Qualcomm believes its latest X85 5G modem will set a "huge delta" between the performance of high-end Android devices and Apple

Qualcomm has announced the X85 modem, which is likely to power the 5G connection in the next wave of big phone releases.

Cristiano Amon, the CEO of Qualcomm, said that the company’s most recent modem will significantly outperform Apple, which has just begun experimenting with the technology. TakeAway Points: Qualcomm’s newest high-end modem,

During the Mobile World Congress 2025, Qualcomm unveiled its new X85 5G modem with an integrated 5G AI processor and called out Apple's C1.

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, speaking to CNBC in an interview, claimed that the X85 modem would create a 'huge delta' between its performance and Apple's C1 chip.

Its new X85 5G Modem-RF is not the first Qualcomm "modem-to-antenna solution" to include AI; it’s the fourth overall, succeeding the X80 introduced a year ago . But the San Diego firm says this year’s model—which it expects to appear in consumer devices in the second half of this year—does much more with its AI chip.

Qualcomm X85 extends 5G advanced leadership and differentiation for premium Android smartphones, as well as PCs, fixed wireless access and IoT.