Qualcomm might just have something to worry about, as early indications suggest that Apple's first 5G modem is up to snuff.
Network test and measurement specialist Ookla has been gathering data from early adopters in the US to see how the C1 – which made its debut in February on Apple's expensive entry-level iPhone 16e – fares in the real world.
The results are in, and they show that under certain conditions, the C1-equipped 16e actually performs better than its Qualcomm-powered stablemate, the higher-end iPhone 16.
When it comes to median 5G download speed, the iPhone 16e has the edge on the 16, with respective throughputs of 217.64 Mbps and 210.55 Mbps.
Qualcomm's modem stretches out a considerable lead on the Apple's when it comes to the 90th percentile (users experiencing ideal network conditions), achieving a speed of 756.13 Mbps to the C1's 560.4 Mbps. It's debatable how important this is, because today, nothing a typical 5G user does with their smartphone really requires this much throughput.
