The newly launched iPhone 18 Pro series by Apple exhibits notable hardware disparities. Based on Apple's updated product technical specifications, the iPhone 18 Pro Max available in the US market diverges from its counterparts in other regions concerning baseband chip setup. Specifically, the US model incorporates Qualcomm's baseband chip, whereas models in other areas are outfitted with Apple's proprietary C2 baseband. This indicates that the same flagship smartphone employs two distinct communication solutions across various regions. Apple has yet to provide a public explanation for this variance. However, according to some analyses, it could be linked to the agreement inked by Apple and Qualcomm in 2023. Per this agreement, Qualcomm is mandated to supply modem chips to Apple until 2026. Some speculate that Apple's decision to utilize Qualcomm's baseband in the US version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max might be to meet the minimum supply obligations stipulated in the agreement.