Why Qualcomm CEO isn't worried about Apple making its own modems

Qualcomm

Apple is finally making its own modems, starting with the iPhone 16e. This means the company is moving away from relying on Qualcomm for this key technology. But despite this shift, Qualcomm’s CEO, Cristiano Amon, says he isn’t too concerned.

At Mobile World Congress 2025, Qualcomm introduced its latest X85 5G modem. It’s fast, with peak speeds of 12.5 Gbps up and 3.7 Gbps down, and includes AI features to improve performance in areas with weak signals. Amon believes this will give Android phones an edge over iPhones.

In an interview with CNBC, Amon said that as long as modems remain important, Qualcomm will have a place in the market. He also pointed out that consumers always want the best possible modem, and Qualcomm’s advancements in AI-powered technology could make a difference in their choices.

“It’s the first modem that has so much AI, it actually increases the range of performance of the modem so the modem can deal with weaker signals. What that will do will set a huge delta between the performance of premium Android devices, and iOS devices, when you compare what Qualcomm can do versus what Apple is doing,” he told.

“If modem is relevant there’s always a place for Qualcomm technology. In the age of AI, modems are going to be more important than they have ever been. And I think that’s going to drive consumer preference about do they want the best possible modem in the computer that’s in their hand all the time,” he added.

Meanwhile, Apple is moving ahead with its own modems. The iPhone 16e is the first to use Apple’s C1 modem, and the upcoming iPhone 17 Air will also have it. By next year, the entire iPhone 18 lineup is expected to switch to Apple’s own modem technology.

Early tests of the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e show that it performs well and is more power-efficient than Qualcomm’s modems. However, Qualcomm is betting that its AI-driven features will keep it ahead in performance.

For now, Apple is making progress, but Qualcomm is confident that its technology will continue to lead in the smartphone modem market.