As Apple prepares for its Sept. 9 launch event, where the company is widely expected to unveil the next generation of iPhones including the rumored iPhone 17 Air, attention has turned to how the Apple-designed C1 modem is performing in real-world conditions. Apple introduced the iPhone 16e earlier this year as the first device powered by the C1 modem, while the standard iPhone 16 continues to use Qualcomm’s modem.
Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data for Q2 and Q3 2025 reveal the performance of iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 for smartphone users across major global 5G markets. Both devices share a 6.1-inch design, but the modem is the critical differentiator — raising questions about performance, reliability, and future adoption in upcoming models.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: Key Performance Takeaways
Overall Performance: In most markets, the iPhone 16e with the C1 modem performs similarly to the iPhone 16 with Qualcomm’s modem.
Market Variations: The iPhone 16 showed its largest lead in Saudi Arabia (353.49 Mbps vs. 295.01 Mbps), while the iPhone 16e outpaced in Spain (139.88 Mbps vs. 110.38 Mbps).
Network Capabilities: The Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 is better suited for advanced 5G standalone (SA) networks with higher carrier aggregation and uplink MIMO. Countries like Saudi Arabia, China, India, and the U.S. highlighted these performance gaps.
U.S. Network Example: On T-Mobile’s 5G network, the iPhone 16 achieved 317.64 Mbps compared to 252.80 Mbps on the iPhone 16e, thanks to four-carrier aggregation versus the C1’s three-carrier support.
Why the iPhone 16 Still Outperforms on Advanced Networks
Controlled testing by Ookla RootMetrics in the U.S. (1H 2025) showed T-Mobile leveraging four-carrier aggregation across 65.4 percent of test locations. This gave the iPhone 16 a clear edge, reinforcing that the Qualcomm modem remains stronger in highly capable 5G environments.
While the iPhone 16e can keep pace — or even lead — in some regions, the C1 modem’s technical limitations prevent it from unlocking the highest 5G speeds. As more operators roll out 5G Advanced with improved carrier aggregation and MIMO, the iPhone 16 is expected to further outpace the 16e.
Where the iPhone 16e Shines with Apple’s C1 Modem
Despite its limitations, the iPhone 16e delivers notable strengths:
Robustness at the network edge: At the 10th percentile (users on low-band sub-GHz spectrum), the iPhone 16e recorded higher download speeds than the iPhone 16.
Better upload performance: Across the 10th, median, and 90th percentiles, the iPhone 16e often posted stronger upload speeds.
Optimized coverage: These results suggest Apple’s C1 modem may be designed to maximize throughput in challenging coverage areas, improving consistency and reliability for users.
Looking Ahead: iPhone 17 and the Future of Apple’s C1 Modem
The upcoming iPhone 17 series, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air, could determine whether Apple doubles down on its in-house modem strategy. If Apple integrates the C1 modem more broadly, the company may seek to improve advanced network compatibility while retaining its strength in coverage and reliability.
For now, consumers choosing between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e should consider their location and network. Users on highly advanced 5G networks may benefit from the Qualcomm-powered iPhone 16, while those prioritizing consistent performance across varied coverage conditions could see value in the iPhone 16e.
United States
In the U.S. 5G market, the iPhone 16 with Qualcomm’s modem continues to outperform the iPhone 16e with Apple’s C1 modem in download speeds, particularly on T-Mobile and Verizon networks, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data for Q2–Q3 2025. The iPhone 16’s advantage stems from its support for mmWave spectrum and four-carrier aggregation (4CA), which T-Mobile deploys across more than 65 percent of its network. On T-Mobile, the iPhone 16 recorded a median download speed of 317.64 Mbps, compared to 252.80 Mbps for the iPhone 16e, while Verizon users saw lower absolute speeds, with the iPhone 16 reaching 172.12 Mbps. Qualcomm’s X80 and X85 modems support up to 6CA and uplink MIMO, while the Apple C1 modem is limited to 3CA, explaining the gap in performance.
