iPhone 17 to Feature Next-Gen Wi-Fi Chip Despite Limited C1 Modem Rollout

Summary According to a report from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 lineup will not widely adopt Apple's new C1 modem. Only the iPhone 17 Air is expected to use the C1 modem, while the rest of the models (iPhone 17, Pro, and Pro Max) will continue to use Qualcomm modems. The limited use of the C1 modem is likely due to its lack of mmWave support, which is necessary for the fastest 5G connectivity. However, Apple plans to roll out improved versions of the C1 modem across all iPhone models by 2027.

In addition to the modem situation, Kuo reveals that all iPhone 17 models will feature a new in-house Wi-Fi chip, codenamed 'Proxima.' This move is expected to reduce costs by replacing Broadcom's Wi-Fi chips and enhance connectivity across Apple devices. The Proxima chip is also anticipated to appear in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV in 2025.