Leaks indicate that Apple intends to provide the “iPhone 18 Pro” and “iPhone 18 Pro Max” phones with a new generation “C2” chip, thus abandoning the “5G” modem from “Qualcomm” currently used in the “iPhone 17 Pro” series.
According to a report published by the “9to5Mac” website, which specializes in technology news and viewed by “Al Arabiya Business”, the “C2” chip is expected to provide three advantages for the upcoming “iPhone 18 Pro” series.
Apple’s C1 and C1X cellular modems have always been power efficient, and this trend is expected to continue with the new C2 chip.
Thanks to the close integration between the iOS system and the Apple processor, Apple can extend battery life when using the cellular network beyond what Qualcomm modems offer.
However, the potential gains from the C2 chip in terms of energy efficiency are difficult to quantify. Although Apple attributes the “C1” and “C1X” chips with improvements in battery life in the “iPhone 16e,” “iPhone Air,” and “iPad Pro” with the “M5” chip, the company has not revealed specific numbers yet.
The “iPhone 18 Pro” and “iPhone 18 Pro Max” models are expected to come with a larger battery this year compared to the “iPhone 17 Pro” series, and the “C2” chip is expected to enhance this increase.
2- Privacy feature “Restrict precise location”
Apple recently launched iOS 26.3, and although it does not include many new features, there is an addition that is exclusive to devices equipped with an Apple-designed modem.
The “Precise Location Restriction” feature is a new setting that allows the user to keep their location more private to the cellular network provider.
According to Apple’s official documentation: “Cellular networks can determine your location based on the cell towers your device is connected to. The ‘Restrict precise location’ setting enhances your location privacy by reducing the accuracy of location data available to cellular networks.”
When this setting is enabled, some information available to communications networks is restricted. As a result, these networks may be able to determine a less precise location, for example, the neighborhood in which your device is located rather than a more precise location such as a street address. This setting does not affect signal quality or user experience.
Currently, this feature supports iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and iPad Pro devices with the M5 chip. With the addition of the “C2” modem from “Apple” to the two models of the “iPhone 18 Pro” series, the two phones will join this list.
3- Better performance in areas with weak coverage
Another advantage offered by Apple modems, such as the upcoming C2, is improved performance in areas with weak or intermittent coverage.
For example, Apple told Reuters that “if the iPhone encounters congested data networks, the phone’s processor can send signals to the modem to determine which data traffic is the most time-sensitive and prioritize it over others in data transfer.”
This integration between Apple’s Class A processor and Class C modem will make the iPhone more responsive and less affected by congestion. (Arabic)
