Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max has an unexpected hardware difference in the United States, with the U.S. version of the device not using Apple’s new C2 cellular modem.
Apple’s updated technical specifications show that iPhone 18 Pro Max models sold outside the United States use the Apple-designed C2 modem, while U.S. models use a different cellular modem. The smaller iPhone 18 Pro uses the C2 worldwide.
The distinction means customers buying Apple’s largest Pro iPhone in the U.S. are getting a different cellular configuration from customers purchasing the same model elsewhere, despite the devices otherwise sharing the same headline specifications.
The C2 is Apple’s latest in-house cellular modem and marks another step in the company’s effort to reduce its reliance on third-party modem suppliers. The iPhone 18 Pro lineup was unveiled earlier this week alongside the iPhone Duo and Apple’s latest Apple Watch and AirPods models.
Interestingly, the difference only applies to the Pro Max. Apple’s technical specifications indicate that every iPhone 18 Pro model uses the C2, including devices sold in the United States.
Apple hasn’t publicly explained why the U.S. iPhone 18 Pro Max uses different modem hardware. Regional iPhone variations aren’t unusual, however. Apple already sells different configurations depending on market requirements, including eSIM-only models in some countries and models with physical SIM support elsewhere.
The modem difference is unlikely to change the core iPhone 18 Pro Max experience for most buyers, but it is a notable distinction for a device Apple otherwise markets under the same name globally.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max feature the A20 Pro chip, a new variable-aperture 48MP Fusion Main camera, improved thermal performance and significantly longer battery life. The Apple Post has also detailed several smaller iPhone 18 Pro changes Apple didn’t focus on during its announcement.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning Friday, September 18.