Apple's iPhone 16e marks the end of an era, but the C1 modem signals the beginning of Apple untangling itself from Qualcomm.

Apple's new C1 modem in the iPhone 16e is just the "start," according to the company's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji. "C1

For example, in a congested network area, the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e can instruct the C1 modem to dynamically manage traffic, prioritizing your needs in real-time. If you’re trying to send a photo or video to someone, for instance, the A18 will tell the C1 to prioritize that network traffic over other data tasks.

There’s a lot to like about Apple’s newest $599 iPhone 16e, but one of the more interesting features in the device is the Apple-designed 5G modem. Apple has spent at least seven years developing the chip,

There's been a lot of fear in the last few days that Apple left off MagSafe off the iPhone 16e because it somehow interfered with Apple's C1 cellular modem, but physics precluded that from the start.

As people continue to speculate as to why Apple declined to include MagSafe on the iPhone 16e, Apple denies the C1 modem is responsible.

Apple has priced the iPhone 16e at $599, which is far more than the relatively affordable iPhone SE at $429. This puts the iPhone 16e in league with entry-level Android flagships such as the $649.99 Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and the $499 Google Pixel 8a.

It's not September but Apple has launched a new iPhone dubbed the iPhone 16e. Here's why it's crucial to the future of the iPhone.

If it winds up lasting as long on a charge as promised, the iPhone 16e could set a new standard for all mid-range phones in terms of endurance — including Android phones. Its real test, however, would be to beat the the 18 hours and 49 minutes clocked in by the OnePlus 13R.