Apple has introduced its first in-house 5G modem, the C1, in the iPhone 16e, with the C2 modem currently in testing phase. The upcoming C3 modem is expected to be released in 2027, coinciding with the expiration of Apple's licensing agreement with Qualcomm.

Apple has a long-standing licensing agreement with Qualcomm, which requires the use of the company's 5G modems until 2027. However, Apple has been developing its own 5G modems and this effort has resulted in the C1 modem being used in the iPhone 16e.

According to a leak from Digital Chat Station, the next-generation C3 modem is scheduled to debut in 2027. This timing is significant as it marks the end of Apple's reliance on Qualcomm's modems. It is anticipated that Apple will introduce a range of iPhones powered by the C3 modem following the expiration of the licensing agreement.

While the iPhone 16e uses the C1 modem, which lacks mmWave support, the next-generation iPhone 17 is expected to continue using Snapdragon 5G modems from Qualcomm. This is due to the fact that the C1 modem does not support mmWave, while Qualcomm's Snapdragon X71 modem does.