A recent TechInsights teardown confirms that the iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the United States continues to use a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, even as Apple advances its own cellular modem development. The finding aligns with earlier speculation and contrasts with Apple's public statements about its C2 modem rollout. While Apple lists the C2 as the cellular component for the iPhone 18 Pro in its technical specifications, the company has not specified the modem used in the U.S. variant of the Pro Max model. The teardown shows the U.S. version employs the same Snapdragon X80 chip found in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, marking the second consecutive generation where Apple's top-tier U.S. model relies on Qualcomm hardware. Apple's C2 modem, which supports mmWave 5G and includes AI-driven optimizations for cellular performance, is deployed in all other iPhone 18 Pro variants, including the standard Pro model and select regional versions. The company notes the C2 delivers faster uploads than its predecessor C1X while using 15 percent less power, though it has not explained the exception for the U.S. Pro Max. Industry analysts suggest contractual obligations may be delaying Apple's full transition from Qualcomm, though no official timeline has been provided. The shift to in-house modems has progressed unevenly across models, with earlier generations using Qualcomm's X71 in the iPhone 16 series and Apple's C1 in the iPhone 16e. The C2's mmWave support represents a technical milestone, but its deployment remains limited to non-U.S. Pro Max units and newer budget-oriented models like the iPhone 17e. Apple has not indicated plans to discontinue Qualcomm components beyond current contractual terms.