Katarzyna Petru
Why the new Apple modem “C1X” is a much bigger deal than just another performance bump?
Apple has done it again. They’ve released a new iPad Pro M5 practically without fanfare, with minimal changes and the classic processor “bump.” However, behind this seemingly boring refresh lies something far more interesting – a new, custom-built cellular modem C1X, which could signal the beginning of the end of Apple’s dependence on Qualcomm.
What's new in the iPad Pro M5?
From a technical standpoint – not much. As analyst Mark Gurman notes, "it's just modest improvements" compared to the M4 version. The M5 processor is obviously faster, but in everyday use, the difference is virtually imperceptible.
The model with the M4 was already powerful, so if you have the previous generation, you won't see a significant difference.
The most important change is therefore not the processor, but the C1X modem, which is Apple's proprietary solution replacing the previous chips from Qualcomm. Additionally, there's a new N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support and faster support for external displays, but these are details that will likely interest a small percentage of users.
Why is this little chip such a big deal?
For the average user – not at all. For Apple – massive.
This “third component” that the company has just rid itself of is the Qualcomm modem, and the relationship between these two giants has been… to put it mildly, toxic. Patent lawsuits, enormous licensing fees – it’s a long, tension-filled history.
Apple has long hated relying on external suppliers of key components, especially those it has legal disputes with. For years, it has invested billions of dollars in creating its own modem to free itself from Qualcomm, lower costs, and better integrate hardware with software. Now we finally see the first result of this work – the C1X in the iPad Pro M5. It’s not a major change for the user, but a colossal strategic step for Apple and the first stage towards full control over every key element of the device.
Great news… but mainly for Apple
From a business perspective, this is a huge success. From a user perspective – not much actually changes. As Gurman notes, “this move makes sense for Apple, but it doesn’t yet translate into a noticeably better user experience”. It’s worth adding that the majority of buyers still choose the Wi-Fi version, so the new modem will remain unused by most purchasers. This is therefore not an argument that will change anyone's purchasing decision.
The true test will only come when the C1X modem arrives in the iPhone. It needs to work perfectly there – because every millisecond of connection, every switch between networks, every loss of signal matters. Only then will Qualcomm really feel the pressure.
For now – it’s just a quiet, but symbolic first shot in the long war for Apple’s full independence.
