Login to Continue Learning
Apple made a significant announcement earlier this year when it entered the 5G modem race by unveiling the C1 found in the iPhone 16e. Now, with the launch of the iPhone 17, Apple has introduced its N1, a custom wireless networking chip that is integrated into the entire iPhone 17 lineup, replacing third-party solutions from companies like Broadcom. This in-house chip handles all local wireless networking capabilities in an iPhone and ensures support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Thread.
The arrival of Apple’s N1 will lead to faster innovation and efficiency improvements for the entire iPhone 17 family
During the announcements, Apple highlighted that the N1 improved AirDrop and hotspot performance, ensuring faster and more reliable peer-to-peer transfers. Although the manufacturing process of the chip remains undisclosed, our guess is that TSMC’s 4nm ‘N4P’ node was used to make it 30 percent more power efficient than third-party solutions from Broadcom, making it an ideal choice for ultra-slim flagships like the iPhone Air.
With support for Wi-Fi 7, all iPhone 17 models can connect to a 320MHz channel, which theoretically provides twice the speed of Wi-Fi 6 and reaches up to 46Gbps. Wi-Fi 7 also supports MLO (Multi-Link Operation), allowing devices to use multiple bands such as 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz for more stable connections and faster performance. Connecting to Wi-Fi 7 access points will reduce latency.
For Bluetooth 6.0, all iPhone 17 models can experience sub-20ms latency when connecting to devices like AirPods, ensuring a lag-free audio experience. This update also brings increased range, lower power consumption, and improved security. Additionally, the N1 chip supports Thread Protocol, enabling seamless smart home integration for HomeKit-compatible accessories with better responsiveness and reliability.
For future iPhone Air owners, the integration of the C1X 5G modem and N1 will provide Apple with tighter control over hardware and software synergy. This means optimizing performance and power savings based on data usage will become an effortless process. We will bring useful battery life data for our readers once the first results are available.
