2 model?

At present, Apple has not publicly confirmed which chip will be used in the upcoming models, creating a level of speculation among industry experts, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Currently, it’s important to note that the existing C1 modem in the iPhone 16e lacks support for mmWave networks, thus positioning Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G modems as a preferential choice for flagship smartphones leveraging this advanced technology. Following the announcement of the iPhone 16e, it emerged that Apple had initiated development on the C2 5G modem, which aims to bridge this technological gap by supporting mmWave networks.

I can confirm after looking at the leaked Apple code that the iPhone 17 Air (d23) and iPhone 17e (v159) will be getting an Apple modem. This was first reported by @markgurman in his Power On newsletter

— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 14, 2025

Assuming Apple can expedite the development of the C2 modem, it’s plausible that this technology could debut in the iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17e. However, if that were the case, one might expect that Apple would implement the C2 across the entire iPhone 17 lineup. Evaluating current information, it appears likely that the iPhone 17 Air may ship with the C1, while the iPhone 17e could potentially adopt the C2. However, Apple’s tendency to keep its plans confidential means that consumers may only learn about the final specifications during the official unveiling, which is anticipated to occur on September 9.

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