Disassembling iPhone 17 Pro Max: Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 Modem for 5G

In analyzing the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it was discovered that it features the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem for 5G. While the iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's own C1X modem, all models in the iPhone 17 series have unique Qualcomm modems. A video published on the Chinese platform Bilibili confirms that the iPhone 17 Pro Max uses the Snapdragon X80. It is likely that this modem is also installed in the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon X80 has hardware for artificial intelligence acceleration, enhancing data transfer speeds, reducing latency, improving coverage, and increasing energy efficiency. Additionally, this modem supports mmWave 5G, which is only available in the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models sold in the USA. The Apple C1 modem in the iPhone 16e and C1X in the iPhone Air are limited to the 6 GHz sub-band of 5G. mmWave refers to 5G frequencies that provide extremely fast connections over short distances, making them ideal for densely populated urban areas. In contrast, the 6 GHz sub-band of 5G typically has lower speeds but signals travel further, which is better suited for suburban and rural areas. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro models are rumored to use Apple's own C2 modem with mmWave 5G support, as Apple plans to move away from Qualcomm modems. The Snapdragon X80 is already outdated, and Qualcomm has introduced the new Snapdragon X85 modem. CEO Cristiano Amon stated that smartphones on Android with this modem will have a significant performance advantage over the iPhone. Speed tests comparing the Snapdragon X80 to the C1X are still pending.