Qualcomm is poised to bring 5G capability to a new class of mobile devices with a new modem chip that bridges the gap between today's top smartphones and low-bandwidth devices like payment terminals and home accessories.
Announced today, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF system is the first system to adopt NR-Light, the new 5G standard for mid-range devices that don't require the power and performance of a 5G-capable smartphone or tablet. But you can still benefit from the lower latency and lower power consumption that 5G technology provides.
Filling the 5G Gap
NR-Lite, also known as "RedCap" (low power), is a new 5G platform completed last year to fill the gap between high-bandwidth 5G chips and radios designed to handle ultra-fast mm-wave and low-coupled speeds. to do Like Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 and very low bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
5G radios used in mobile phones consume a lot of power. Although they don't make much use of the 4G/LTE radios that came before them, the low-power LTE chip problem was solved more than six years ago - when the Samsung Gear S3 and Apple Watch 3 series hit the mainstream. Portable wearable devices.
That's about six years behind 4G/LTE smartphones, so it's slightly ahead of the game with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X35. However, like most of Qualcomm's new chips, it will take some time to find its way into consumer devices; The company said it doesn't expect the first of them to arrive until early next year.
Why do you need 5G in your smartwatch?
You might be asking yourself why a device like a smartwatch needs 5G. After all, even if you use an Apple Watch Ultra or Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, you won't be streaming video or downloading large files.
However, it's important to understand that 5G is about more than speed. Sure, the latest 5G chipset can push wireless speeds into the gigabit range, but few people need that kind of performance in a smartphone. It might be nice to see high numbers on speed tests, but that's not the most important thing about 5G.
Conversely, the higher bandwidth offered by 5G makes room for more devices to connect and stay connected, even in the most densely populated areas. This is a really great bonus for anyone attending a concert or football game, or trying to connect at a crowded airport. However, this will become more important as more devices begin to connect directly to public wireless networks rather than local Wi-Fi networks.
There's another performance metric that most people don't know about: latency. Flashing Mbps or Gbps numbers on a speed test may seem impressive, but it only indicates how fast data can flow to your device. That's great for downloading large files or streaming a video, but it's not as important as the dozens of little things we do with our devices every day. Things like checking social media, getting notifications, tracking workouts and navigating maps require a small amount of data exchange with 5G's low latency. This makes the experience smoother and faster when connected to a 5G network
5G is a big step towards the future of communication
There is a more important reason why every mobile device category will eventually rely on 5G, and it is the way forward for wireless technology. After all, 4G/LTE networks will be needed before sunset, and the more 5G is adopted, the sooner that will happen - and for very good reason.
It's not just about discontinuing old technologies. Existing 4G/LTE networks effectively prevent 5G from reaching its full potential. Most low-band 5G frequencies share radio waves with 4G/LTE signals, and 5G traffic must rely on older, less efficient LTE traffic. Fewer 4G/LTE devices mean better performance for 5G devices using these frequencies.
The Snapdragon X35 isn't just for smartwatches; While this may be one of the most popular applications in the short term, Qualcomm plans to get its chips into next-generation XR glasses, personal health monitors, point-of-sale terminals, security cameras and affordable industrial Internet devices. and connections.. complex computers .. and routers. In addition to standard 5G data transmission with a maximum speed of up to 220 Mbit/s, it supports voice over 5G and 4G and provides precise location for positioning devices on campuses and factories.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X35 manufacturers will start production this summer and the first commercial mobile devices with this chip will appear in the first half of 2024.
