Apple Says iPhone 18 Pro Max Sold in U.S. Differs in One Way

Key Points:

• Apple has updated its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max tech specs, revealing that the iPhone 18 Pro uses the new C2 cellular modem globally, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the C2 modem everywhere except in the U.S.
• In the U.S., the iPhone 18 Pro Max is equipped with a Qualcomm modem, likely the Snapdragon X85, as confirmed by iOS 27 code analysis, though Apple has not explained this regional difference.
• The C2 modem supports ultra-fast mmWave 5G in the U.S. and offers faster uploads with 15% less energy consumption compared to its predecessor, marking Apple's ongoing transition away from Qualcomm modems.
• Apple's first-generation C1 modem was introduced in early 2025, followed by the C1X later that year, and now the third-generation C2 modem is featured in most iPhone 18 Pro models except the U.S. iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• Apple's foldable iPhone Duo uses the C2 modem worldwide, and upcoming real-world tests are expected to compare the performance of the C2 and Qualcomm Snapdragon X85 modems.