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Qualcomm introduces X85 chip, says it leaves Apple's new C1 modem far behind

Mar 06, 2025 - businesstoday.in
Qualcomm's new X85 5G modem, announced at the Mobile World Congress 2025, is set to significantly outperform Apple's iPhone modems, according to CEO Cristiano Amon. The X85 features advanced AI capabilities and cutting-edge connectivity, including 5G mmWave support and satellite connectivity, offering peak download speeds of up to 12.5Gbps. Amon claims these enhancements will create a substantial performance gap between premium Android devices and Apple's iPhones, which have only recently introduced their first in-house modem, the C1, in the iPhone 16e. The C1 is noted for its power efficiency but lacks ultra-fast mmWave 5G support.

Apple's C1 modem, debuting in the iPhone 16e, marks the company's initial foray into modem technology after acquiring Intel's modem business. While it is more power-efficient than previous Qualcomm modems used in iPhones, it does not support mmWave 5G, limiting its speed capabilities. Apple plans to continue using Qualcomm modems through 2026 as it refines its technology, with expectations to phase out Qualcomm by 2027. Qualcomm's X85 modem is anticipated to launch in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 in October 2025, while Apple aims to advance its in-house modem technology in future iterations.

Key takeaways:

  • Qualcomm's X85 5G modem is expected to significantly outperform Apple's C1 modem, creating a performance gap between Android and iPhone devices.
  • The X85 modem features advanced AI capabilities and cutting-edge connectivity, including 5G mmWave support and satellite connectivity.
  • Apple's C1 modem, debuting in the iPhone 16e, is more power-efficient but lacks ultra-fast mmWave 5G support.
  • Qualcomm will continue supplying modems to Apple until 2026, but plans to stop by 2027 as Apple develops its in-house modem technology.
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