Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon is betting big on the company’s latest high-end modem, X85. In an interview with CNBC, Amon claimed that the company’s latest X85 modem will significantly outperform Apple’s recently introduced C1 modem, creating a substantial performance gap between premium Android devices and iPhones. Announced recently, Qualcomm’s high-end X85 modem integrates advanced AI capabilities, enhancing its ability to handle weaker signals and extend performance range, according to Amon. Qualcomm CEO added, “It’s the first modem with so much AI.”
Apple recently entered the smartphone modem race with Apple C1, its first self-designed modem. Apple C1 modem made its debut in Apple’s latest addition in iPhone 16 series, iPhone 16e. For years, Apple has sourced modems from Qualcomm, the world’s biggest supplier of the chips. Qualcomm chips also power Android gadgets and Windows laptops.
Qualcomm CEO on iPhones
While talking about how X85 modem will give Android phones an edge over iPhones, Qualcomm CEO also reiterated his earlier ‘iPhone prediction’ that he expects Qualcomm will not supply Apple with modems in 2027. At the same time, Amon expressed confidence in Qualcomm’s edge. “If modem is relevant there’s always a place for Qualcomm technology,” Amon said. He added, “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.”
How Apple’s entry in modem race goes back to 2019
Modems, essential for connecting smartphones to mobile networks, have been a core strength of Qualcomm. The company has been a leading global supplier of modems for Apple’s iPhones. However, in July 2019, Apple and Intel signed an agreement for Apple to acquire the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business. Approximately 2,200 Intel employees join Apple, along with intellectual property, equipment and leases. Apple’s acquisition of Intel’s modem division made it clear that the company wants to go its own way and follow the same strategy as it has for smartphone processors.
The iPhone 16e, which runs on the same A18 processor chip as the rest of other phones in the iPhone 16 lineup, has the best battery life of any of its 6.1-inch phones thanks to the C1 system, Apple’s Kaiann Drance, vice president of iPhone product marketing, told Reuters. The iPhone 16e also has Apple’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) features.
One of the ways Apple hopes that the C1 will set its iPhones apart is by tightly integrating it with its A-series processor chips. Giving an example Arun Mathias, vice president for wireless software at Apple, told the news agency that if an iPhone encounters congested data networks, the phone’s processor can signal to the modem which traffic is the most time sensitive and put it ahead of other data transfers, making the phone feel more responsive to the user’s needs.
