Qualcomm research confirms Apple’s 5G chip is slower than its personal

A number of months after releasing the iPhone 16e with Apple’s first 5G modem, the C1 chip, Qualcomm commissioned an independent study that exposed, to nobody’s shock, that its chips outperform Apple’s in nearly each circumstance.

Whereas this isn’t the primary time Qualcomm has made that claim, it reassures traders that its enterprise is strong and that iPhone customers may lose necessary options with Apple’s resolution.

A few of the highlights of the report may be discovered beneath:

• Constant Efficiency Hole: Qualcomm-powered Android units have been 34.3% to 35.2% sooner in obtain speeds and 81.4% to 91.0% sooner in add speeds than the iPhone 16e.
• Actual-world Person Expertise Influence: Qualcomm chips show extra environment friendly spectrum utilization and higher efficiency.
• Thermal Administration Points: The iPhone 16e suffers from some thermal administration points below load, often narrowing the efficiency hole below very best near-cell situations.
• Higher Options: Qualcomm-powered Android units had sub-6 GHz and different 5G options that have been unavailable within the first technology of Apple’s 5G chip.

Nonetheless, Apple is conscious that its chip isn’t as highly effective as those out there on an iPhone 16 Pro, for instance. That is why rumors additionally counsel the corporate isn’t utilizing a variation of the C1 chip on the iPhone 17 lineup (apart from the Air model), however MediaTek’s.

That stated, Apple is assured that a C2 chip could power the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. Whereas Qualcomm’s chips will presumably outperform Apple’s, the corporate is aiming for different upgrades, together with higher battery efficiency and administration and improved connectivity options associated to AirDrop and Bluetooth.

With that in thoughts, Apple is aiming for an M1-like scenario, the place the corporate’s earlier associate can outperform its processor in some situations, however the advantages for customers are larger than having a barely sooner machine or marginally sooner obtain speeds.

If Apple is ready to transition to its personal connectivity chips, Qualcomm will lose a major income. Beneath, you possibly can study extra about Apple’s plans for its personal 5G modems.