Rumors suggest that Apple is planning to expand its in-house designed modems across the entire iPhone 18 lineup, ending support for Qualcomm modems. This transition will bring improvements in speed and efficiency, along with a lesser-known privacy benefit.
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In iOS 26.3, Apple added a Restrict Precise Location setting that reduces the amount of location data available over cellular networks, improving user privacy.
Mobile networks determine your location using information from the cell towers your device is connected to, but with Precise Location Restriction turned on, some of the data normally provided by mobile networks is limited. Instead of seeing location down to the street address, carriers may limit it to the neighborhood where your device is located.
The problem is that this feature is currently only available on devices with an Apple-designed modem, such as the C1 or C1X, which includes the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e , and M5 iPad Pro. Devices with Qualcomm modems, such as the iPhone 17 Pro models, do not have the Precise Location Restriction setting.
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With the iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Fold expected to use Apple modem technology, this is likely a privacy option that is set to expand across the entire iPhone lineup.
Reducing location accuracy does not affect signal quality or user experience, nor does it affect the accuracy of location data provided to emergency responders during an emergency call. It is only intended to limit the location data provided to mobile carriers and is distinct from location data shared with apps through Location Services.
While Apple's next set of iPhones will likely have the new privacy feature, carriers will have to implement support. So far, there are a limited number of carriers that have added the feature, but if it expands to the entire iPhone lineup and there's customer demand, it could see wider adoption.
In the United States, only Boost Mobile supports restricting precise location data, but EE, BT , and Sky support it in the United Kingdom. Providers in Austria, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Thailand have also adopted support, with a list available on Apple's website.
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The C2 modem that Apple is rumored to be working on is more capable than the C1 or C1X and will offer similar performance to Qualcomm's newer modems. It is expected to support mmWave 5G, which is not a feature of the C1 or C1X.
