Reasons for the Absence of mmWave 5G in the C1 Chip, According to Kuo

Apple has recently introduced its first modem chip, named the C1 chip. However, one thing that stands out is that the C1 chip does not support mmWave 5G, which is the faster version of 5G technology available. This has raised some eyebrows, but there may be specific reasons for this design choice.

The Development of the C1 Chip

The C1 chip was not created overnight; it took many years of hard work. Although Apple is well-known for its powerful Mac processors, designing a radio chip is much more complex than it seems. There are several reasons for this complexity:

Global Standards and Variations

First, mobile data standards differ across the world. A chip designed for global use must support all these varying standards. Second, even within one country, different mobile carriers often have their versions of the same standard. Therefore, Apple must ensure the chip can work with those variations.

Backward Compatibility

Finally, the C1 chip must also be backward compatible, meaning it should work with older technology. If the 5G network isn’t available, the chip needs to automatically switch to the previous 4G standard, for instance. This means the chip has to support every variation of every generation of technology across different countries.

As a result, the specifications for the modem chip are extensive. For reference, the modem supports:

• 5G NR (Numerous bands across countries)
• FDD-LTE (Various bands)
• TD-LTE (Different bands)
• UMTS/HSPA+ (Several frequencies)
• GSM/EDGE (Various frequencies)
• 5G (sub-6GHz) with advanced MIMO technology
• Gigabit LTE
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• NFC capabilities

Apple’s Decisions and Trade-offs

Apple had to make some tough choices with the C1 chip. According to preliminary reports, there were compromises to consider. The most notable ones were the omission of mmWave 5G support and the decision to stick with Wi-Fi 6 and not upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology.

Reasons Behind the Omission of mmWave 5G

One of the main benefits that Apple has highlighted regarding the C1 chip is its significantly lower power consumption compared to previous Qualcomm modem chips. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests this reduction in power usage is the reason Apple chose to leave out mmWave 5G support for now.

While adding mmWave support might not be difficult, ensuring stable performance while maintaining low power consumption is a significant challenge.

However, Kuo indicates that Apple is working on resolving these issues. They aim to introduce a refreshed version of the C1 chip that will support mmWave technology when it is ready for mass production next year.

The next version of the C1 chip is being developed to enhance power efficiency, transmission speed, and support for mmWave technology.

Featured Accessories

For those interested in accessories compatible with the new technology, Apple offers a range of options. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming products that can take advantage of the advancements in the C1 chip.

Image: Apple