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iPhone 18 Pro Max US Model Reportedly Misses Apple’s C2 Modem

iPhone 18 Pro Max US Model Reportedly Misses Apple’s C2 Modem

Apple has not explained why the US model uses different hardware.

Written by Sucharita Ganguly, Edited by Ketan Pratap | Updated: 14 September 2026 13:14 IST

iPhone 18 Pro Max US Model Reportedly Misses Apple’s C2 Modem

Photo Credit: Apple

iPhone 18 Pro Max uses the C2 worldwide except in the US

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Highlights

The US model reportedly switches to a Qualcomm modem
The Snapdragon X85 could power the US variant
Qualcomm agreed to supply Apple modems through 2026

Apple has updated its technical specifications for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, revealing a difference between the two models across markets. The change affects the iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the US, while the iPhone 18 Pro remains consistent globally. The update comes as Apple continues its shift towards in-house cellular modem technology. A recent report has now shed more light on the hardware used in the US model and what sets it apart from versions sold elsewhere.

US iPhone 18 Pro Max Could Use Qualcomm Modem

Nicolas Lellouche (@LelloucheNico) of the French technology website Numerama spotted the difference after Apple updated its technical specifications pages for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

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The updated information places the C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro across all markets. For the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple lists the C2 for every market except the US.

Here’s How Large the Battery Is in the iPhone 18 Pro Series

iOS 27 code also points to a Qualcomm modem in US versions of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to tipster @itspdfu. The exact modem remains unknown, but the Snapdragon X85 is the likely candidate.

Apple has not explained why the US iPhone 18 Pro Max uses Qualcomm hardware. The choice could be linked to Qualcomm's agreement to supply Apple with smartphone modems until 2026, which the chipmaker announced in 2023.

The Cupertino-based tech giant began developing its own modem technology with the C1 in the iPhone 16e, launched in February 2025, and followed it with the C1X in the iPhone Air in September 2025. The newer C2 adds mmWave 5G support in the US, which was absent from Apple's first two modem generations. Qualcomm has offered the technology in iPhones since the iPhone 12 series.

iPhone 18 Pro Series’ A20 Pro SoC Spotted on These Benchmarking Platforms

The company claims the C2 improves upload speeds while using 15 percent less energy than the C1X. The company's foldable iPhone Duo also uses the C2 modem worldwide.

iPhone 18 Pro Max

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.90-inch

Processor Apple A20 Pro

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB

OS iOS 27

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 18 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.30-inch

Processor Apple A20 Pro

Front Camera 18-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel + 48-megapixel

Storage 256GB

OS iOS 27

Resolution 1320x2868 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Apple, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18, Apple C2 modem, Qualcomm modem, Snapdragon X85, iPhone modem

Sucharita Ganguly

Email Sucharita Ganguly

Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More