Abstract created by Good Solutions AI
In abstract:
- Macworld experiences Ookla’s This autumn 2025 information exhibits the iPhone Air with Apple’s C1X modem reaching stunning market success and tier-1 efficiency.
- The C1X modem delivers almost gigabit speeds and improved latency, matching Qualcomm’s X80 efficiency in aggressive testing situations.
- iPhone Air exhibits double the take a look at samples versus iPhone 16 Plus, indicating robust shopper demand for the super-slim design regardless of greater pricing.
Mobile analysis and evaluation firm Ookla, house owners of the very talked-about Speedtest app and website, has issued a fascinating report gleaned from Speedtest consumer information within the fourth quarter of 2025.
There are two key takeaways: The iPhone Air is extra widespread than different premium “slim” cellphone variants and the iPhone “Plus” fashions it changed, and Apple’s C1X modem has made sufficient enhancements over the C1 to be a completely “tier 1” modem, providing an general equal various to Qualcomm’s X80 in most respects.
iPhone Air gross sales
Whereas Apple’s C1X debuted within the iPhone Air, it has since appeared in a number of iPads and now the iPhone 17e. Ookla’s information is from the 4th quarter of 2025 and focuses on smartphones, although. So all C1X outcomes on this report are solely iPhone Air outcomes.
Whereas Ookla doesn’t have gross sales information, it collects velocity outcomes and {hardware} identifiers from thousands and thousands of customers, so it’s typically true that the ratio of Speedtest outcomes kind of correlates with gross sales ratios.
It seems to be particularly widespread in sure markets exterior North America. A lot of the outcomes come from South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Then Italy, Spain, and the UAE. North American markets are additional down the checklist. However probably the most attention-grabbing chart is that this one, evaluating the iPhone 17 technology to the iPhone 16 technology.
It exhibits a rise in base iPhone 17 outcomes in comparison with iPhone 16 (as anticipated) and a discount in iPhone 17 Professional samples. However the iPhone Air has double the samples of the iPhone 16 Plus that it changed. Provided that it prices $100 extra, and no different phase noticed such a dramatic swing in take a look at samples, it’s protected to say that folks have been extra excited to pay for a super-slim cellphone than a barely bigger one. Though within the U.Okay. the iPhone Air has been discounted because it went on sale, at present £200 off at Amazon, which can properly clarify the curiosity within the handset.
Ookla notes that it far outsells different competing premium slim telephones. The Galaxy S25 Edge is behind, however aggressive, in South Korea solely. Elsewhere, it represents a tiny fraction of take a look at outcomes.
C1X makes large strides
Apple pitched the C1X modem as merely being “as much as twice as quick” because the C1, which debuted a few 12 months in the past within the iPhone 16e. That type of inexact and cherry-picking advertising and marketing promise is subsequent to ineffective, however Ookla’s big pattern of take a look at outcomes provides us a very good have a look at the enhancements. And they’re substantial.
Ookla primarily in contrast the chip to the usual Qualcomm X80, whereas noting that the extra superior X18 and the MediaTek X90 are giong to be widespread in Android flagship units this 12 months. It’s additionally value noting that the C1X doesn’t help mmWave frequencies (a characteristic which isn’t terribly essential globally, and could also be overrated in North America).
The iPhone Air (C1X) is now primarily equal in efficiency to the iPhone 17 Professional Max (Qualcomm X80). And that’s true underneath tough situations, nice situations, and common situations. The iPhone 16e (C1) lagged behind significantly. This information is from the U.S., however the story is similar in each market Ookla measures. Apple has caught up.
This subsequent chart is very illuminating. It exhibits the advance in latency (in milliseconds) for the iPhone Air vs the iPhone 16e (inexperienced) and the iPhone 17 Professional Max (blue).
The C1X modem has a considerable and constant benefit in latency in comparison with each the C1 and the Qualcomm X80. A few markets stand out as exceptions (notably South Korea and Taiwan), however it’s clear that Apple has made a giant leap in {hardware} and software program integration.
The Ookla report has another attention-grabbing findings, and is properly value a glance. For instance, efficiency on the “community edge” (the tenth percentile) has improved rather a lot. Qualcomm’s X80 nonetheless performs higher right here, however the C1X handles poor community situations rather a lot higher than the C1 did. The iPhone Air is ready to get virtually gigabit speeds in perfect situations, the place the C1 within the iPhone 16e appeared to hit a wall round 600Mbps in lots of markets. The higher ceiling for perfect community situations is rather a lot greater in most markets for the C1X.
Ookla’s information paints a rosy image for Apple’s mobile modems. The iPhone Air is a really difficult physique when it comes to thermal efficiency and antenna design, and the C1X has made large real-world strides in comparison with the C1. Assuming the C2 lands later this 12 months with mmWave help for the iPhone 18 Professional, it could possibly be a critical competitor to the Qualcomm X85, the present main 5G platform.
If Apple can sustain the tempo of innovation, you may have faith that selecting an Apple product doesn’t imply settling for a second-best mobile connection.
