A recent study commissioned by Qualcomm indicates that Android devices outperform Apple’s iPhone 16e in 5G connectivity. The report highlights that Apple’s custom C1 modem falls short in comparison to Qualcomm’s latest flagship modems.
Testing involved two Android phones equipped with Qualcomm modems, which consistently demonstrated superior performance, particularly as they distanced themselves from cell towers. The iPhone 16e, released earlier this year, is noteworthy as it features Apple’s first cellular modem.
However, the findings from the study suggest that this modem does not match up to its Qualcomm competitors. Conducted by Cellular Insights in various urban environments in New York City and connected to T-Mobile’s sub-6GHz network, the report evaluated performance in different proximity conditions to cell towers.
One of the tested Android devices is likely the Samsung Galaxy S25, which has the Snapdragon X80 modem and is priced at $799. The other test phone appears to be the Galaxy S24, featuring an older Snapdragon X75 modem and priced at $619.
In all scenarios tested, both Android phones exhibited significantly faster download speeds—averaging 34.3% to 35.2% quicker than the iPhone 16e—and substantially higher upload speeds, reportedly 81.4% to 91% faster. While the iPhone 16e performed reasonably well in optimal conditions, the advantage of Android devices widened in less favorable network situations.
The report attributes this discrepancy to the Qualcomm modems’ support for advanced aggregation features that the Apple C1 lacks. Despite Qualcomm’s commissioning of the study, the results align with the company’s status as the leader in cellular modem technologies for the past decade.
As Apple continues to develop its modem capabilities, it remains to be seen how future releases will narrow these performance gaps, especially given indications of new technologies planned for 2026 and beyond.
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