The C1 5G modem in the iPhone 16e is just the beginning of Apple’s journey as it carves out a path to develop in-house wireless solutions and reduce its dependency on the likes of Qualcomm and others. With the iPhone 17 launch happening later this year, the four models may not feature their own baseband chip, but a new report claims that Apple will be introducing its first custom Wi-Fi chip.
The custom solution reportedly arriving to all iPhone 17 models could support the Wi-Fi 7 standard
As reported by MacRumors, Jeff Pu, an analyst at GF Securities, stated in a research note that a major hardware change was arriving to the iPhone 17 lineup later this year. Apple intends to incorporate a custom Wi-Fi chip into all four models, making it the first time that any product would feature such an in-house solution. Unfortunately, the exact version of the wireless chip was not mentioned, but given that all iPhone 16 models feature a Wi-Fi 7 adapter, it only makes sense that this solution will support the same standard.
As for the iPhone 17 Air, Pu has not mentioned if Apple will treat this particular model to a custom Wi-Fi 7 chip, but it is possible that this handset becomes the odd one out and only ships with a custom 5G modem. By switching to a custom Wi-Fi 7 chip, Apple can reduce reliance on Broadcom while allowing the iPhone 17 series to flaunt exceptional battery life.
With the iPhone 16e, Apple claims that users can experience better endurance than any other 6.1-inch iPhone thanks to the C1, but if that is the case, then why will this baseband chip not find a place in the iPhone 17’s innards? The answer likely lies in the C1’s lack of mmWave support, which may give the impression that this in-house 5G modem is a low-tier one. Fortunately, even if the iPhone 17 models will not feature custom baseband silicon, Apple is already said to be testing the C2, with the possibility that it will have mmWave capabilities.
Unfortunately, we do not expect the C2’s launch until the arrival of the iPhone 18. By then, Apple would not only have a custom Wi-Fi 7 chip to add to other devices, but it could also leverage its 5G modem.
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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