Apple has extended its partnership with Broadcom through 2031, signaling the company will not switch entirely to its own cellular modems before that year. The first in‑house modem, the C1, debuted in the iPhone 16E, and the C1X followed later that year, powering the iPhone Air, iPhone 17E and select iPads. While the C1 delivers better power efficiency than third‑party chips, it lacks support for mmWave 5G.

Apple plans to introduce the C2 in the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Ultra, adding mmWave capability. All C‑series chips are fabricated by TSMC to Apple’s design, yet the company still relies on customized third‑party radio chips for other products. The Broadcom extension implies Apple may continue using external chips for several years or deploy older C‑series chips on some devices.

For consumers, the 18 lineup will gain ultra‑high‑speed mmWave 5G, but other models may lag behind. The industry picture shows Broadcom maintaining a critical role in Apple’s radio ecosystem, while TSMC remains the sole manufacturer for the latest Apple chips, ensuring supply chain continuity.

"Apple’s transition to all‑in‑house modems will likely extend beyond 2035," says a telecom expert.