Apple’s new products add C1X chip for three unique advantages

Published on 02 March 2026 9to5Mac

Summary

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 17e and iPad Air featuring the M4 chip, both equipped with the innovative C1X 5G chip, promising enhanced performance and connectivity advantages over traditional non-Apple modems.

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Key Insights

What is the C1X chip and how does it differ from previous Apple modems?

The C1X is Apple's custom-designed 5G cellular modem debuting in devices like the iPhone Air and iPad Air. It is up to 2x faster than the prior C1 modem, faster than the iPhone 16 Pro's modem for comparable technologies, and uses 30% less energy, prioritizing power efficiency over peak speeds.

Sources: [1], [2]

What are the main limitations of Apple's C1X 5G modem?

The C1X lacks mmWave 5G support, operating only on sub-6GHz networks, which may result in lower speeds on advanced carrier aggregation compared to Qualcomm modems, though it excels in power efficiency and battery life.

Sources: [1], [2]