First lab tests show new Apple modem in iPhone 16e is comparable to iPhone 16 speeds, but much more efficient,
The first tests of the iPhone 16e’s cellular performance show promising results. Using a special fake cell tower broadcasting inside their lab, the Chinese review site Geekerwan carried out various 5G tests on the iPhone 16e. In general, they found the iPhone 16e behaved similarly to the iPhone 16 when it came to cellular connectivity, with comparable speeds and reliability. Meanwhile, Apple’s claims of efficiency also seem to ring true, with Geekerwan measuring significantly less power draw for the C1 modem compared to the Qualcomm modem in the iPhone 16 …
In this instance, there is no news, and Geekerwan's tests mostly support that conclusion. Except for the fact that the 16e does not have mmWave, the cellular performance of the iPhone 16e was the same as that of the iPhone 16. As well as testing reception in the lab environment, they also took the phones out on a subway train journey. While speeds fluctuated, all iPhone 16 models were in the same ballpark in terms of number of dropouts and average connectivity strength.
The difference in efficiency was evident in the measured wattage power draw, as the graph below demonstrates. According to these observed numbers, Apple's claim that the C1 modem is up to 25% more energy efficient is largely accurate. The average power draw of the iPhone 16 on 5G was 0.88 watts, compared to just 0.67 watts for the iPhone 16e in conditions of high signal strength—a difference of about 24%. In the low signal test, average power draw was 0.81 watts and 0.67 watts respectively, a difference of about 17%.
In terms of real world battery life, the iPhone 16e achieved 7 hours and 53 minutes in their 5G video streaming test, compared with just 7 hours for the iPhone 16 and 6 hours 54 minutes for the iPhone 16 Pro. This indicates that the iPhone 16e ran for approximately an additional hour than the iPhone 16 models of the same form factor. With larger internal batteries, the larger Plus and Pro Max last about eight and a half hours. However, it is difficult to determine how much of the iPhone 16e's improvement in battery life is due to the modem's increased efficiency or simply the 16e's larger internal battery. That’s because the 16e has a 3961mAH battery packed inside its enclosure, which is about 12% bigger than the iPhone 16 Pro battery. So, it seems Apple achieved the iPhone 16e longevity through a combination of the C1 modem and the bigger battery cell.
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