Beyond Qualcomm and Broadcom: Apple’s In-House Chips Take Over iPhone Connectivity

According to Apple, the tech giant is gradually phasing out Qualcomm’s modems in favour of its in-house C1/C1X 5G chips while also introducing its own Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth silicon, already deployed in the iPhone 17 lineup. The custom N1 chip is designed to handle Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, Thread and other wireless protocols, with aims of delivering superior wireless performance and greater power efficiency.

In theory, the N1 should significantly optimise connectivity and, by unifying wireless functions under Apple’s own hardware, strengthen the seamless integration of its ecosystem. During the keynote, Apple highlighted the use of the N1 chip in the iPhone Air, but made no mention of it in relation to other iPhone 17 models, leaving it unclear whether the broader lineup has also adopted the new silicon.

The iPhone Air additionally employs the upgraded C1X modem, a successor to the C1, which had been tested exclusively in the iPhone 16e as a proving ground for refining Apple’s modem technology. Looking ahead, Apple appears intent on progressively replacing supplier components with fully self-developed chips across modems, Wi‑Fi, and Bluetooth, potentially signalling the end of its long‑standing partnerships with both Qualcomm and Broadcom.