Apple is reportedly transitioning to its own modems for the entire iPhone 18 lineup, moving away from Qualcomm’s technology. This shift is expected to bring significant enhancements in speed and efficiency, alongside a notable privacy feature.
Limit Precise Location Feature
In iOS 26.3, Apple introduced a setting called Limit Precise Location, designed to minimize the amount of location data shared with mobile networks. When activated, this feature restricts the granularity of location data, preventing carriers from pinpointing a user’s location down to a specific street address. Instead, they may only access information indicating the user’s general neighborhood.
Compatibility with Apple Modems
Currently, the Limit Precise Location feature is only available on devices equipped with Apple’s C1 or C1X modems, which include the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and M5 iPad Pro. In contrast, devices using Qualcomm modems, such as the iPhone 17 Pro models, do not support this privacy setting. With the iPhone 18 Pro and the anticipated iPhone Fold expected to adopt Apple modem technology, the privacy feature is likely to become standard across the new lineup.
Impact on User Experience
Importantly, limiting the precision of location data does not compromise signal quality or the overall user experience. Emergency services will still receive accurate location data during calls, ensuring that critical services remain unaffected. The primary goal of this feature is to enhance user privacy by limiting the information shared with cellular carriers.
Carrier Support and Adoption
While Apple plans to implement this feature across its upcoming devices, actual support from mobile carriers is essential for widespread adoption. Currently, only Boost Mobile in the United States has adopted this feature, while carriers in the UK, including EE, BT, and Sky, as well as several in Austria, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Thailand, have also implemented it. A comprehensive list of supported carriers can be found on Apple’s website.
Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to be developing the C2 modem, which is expected to offer enhanced capabilities compared to the C1 and C1X, including support for mmWave 5G, a feature not available in the earlier models.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
