Apples newest iPhone comes with a key component many years in the making: the C1 modem. The idea of a new modem may not sound very exciting on the surface, but already with this first version its become clear why Apple spent so long developing it. There are cost benefits to ditching Qualcomm, but also user-facing improvements. Here are two killer features Apples new C1 enables.#1: Battery life gainsWho among us wouldnt appreciate a little more battery life with our devices? Even though I feel like the iPhone 16 Pro has finally hit my battery sweet spot, a little more juice never hurts.Apple didnt go too hard promoting the C1 in its iPhone 16e presentation, but heres what it did highlight:C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most power-efficient modem ever on an iPhone, delivering fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity. Apple silicon including C1 the all-new internal design, and the advanced power management of iOS 18 all contribute to extraordinary battery life.If you spend much time away from Wi-Fi and using 5G, you know how cellular data can put a significant strain on your iPhones battery. But C1s improved power efficiency goes a long way to solve that problem.In fact, C1 enables the iPhone 16e to handily beat the more expensive iPhone 16 in battery life, with nearly 20% better performance.The C1 will also enable this falls iPhone 17 Air to go ultra-thin while still offering sufficient battery lifesolving my biggest worry about the new model.It wont be long before C-class modems make their way into more Apple devices, enabling some mix of better battery life and thinner form factors with each product.#2: More responsive data in tough spotsAnother big advantage with the C1 is that it can be integrated with iOS in a way Qualcomms modem never could. This enables it to understand what youre doing on the device at any given time, and prioritize data use that matters most.Heres Apples explanation to Reuters:One of the ways Apple hopes the C1 will set its iPhones apart is by tightly integrating it with its processor chips. For example, if an iPhone encounters congested data networks, the phones processor can signal to the modem which traffic is the most time sensitive and put it ahead of other data transfers, making the phone feel more responsive to the users needs, said Arun Mathias, vice president for wireless software at Apple.When youre facing network congestion, Qualcomms modem has no idea which data requests are most important. Often that creates a frustrating user experience. But Apples C1 will be able to offer more responsive and intelligent data use to meet your exact needs.Apples modem features: C1 is just the startThese two improvements alone get me very excited for the future potential of C1 across Apples full product lineup. But theyre also just the start. Apple is reportedly planning a C2 chip for next year and C3 for 2027 that will offer even more functionality. And I must say, Ive never been more excited for new cellular modems than I am for Apples C-class lineup.What do you think of Apples C1 features? What improvements do you hope come in the future? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel