Apple’s latest C1 chip might not appear to be the most thrilling advancement at first glance. According to Apple, it is “the first modem created by Apple.” Previous iPhones have consistently been equipped with modem chips—such as the iPhone 16, which utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon X71M—making it easy to regard the C1 as merely another element that facilitates fundamental connectivity.

Nonetheless, the C1, which makes its debut in Apple’s new iPhone 16e, could hold greater importance than it seems. Apple asserts that this chip is instrumental in providing the iPhone 16e’s “extraordinary battery life.”

Crafting the C1 was a challenging endeavor. In a conversation with *Reuters*, Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, noted that the baseband modem was developed with sophisticated 4-nanometer chipmaking technology, while the transceiver was produced using 7-nanometer technology. To guarantee seamless worldwide functionality, the chip underwent testing with 180 carriers across 55 nations.

The results are telling—the iPhone 16e greatly outshines the iPhone 16 in battery life, offering as much as 26 hours of video playback in comparison to the iPhone 16’s 22 hours, even though both devices are similar in dimensions.

Now, notable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicates that the C1 chip will likely feature in the anticipated “slim iPhone 17.” While Apple typically refrains from discussing upcoming products, Srouji mentioned to *Reuters* that the C1 represents just the beginning.

“We’re going to continue enhancing that technology with each generation, to establish it as a platform that will truly differentiate this technology for our products,” he stated.

As reported by *MacRumors*, Apple is already in the process of developing a successor, the C2 modem, which is projected to be even more power-efficient while providing quicker and more dependable 5G connectivity.

In practical terms, this could imply that Apple’s anticipated slim iPhone 17 will boast surprisingly prolonged battery life despite its sleek design. While the remainder of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected to keep utilizing Qualcomm modems, Apple’s in-house silicon might ultimately result in iPhones that endure well beyond a full day on a single charge—potentially rendering overnight charging obsolete.