- Apple iPhone 18 Pro series will bring C2 modem, an upgraded version of C1 and C1X modems.
- This brings direct to device satellite 5G connectivity on-board iPhone 18 Pro, the first on smartphones.
- Built in-house, the C2 modems are likely to rival Snapdragon's modems, paving the way for future.
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro series will likely debut in September this year, with a great feature in purview. A reputed Chinese leaker mentioned Apple is working on an upgraded C2 modem that can channel device-to-satellite 5G connectivity across the upcoming Pro series. What does it mean, though? What are the implications of this tech in the works? Let’s find out more about it here.
iPhone 18 Pro to gain C2 modem for 5G satellite connectivity
According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital, Apple is working on a C2 modem aboard the iPhone 18 Pro series. The chipset allows devices with 5G satellite connectivity, as it supports New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NR-NTN). In layman’s terms, iPhone 18 Pro devices will be able to connect to low-Earth orbit satellites to access direct internet in the absence of traditional cellular coverage.
Paving the way for future internet connectivity
Apple introduced satellite connectivity on board iPhone 14 Pro, and soon, all its successors got the feature with varying capabilities. Cut to now, Apple’s upgraded C2 modem will be able to connect to low-Earth satellites, allowing users access to the internet directly on their phones when there’s no cellular coverage, such as when they are stranded in a jungle or on a mountaintop.
Although previous iPhones had satellite connectivity, these were limited to Emergency SOS calls, the Messages app, and the Find My network. With Apple’s C2 modem, users will be able to connect to the internet using NR-NTN satellites, and that’s a big win. It also highlights how far the Cupertino-based giant has come with C2 modems when compared to C1 and C1X modems. In fact, it is expected to rival Qualcomm’s modem that Apple sought to replace for good.
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Leak credibility and industry trends
The Chinese leaker mentioned above has a reputation that precedes him. He was the one who broke the news about the iPhone 16e last year, and now, we are heading for the iPhone 17e launching sometime this month itself. 2026 appears to be the year when smartphone OEMs will be building on 5G satellite connectivity, as Huawei reportedly conducted public testing last year. It remains to be seen what else the C2 modem brings to the table.
Apple is expected to launch iPhone 18 Pro models in September 2026, followed by non-Pro models a few months later, following its dual launch strategy.