However, the story shifts when looking at upload speeds. The iPhone 16e outperformed the iPhone 16 on Verizon and AT&T, achieving median upload speeds of 11.51 Mbps and 8.47 Mbps, compared to 9.67 Mbps and 7.09 Mbps, respectively. On T-Mobile, upload performance was nearly equal, with the iPhone 16e posting 11.79 Mbps against the iPhone 16’s 11.70 Mbps.
Another area where the iPhone 16e shows strength is among the 10th percentile of users, those in weaker coverage conditions. On AT&T, iPhone 16e users logged 21.63 Mbps, compared to 13.22 Mbps for iPhone 16 users, while on T-Mobile the gap was 37.64 Mbps vs. 30.20 Mbps. Verizon’s results were nearly identical across both devices at around 26 Mbps. This suggests Apple’s C1 modem may be better optimized for performance in marginal RF conditions, delivering more consistent speeds at the network edge, even if it lags behind in absolute peak performance.
India
In India, the iPhone 16 demonstrates stronger 5G performance on advanced networks like Reliance Jio and Airtel, while the iPhone 16e outperforms on Vi’s network, according to recent Speedtest Intelligence data. Jio’s 5G standalone (SA) network maximizes the iPhone 16’s advanced modem features, leveraging a multi-band strategy that combines 700 MHz low-band, 3.5 GHz mid-band, and 26 GHz mmWave spectrum. With massive MIMO and extensive carrier aggregation, Jio delivers superior speeds, particularly for the median user and at the 90th percentile, where the iPhone 16 consistently leads.
Airtel’s performance mirrors Jio’s, with the iPhone 16 pulling ahead in high-speed scenarios thanks to additional spectrum aggregation, while Vi shows minimal difference between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e at both median and top-tier speeds. These results highlight how the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 excels on more capable 5G networks that deploy advanced features, while the Apple C1 modem in the iPhone 16e remains competitive on less complex networks.
Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, the iPhone 16 with Qualcomm’s modem outperforms the iPhone 16e with Apple’s C1 modem in download speeds, driven by the country’s advanced 5G networks. According to Speedtest Intelligence data for Q2–Q3 2025, operators like stc and Zain, both of which have implemented 5G Advanced with higher levels of carrier aggregation, deliver the strongest gains for the iPhone 16. On stc’s network, the performance gap widened further at the 90th percentile, where the iPhone 16 was more than 200 Mbps faster than the iPhone 16e. Saudi Arabia’s proactive regulator, the CST, has supported this growth by licensing new spectrum, with stc and Mobily recently adding 100 MHz in the 3.8 GHz band to their existing 3.5 GHz holdings.
While the iPhone 16 led on download speeds, the iPhone 16e achieved stronger upload performance across the market. On both stc and Mobily’s networks, the iPhone 16e recorded higher median and 90th percentile upload speeds, showing that Apple’s C1 modem may be better optimized for uplink robustness and efficiency, even if it trails Qualcomm in maximum downlink throughput.
Japan
In Japan, the iPhone 16e with Apple’s C1 modem outperforms the iPhone 16 with Qualcomm’s modem in both download and upload speeds, according to Speedtest Intelligence data for Q2–Q3 2025. Japan is the market with the highest share of iPhone 16e adoption, accounting for more than 10 percent of total iPhone 16-series samples, reflecting the country’s strong demand for small form factor devices—a trend previously seen with the iPhone SE (3rd generation).
Across three of Japan’s major operators, the iPhone 16e led in median download performance. On DoCoMo’s network, for example, iPhone 16e users recorded 135.56 Mbps, compared to 111.04 Mbps for iPhone 16 users. The same advantage carried through to median upload speeds, where all four Japanese operators, including Rakuten and SoftBank, showed better results for the iPhone 16e.
Japan’s operators are prioritizing nationwide 5G SA coverage over peak speed enhancements, with government mandates requiring 97 percent coverage by fiscal 2025 and 99 percent by fiscal 2030. This emphasis has improved performance at the 10th percentile, where the iPhone 16e again demonstrated a clear lead. On SoftBank’s network, lower-tier users achieved 34.59 Mbps on the iPhone 16e compared to 19.34 Mbps on the iPhone 16, while Rakuten users saw 7.12 Mbps uploads on the iPhone 16e vs. 3.78 Mbps on the iPhone 16.
Baburajan Kizhakedath