by Juli Clover
The iPhone 16e includes Apple’s first custom-designed C1 modem, and since it’s a new chip category for Apple, there have been questions about how the C1 measures up to the Qualcomm modems that Apple has been using for years. As it turns out, the iPhone 16e performs almost as well or better than the iPhone 16 in many speed tests that compare sub-6GHz performance, but it does vary by network.
According to cellular performance data shared by Ookla, Verizon and AT&T iPhone 16e users saw better median download speeds than iPhone 16 users, but T-Mobile users saw slightly higher median download speeds with the iPhone 16 than the iPhone 16e.
When looking at the highest speeds across carriers, the iPhone 16 wins out over the iPhone 16e because the iPhone 16e does not have mmWave 5G support. The iPhone 16e cannot connect to the fastest mmWave 5G networks, and it is limited to sub-6GHz connectivity. mmWave is found in urban areas and is less widespread than sub-6GHz.
In situations where connectivity was poor, the iPhone 16e outperformed the iPhone 16.
Ookla’s test revealed that T-Mobile users with an iPhone 16e saw median download speeds of 264.71 Mb/s, while users with an iPhone 16 saw median download speeds of 357.47, a 24 percent increase in speed. According to Ookla, the iPhone 16e’s underperformance on the T-Mobile network could be due to T-Mobile’s 5G standalone network and advanced features like carrier aggregation.
For Verizon users, download speeds were low for both the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16, which seems to be a network issue. iPhone 16e users saw median download speeds of 140.77 Mb/s on Verizon. iPhone 16 download speeds were even lower at 124.4 Mb/s.
As for AT&T users, median download speeds for the iPhone 16e were at 226.9 Mb/s, and 146.49 for the iPhone 16.
The iPhone 16e outperformed the iPhone 16 in upload speeds across all carriers, with the most notable difference on the Verizon and AT&T networks. T-Mobile was the fastest network overall for both the iPhone 16e and the iPhone 16 in download and upload speeds.
With the C1 modem, Apple was able to increase efficiency, and it draws less power than Qualcomm modems. Apple says the C1 is the most efficient modem that’s ever been used in an iPhone, and the iPhone 16e does indeed have longer battery life than the iPhone 16.
The C1 modem is Apple’s first step toward independence from Qualcomm, and Apple has long been aiming to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm technology. Apple is already working on the C2 modem for future devices, and it is expected to include mmWave 5G support.
Popular Stories
iOS 19 to Have Some of the ‘Biggest’ Design Changes in iPhone’s History
Apple is planning some of the “biggest iOS and macOS redesigns in its history,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman reiterated that iOS 19 will have a visionOS-like design with more transparent interfaces:The new interfaces will adopt the design principles introduced in visionOS, the software for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. That includes greater…
iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumors Allegedly Refer to ‘iPhone 17 Ultra’ Model
Friday March 14, 2025 7:56 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
If you’ve been following iPhone rumors over the last few years, you may remember reading reports that Apple flirted with the idea of introducing a super high-end “Ultra” model that would either replace its Pro Max device or sit above it in Apple’s smartphone hirearchy. These reports appeared in the pre-launch iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 rumor cycles, but ultimately came to nothing. Now though, the…
Apple Canned Larger iPhone 17 Air Model Over Fears of Bendgate 2.0
Monday March 17, 2025 4:07 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending, according to a new report. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, writing in his latest Power On newsletter: When it first started work on the phone, it prototyped a device with a 6.9-inch screen — matching…
Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Estimated to Cost Nearly Twice as Much as iPhone 16 Pro Max
In an investor research note today with British bank Barclays, analyst Tim Long said Apple’s first foldable iPhone could have a starting price in the $2,300 range in the United States, which would make it by far the most expensive iPhone model ever. If the first foldable iPhone starts at $2,299, that means it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199. …
Next Year’s iPhone 18 Pro Already Rumored to Have Five New Features
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around a year and a half away from launching, there are already some early rumors about the devices. Below, we recap some key iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. Under-Screen Face ID In April 2023, display industry analyst Ross Young shared a roadmap showing that iPhone 17 Pro models would feature under-display Face ID. In May 2024, however, Young said …
iOS 18.3.2 Broke iCloud Mail Delivery
Monday March 17, 2025 3:31 pm PDT by Juli Clover
The iOS 18.3.2 update that Apple released last week appears to have broken iCloud Mail for some users. There are multiple complaints on Reddit and the MacRumors forums from users who say that iCloud Mail is not able to push new iCloud emails to their iPhones after the iOS 18.3.2 update. Affected users say that despite having the correct settings enabled, new iCloud emails are not showing up…
All Four iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Upgraded 24-Megapixel Front Camera and More
All four iPhone 17 models launching later this year will feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to analyst Jeff Pu. In a research note today with investment firm GF Securities, Pu shared a chart in which he reiterated that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with a 24-megapixel front camera. By comparison, all four …
