Qualcomm has come up with the Snapdragon X35 which is the world's first 5G NR light RF Modem system for 5G devices. The new modem combines an optimized build with system improvements to expand the 5G ecosystem to more products such as premium wearables and IoT.
Qualcomm didn't share the exact dimensions, but it is believed to be smaller than some existing modems. It is also equipped with advanced RF-modem technology that aims to reduce power consumption, increase 5G coverage, lower latency and improve battery life. Snapdragon X35-powered devices are also potentially more cost-effective and provide longer battery life than devices with conventional mobile broadband.
Snapdragon X35 also supports dual-frequency GNSS (L1+L5) to offer accurate location positioning. This is ideal for premium wearable devices such as smartwatches. Next, the modem also supports Sub-6GHz, FDD and TDD networks without mmWave support to meet the needs of various markets.
Qualcomm is further targeting the agriculture, construction, mining, education, connected healthcare, smart city and AR/VR industries. Devices that can potentially be powered with this modem include connected laptops and PCs, smart sensors, smart cameras, routers, tablets and premium wearables.
According to Qualcomm, manufacturers will start testing devices with the chip starting in the first half of 2023. The device is then expected to be commercially marketed starting in the first half of 2024.