5G Advanced-Ready Modem-RF Systems Announced by Qualcomm

Component supplier Qualcomm announced several 5G-ready modem RF systems:  Snapdragon 75, Snapdragon X72, and Snapdragon X35.  The announcement coincides with a new architecture and software suite and includes numerous features designed to push the boundaries of connectivity, including coverage, latency, power efficiency, and mobility. Snapdragon X75 technologies and innovations are designed to empower OEMs to create next generation experiences across segments including smartphones, mobile broadband, automotive, compute, industrial IoT, fixed wireless access, and 5G private networks.

Snapdragon X75 Modem-RF System features a dedicated hardware tensor accelerator, Qualcomm 5G AI Processor Gen 2, claimed to enable over 2.5 times better AI performance compared to Gen 1. and introduces Qualcomm 5G AI Suite Gen 2 with new AI-powered optimizations to achieve better speeds, coverage, mobility, link robustness, and location accuracy. The Qualcomm 5G AI Suite features advanced AI-based capabilities including sensor-assisted mmWave beam management and AI-enhanced GNSS Location Gen 2, which optimize Snapdragon X75 for superior 5G performance.

Powered by a new modem-to-antenna upgradeable architecture, Snapdragon X75 is purpose-built for scalability and includes key features such as:

• 10-carrier aggregation for mmWave, 5x downlink carrier aggregation and FDD uplink MIMO for sub-6 GHz bands, which allow for spectrum aggregation and capacity.
• Converged transceiver for mmWave and sub-6 paired with new Qualcomm QTM565 fifth generation mmWave antenna modules to reduce cost, board complexity, hardware footprint and power consumption.
• Qualcomm Advanced Modem-RF Software Suite further improves sustained performance, across user scenarios including elevators, subway trains, airports, parking garages, mobile gaming sessions, and more.
• AI-based sensor-assisted mmWave beam management for superior connectivity reliability and AI-based location accuracy enhancements.
• Qualcomm 5G PowerSave Gen 4 and Qualcomm RF Power Efficiency Suite for extended battery life.
• Qualcomm DSDA Gen 2 support enabling 5G/4G Dual Data on two SIM cards simultaneously.
• Qualcomm Smart Transmit Gen 4 to allow for fast, reliable, and long-range uploads –including support for Snapdragon Satellite.

In addition to the Snapdragon X75, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X72 5G Modem-RF System – a 5G modem-to-antenna solution optimized for mainstream adoption of mobile broadband applications, and the Snapdragon 35 modem supporting 5G NR-Light.

Snapdragon X75 is currently sampling, with commercial devices expected to launch by the second half of 2023.