The sixth-generation 5G modem from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X75, was just unveiled and is expected to advance smartphones and other connected devices into the next level of 5G technology.
The Snapdragon X75 is the upgrade to the Snapdragon X70 from the previous year. This year’s most potent 5G smartphones, like the OnePlus 11 and Samsung’s recently launched Galaxy S23 Ultra, are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and use the Snapdragon X75 as its modem. However, Qualcomm has included support for next-generation 5G Advanced technology, along with an entirely new architecture and potent AI features, which will enable mobile devices to access better coverage and achieve even faster speeds. As a result, it’s more than just an evolution of that earlier modem system.
5G grows up big-time
Although current 5G technology has advanced significantly over the previous several years, it is still far from a fixed platform. In truth, 5G has been developing, and we are currently in its third phase. 5G is actually the 17th major iteration of the 3GPP cellular communication standards, which date back more than 30 years to the initial release of basic GSM.
The first four 5G releases, which took place between 2017 and 2021, created the framework for 5G technology. These standards helped 5G develop into the established and reliable platform it is today. With the introduction of 5G Advanced, also known as 3GPP Release 18, the basis for 5G has been set, and it is now time for it to alter society. This is the fourth and largest phase of 5G, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 plays a key role in it.
There is considerably more to the new modem chip than just sheer performance, even if it will provide the typical advantages that come with newer and faster technology. In order to achieve even faster multi-gigabit speeds, Qualcomm is making use of a variety of new features that make up the new 5G Advanced standard. These features include improved carrier aggregation and better mauve connectivity, which will reduce frequency hopping and offer more stable and reliable connections while also reducing interference. As a result, speeds will increase as devices can more reliably stay on the same channels. Additionally, the X75 will be able to send out two simultaneous signals as opposed to just one, which could result in even better uplink rates.
Moreover, the Snapdragon X75 is the first modem platform to provide a dedicated hardware tensor accelerator. As comparison to the first-generation chip utilized in the X70 from last year, Qualcomm’s 5G AI Processor Gen 2 claims 2.5 times higher AI performance. This translates to even more intelligent frequency selection for the best connection.
This should also offer better-sustained performance for customers moving around in more complicated locations where maintaining 5G connectivity has previously been difficult, such as in elevators, subway trains, airports, and parking garages, when combined with Qualcomm’s new software package. Moreover, there is support for simultaneous 5G and 4G Dual Data activation on two SIM cards, as well as other advancements in power efficiency for better battery life and longer run durations.
Naturally, Snapdragon Satellite is supported. Although the Snapdragon X70 used in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 does technically support that as well, Qualcomm has already warned us not to expect to see it until the second half of this year, which is also around the time the Snapdragon X75 is expected to start showing up in next-generation smartphones.
It’s not just for smartphones
The Snapdragon X75 is much more than just a smartphone processor. It’s the next major effort to make 5G connectivity widely available. It serves as the basis for Qualcomm’s Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 3, which delivers multi-gigabit internet rates to all of your home devices over 5G with latency that is comparable to that of conventional fiber connections using mauve, Sub-6GHz, tri-band Wi-Fi 7, and 10Gb Ethernet.
Also, a new generation of private 5G networks for resorts, shopping centers, factories, linked automobiles, and other locations are anticipated to be powered by it. Along with the Snapdragon X35, which was unveiled earlier this month, Qualcomm’s newest CPUs are paving the way for a totally wired future.
A big step on the road to 6G
Similar to the LTE Advanced of the previous generation, 5G Advanced is the first significant step towards 6G technology. While 5G Advanced is not at all the same as 6G, it does pave the way by giving operators an early start on adopting the more sophisticated technologies that will make up the 6G standard. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and network operators are already making plans for this next big leap.
In fact, the very next significant standards update, 3GPP Release 19, which is anticipated to debut early next year along with the next stage of 5G Advanced, will include the 6G specifications. 3GPP is the organization that oversees all of the cellular standards that evolved out of GSM. Release 20 will kick off a 6G research in 2025–2026, and by 2028, the foundational 6G standard should be drafted and prepared to roll out. These standards will be based on the 5G Advanced technology that Qualcomm’s X75 uses today. Qualcomm will undoubtedly continue to be at the forefront of the development of even more immersive wireless communication technologies.
