A teardown of the new iPhone 18 Pro Max confirms Apple continues to use Qualcomm modems for U.S. models. The analysis identifies the Snapdragon X80 modem inside the device. This component is the same hardware used in the previous iPhone 17 Pro series.
The hardware choice signals ongoing technical hurdles for Apple’s multi-year effort to develop proprietary cellular chips. This partnership secures a critical revenue stream for Qualcomm from its largest customer.
Qualcomm shares fell nearly 6% in the previous trading session. Analysts attributed the decline to broader profit-taking following a recent stock rally.