- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
70%
Probable
The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to be Apple’s last to ship with Qualcomm’s 5G modems as the company prepares its transition to ship all of its iPhone 18 models with the C2 baseband chip. This in-house solution was said to be in development shortly after the iPhone 16e was announced, and while we will witness its materialization in 2026, a new report states that, unlike other Apple chipsets like the A20 and A20 Pro, it will not leverage TSMC’s newest 2nm process, but a lithography that is a couple of generations old.
The C2 5G modem will reportedly be mass produced on TSMC’s 4nm ‘N4’ process, with an analyst previously stating that there is little encouragement to use the newest lithography for these chips
Despite Apple reportedly securing over half of TSMC’s initial 2nm supply, this technology will not be reserved for the C2 5G modem. Instead, Commercial Times reports that the Cupertino firm will use the 4nm ‘N4’ node for its upcoming baseband chip. Keep in mind that the C1 found in the iPhone 16e is also fabricated on the older 4nm process, suggesting that there is little need to switch to the latest and greatest 2nm variant for this category.
Apart from cost savings, there might be zero motivation for Apple to switch to TSMC’s 3nm or 2nm processes for the C2, and given that the company is a trillion-dollar titan, money would be of little concern when leveraging the newest technology for its in-house parts. So, based on this report, why is Apple relying on an older manufacturing process? TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had chimed in previously, stating that cutting-edge modems are not the most power-hungry components in a smartphone.
He also mentions that the investment return on developing in-house modems is not high, and Apple switching to an advanced lithography does not necessarily mean higher transmission speeds. However, one advantage that C2 will have over C1 and C1X is that it is reported to support both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G networks, meaning that just a single difference can introduce a massive speed upgrade.
It is likely that the entire iPhone 18 series, including Apple’s foldable iPhone, will be treated to the C2, and given the improvements the C1X brings to the table, it will be interesting to see how Apple raises the bar in a single year. As for TSMC’s N4 process, it brings a 5 percent performance improvement over the N5 node, with a modest 6 percent increase in transistor density.
News Source: Commercial Times
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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