A TechInsights teardown of a U.S. iPhone 18 Pro Max (model A3473) found a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, not Apple's new C2 chip. Apple lists C2 on the 18 Pro worldwide and on Pro Max units sold outside the United States, but the U.S. spec page quietly omits the modem line for the larger phone. The split is now confirmed hardware, not a rumor: same X80 generation that shipped in last year's 17 Pro lineup, while the 18 Pro and iPhone Duo run C2.