From CNET: 5G networks have delivered fast speeds and bandwidth to smartphones for years, but not to wearables. That's expected to change next year as a new Qualcomm modem will make it possible to hook your smartwatch or other wearables up to next-gen 5G mobile networks.
Qualcomm on Wednesday revealed its Snapdragon X35 modem chipset, which will connect handheld devices to 5G networks, replacing older modems that linked gadgets to slower 4G LTE. Devices will have as fast or faster connection speeds while consuming less power, which will help designers connect devices -- from wearables to mixed reality glasses -- to 5G.
Qualcomm didn't confirm any products that will use the X35 but said the first set of devices to use it will arrive in the first half of 2024. Some of these may be consumer products like smartwatches while others could be commercial use like in high-end medical wearables or industrial sensors. The X35 could even end up in lower-end laptops like Chromebooks to connect to 5G networks.
"These applications require extremely small form factors, very high power efficiency and simplicity of design so that [device manufacturers] can actually tailor the product in these form factors," Qualcomm senior director of engineering Guatam Sheoran said in a briefing.
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