Apple Already Testing a C2 Modem for iPhones, According to Leaker

Apple is already testing its second-generation C2 modem for future iPhone models, according to a leaker with a proven track record.

iPhone Chips
A private account on X with a history of sharing accurate information said the C2 modem has a C4020 identifier within Apple, which seems to confirm that it already exists. However, the leaker did not provide any further details.

The leaker has requested that we not link to their private account in our coverage of their posts.

Apple has publicly confirmed that it starts developing new iPhone chips several years in advance of them launching, so it is not surprising that the company is allegedly working on a C2 modem. Apple's second-generation modem should offer faster and more reliable 5G connectivity, and it could be even more power efficient.

Apple said the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e is already the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever, contributing to the device having the longest battery life of any 6.1-inch iPhone ever, including the more expensive regular iPhone 16.

We are still waiting for C1 modem speed tests, but it is expected that Apple's first modem will be slower than Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X71 modem in other iPhones.

In an interview, Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji said the C1 modem is just the "start," so the C2 modem will be the next chapter of the story.

Popular Stories

Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Antenna Design

Two All-New iPhone 17 Colors Seemingly Confirmed

Monday August 25, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple will offer the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in a new orange color, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman made the claim in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, adding that the new iPhone 17 Air – replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – will come in a new light blue color. We've heard multiple rumors about a new iPhone 17 Pro color being a shade of orange. The ...
AirPods Pro 3 Heart Rate Tracking Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Expected to Launch This Year With Key New Feature

Sunday August 24, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects Apple to release new AirPods Pro this year, and he said the earbuds will have a key new feature: heart rate monitoring. From his Power On newsletter today, with emphasis added:As for Apple's other devices, there's a lot in the fall pipeline — though many of the new products are only incremental upgrades. There will be Apple Watch updates, faster Vision...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 12 New Features

Sunday August 24, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should be unveiled in a few more weeks, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman corroborated a rumor that iPhone 17 Pro models will be "available in an orange color." Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are...
iPhone 17 Air Thumb 2 Blue Electric Boogaloo

Apple Has Reportedly Considered Releasing iPhone 17 Air Bumper Case

Sunday August 24, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple has "considered" releasing a bumper case for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Similar to the bumper case that Apple introduced for the iPhone 4 in 2010, Gurman said the iPhone 17 Air version of the case would cover the edges of the device, but not the back of it. Those bumper cases were made of rubber. Given that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have ...
awe dropping event

Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'Awe Dropping'

Tuesday August 26, 2025 9:01 am PDT by
Apple will hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, according to an announcement that went out today. The event will start at 10:00 a.m., with select members of the media invited to attend. At the September 2025 iPhone event, Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, which includes an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. It...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:05 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022 other than a shift from Lightning to USB-C, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will launch AirPods Pro 3 later this year, and apart from new features like heart rate monitoring, we're also expecting a few design changes. The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for ...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Apple Event Logo Hints at Two iPhone 17 Pro Features

Wednesday August 27, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
Apple's logo for its upcoming September 9 event hints at two rumored iPhone 17 Pro features, including new color options and a vapor chamber cooling system. Of course, this is all just speculation for fun, as we count down the final days until the event. New Colors Last month, Macworld's Filipe Espósito reported that orange and dark blue would be two out of the five color options...

Top Rated Comments

jz0309 Avatar
27 weeks ago
of course they are, the C1 probably entered mass production 6 months ago which means the design was done and the chip taped out a year or so ago. That's when the designers moved onto the next one ...
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reason077 Avatar
27 weeks ago

I still don’t see how Apple could possibly match the performance of Qualcomm, Huawei or even MediaTek in the cellular chip world.
In previous decades, people would have said the same thing about Apple trying to make CPUs that were competitive against Intel and AMD.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jumpthesnark Avatar
27 weeks ago

I recall Rene Richie quipping that Apple prototypes everything, and likely has an Apple refrigerator/toaster somewhere in a lab (not that they'll ever release it). If you have the resources, building one of something is a great way to find out more about whether such a device/chip/product is good/useful, and what benefits/drawbacks it has. So, yeah, they almost certainly have a C2 and a C3 in the works, along with all sorts of other future hardware.
I want an Apple toaster. They can use Intel chips. ?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
It’s always something Avatar
27 weeks ago

I still don’t see how Apple could possibly match the performance of Qualcomm, Huawei or even MediaTek in the cellular chip world. It’s an area mandate technology accumulation. The other three have already worked on it for two or more decades. It’s a path toward a sure failure from the very beginning.
The only certain way to fail would be to not start with the thing at all. Apple is playing catch up, maybe, but with an eye on the long haul.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ondioline Avatar
27 weeks ago
According to industry insiders, Apple is testing new iPhone 17 and new M5 processor for Mac. Rumors even reveal a potential iPhone 18
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
green_diyos Avatar
27 weeks ago
It is a given... the iPhone 19 is likely prototyping by now. Same with the iMac 30" or 32"
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)