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Qualcomm has long been synonymous with system-on-chip (SoC) leadership, particularly in the smartphone sector. From the early Snapdragon mobile processors that defined the Android flagship experience to the AI-driven, 5G-capable platforms of today, the company has consistently balanced performance, power efficiency, and connectivity in ways that shape entire product categories.
The latest announcement of the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 platforms signals Qualcomm’s determination to bring that same formula to wearables — a segment still struggling to reach the mass market beyond a few high-profile successes like the Apple Watch.
This launch marks more than just a generational upgrade. It’s an effort to address some of the foundational barriers that have kept wearables from reaching their full potential.
John Kehrli, Qualcomm’s Senior Director of Product Management for wearables, framed the move as the culmination of years of incremental learning. “With W5+ Gen 2, we’re taking what we’ve mastered in smartphones — integrating performance, efficiency, and connectivity into one seamless platform — and bringing it to a category that’s still searching for its defining moment,” he said.
Qualcomm SoC Expertise Targets Wearables
Qualcomm’s DNA is rooted in complex SoC integration. The company’s engineers understand that the magic of a great device is not in maxing out any single component, but in orchestrating CPU, GPU, connectivity, AI, and power management into a tightly optimized whole. That’s what W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 aim to deliver.
Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 wearable platforms with NB-NTN satellite, machine learning GPS, and RF front end.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 introduce NB-NTN satellite connectivity, machine learning GPS accuracy, and an optimized RF front end for next-generation wearables. (Image Credit: Qualcomm)
The chips are built on a 4nm process, offering higher performance per watt and enabling OEMs to shrink form factors without sacrificing capability. The addition of Location Machine Learning 3.0 improves GPS accuracy by up to 50% in dense urban environments — a critical feature for runners, cyclists, and anyone using a smartwatch in cities or rugged terrain.
The optimized RF front end contributes to an approximately 20% smaller footprint and lower power consumption, giving manufacturers more flexibility in design.
The headline feature, however, is NB-NTN satellite support — a first for the wearable industry. This technology, powered by Qualcomm’s partnership with Skylo, allows for two-way emergency messaging without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
https://www.technewsworld.com/story
Daniel O.
Thanks for this insight.