Methods and apparatus for controlling power in a polar modulation transmitter. An exemplary polar modulation transmitter includes a radio frequency power amplifier (RF PA), a phase path having circuitry operable to generate a constant amplitude phase modulated signal, and an amplitude path including an envelope modulator circuit having first and second envelope modulation paths. The RF phase modulated signal is applied to an RF input of the RF PA, while an envelope modulated power supply signal generated by a selected one of the first and second envelope modulation paths is coupled to a power supply input of the RF PA. The second envelope modulation path is selected during times when the power required by the RF PA is below some predetermined power level. During times when the RF PA requires power above the predetermined power level, the first envelope modulation path is selected.