The first iPhone 16e reviews are in, and Apple’s custom-designed C1 modem has been put through its paces. The results? Surprisingly solid performance, with 5G speeds comparable to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71 modem, found in the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.
Despite concerns that Apple’s first in-house modem would lag behind Qualcomm’s established technology, real-world and lab tests suggest the C1 modem holds its own—even exceeding expectations in some scenarios.
A Noticeable Difference? Not Really
Tech reviewers have been testing the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem alongside Qualcomm-powered iPhone models, and most report little to no difference in network performance.
The Verge’s Allison Johnson found no consistent difference in performance between the iPhone 16e and the Qualcomm-powered iPhone 16:
“I’ve used it for the past week to make FaceTime calls, upload large video files in crowded places, and stream YouTube on the bus. I tested it alongside a regular iPhone 16 equipped with a Qualcomm-made modem—both on Verizon—and I didn’t see any consistent difference in performance between the two.”
Tom’s Guide’s John Velasco also noted that any difference was marginal:
“It’s difficult to say if it ultimately delivers faster 5G speeds. I ran speed tests on both the iPhone 16 and 16e at three different locations in New York City, with only one test showing faster speeds with the iPhone 16e.”
So how does the C1 modem actually perform in speed tests? The numbers show it competes well with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X71 modem.
Suburban New York (AT&T Network)
- iPhone 16e: 673 Mbps peak download speed
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 667 Mbps peak download speed
- Result: Nearly identical speeds
Midtown New York City (AT&T Network)
- iPhone 16e: 127 Mbps download
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 75 Mbps download
- Result: iPhone 16e actually outperformed the iPhone 16 Pro Max in this test, though the Pro Max had a higher upload speed (50 Mbps vs. 30 Mbps).
Toronto, Canada (Bell Network)
- iPhone 16e consistently clocked 30-40 Mbps higher download speeds than the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Lab Tests by Geekerwan (Artificial 5G Network)
- The iPhone 16e performed on par with the iPhone 16 and other flagship devices.
Beyond speed, Apple claims the C1 modem is the most power-efficient iPhone modem ever—and independent testing confirms it.
- Geekerwan’s tests found the iPhone 16e had an average power draw of 0.67W, compared to 0.88W for the iPhone 16, a 25% improvement in efficiency.
- If accurate, this means better battery life during prolonged 5G usage compared to other iPhones.
Despite initial skepticism, the C1 modem is proving to be a capable competitor to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X71. While it lacks mmWave 5G support in the U.S., it still delivers impressive 5G speeds, strong reliability, and superior power efficiency.