The custom modem in the iPhone 16e lays the groundwork for future Apple projects, as the company intends to use its proprietary modems across future products.
The iPhone 17 range is still a few months away, however, so whether or not the iPhone 17 Air will feature Apple's C1 remains to be seen.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and others, Apple will use the C1 modem for its iPhone 17 Air, expected to debut in September 2025.
Apple's new modem isn't meant to compete with chips made by other manufacturers, but is instead meant to cater specifically to the needs of the iPhone 16e and future devices.
Apart from the iPhone 17 Air, Apple could opt to use its custom modems in other entry-level products, gradually rolling them out over three years.
