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Ookla’s Q4 2025 Speedtest results, as summarized by Macworld, describe Apple’s C1X modem in iPhone Air as broadly competitive with Qualcomm’s X80 in iPhone 17 Pro Max. The reported comparison is not a universal win: results vary by market, and the X80 performs better at the network edge. The account does not provide the full tables or methodology, so exact speeds and a single overall winner cannot be established from the available details.
Which phones and modems does the report compare?
Macworld’s March 24, 2026 coverage says Ookla analyzed Q4 2025 Speedtest data for three device-and-modem combinations:
| Phone | Modem | Role in the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Air | Apple C1X | The focus of the report |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | Qualcomm X80 | The Qualcomm comparison device |
| iPhone 16e | Apple C1 | The earlier Apple modem comparison |
The comparison is described in Macworld’s coverage of Ookla’s report. The primary Ookla report and its underlying tables were not available in the account, so the findings below should be read as Macworld’s summary of Ookla, not as independently verified measurements.
Is the iPhone Air’s C1X as fast as Qualcomm’s X80?
Macworld characterizes C1X as broadly approaching the X80 in overall performance, with differences among markets. That supports calling the C1X competitive in the reported comparison, but not claiming it ties or beats the X80 in every location or metric. No exact download-speed figures are provided in the accessible summary.
#1 Best Overall
- Universal Carrier Compatibility: This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.)
- Carrier Verification Required: Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility
- Simple Activation Process: When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service
- Package Contents: The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable
- Battery Health Guarantee: Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%
Weak-signal performance is a meaningful exception: the summary says the X80 retains an advantage at the 10th-percentile network edge. That result suggests a stronger showing for the Qualcomm-equipped phone among lower-performing test results, but the underlying definition and methodology are not available here. It does not establish how either modem will behave in every weak-signal situation.
Does C1X improve on Apple’s older C1 modem?
In Ookla’s reported comparison, iPhone Air with C1X shows improved network-edge performance over iPhone 16e with C1. That is evidence of progress in the specific Q4 2025 Speedtest results Macworld describes; it is not enough to quantify the improvement or conclude that C1X leads on every measure.
Rank #2
- Universal Carrier Compatibility: This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.)
- Carrier Verification Required: Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility
- Simple Activation Process: When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service
- Package Contents: The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable
- Battery Health Guarantee: Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%
Separately, Apple’s September 2025 iPhone Air announcement says C1X is “up to 2x faster than C1” and uses 30 percent less energy overall. These are Apple product claims, not Ookla test results. Apple also says C1X is faster than the modem in iPhone 16 Pro for the same cellular technologies. The claim and the Ookla comparison address different evidence: manufacturer specifications and real-world test results, respectively. See Apple’s iPhone Air announcement.
What the available results do—and do not—show
- Download performance: The secondary account describes C1X as broadly competitive with X80, but supplies no exact speed values.
- Latency: No latency result is stated in the available summary.
- Network edge: X80 is reported to have an advantage over C1X at the 10th percentile; C1X is reported to improve on C1 in this area.
- Market variation: The account notes exceptions by market but does not provide the country-by-country values.
- Method: Sample sizes, test exclusions, and full methodology are not established by the accessible account.
As a result, the report summary does not support a precise speed ranking, a latency verdict, or a claim that C1X will outperform X80 for a particular carrier or country.
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Rank #3
- Universal Carrier Compatibility: This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.)
- Carrier Verification Required: Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility
- Simple Activation Process: When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service
- Package Contents: The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable
- Battery Health Guarantee: Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%
Why your own 5G experience may differ
A modem is only one part of a cellular connection. Carrier network design, available spectrum, geography, signal strength, network congestion, and test conditions can all affect speed and responsiveness. A result aggregated from Speedtest users cannot predict an individual connection, and the missing market-level values make region-specific conclusions especially uncertain.
iPhone Air is eSIM-only. Apple says it supports eSIM across more than 500 carriers worldwide, but that does not mean service is available with every carrier in every country. Check Apple’s local carrier compatibility information and your carrier’s requirements before relying on an eSIM connection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
Rank #4
- Universal Carrier Compatibility: This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.)
- Carrier Verification Required: Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility before use
- Simple Activation Process: When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service
- Package Contents: The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable
- Battery Health Guarantee: Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
