Katarzyna Petru
Why the new Apple modem "C1X" is a much bigger deal than just another performance bump?
Apple has done it again. It 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 much more interesting – the new, custom cellular modem C1X, which may be 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, "these are just modest improvements" compared to the M4 version. The M5 processor is obviously faster, but in everyday use, the difference is practically imperceptible.
The model with M4 was already powerful, so if you have the previous generation, you won't see a significant difference.
The most important change is not the processor but the C1X modem, which is Apple's proprietary solution replacing the previous Qualcomm chips. Additionally, there is a new N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support and faster support for external displays, but these are details that will interest rather a small percentage of users.
Why is this little chip such a big deal?
For the average user – not at all. For Apple – huge.
This “third component” that the company has just disposed of is the Qualcomm modem, and the relationship between these two giants has been… to put it mildly, toxic. Patent lawsuits, huge licensing fees – it's a long and tense history.
Apple has long hated relying on external suppliers for key components, especially those with which it has legal disputes. For years, it has invested billions of dollars in creating its own modem to become independent of Qualcomm, reduce costs, and better integrate hardware with software. Now we finally see the first result of this work – the C1X in the iPad Pro M5. This is not a big change for the user, but a colossal strategic step for Apple and the first phase toward complete control over every key component of the device.
Great news… but mainly for Apple
From a business perspective, this is a huge success. From a user perspective – basically nothing 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 most buyers are still choosing the Wi-Fi version, so the new modem will remain unused by most purchasers. Therefore, this is not an argument that will change anyone's buying decision.
The real test will come when the C1X modem makes its way into the iPhone. That’s where it needs to work perfectly – because every millisecond of connection, every switch between networks, and 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.
