Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon W5+ and Snapdragon W5 Platforms for Next-Generation Wearable Devices

Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon W5+ and Snapdragon W5 Platforms for Next-Generation Wearable Devices, Achieving a Comprehensive Leap Forward

— New Platform Brings Long-Lasting Battery Life, Premium User Experience, and Thin, Lightweight, Innovative Design to the Growing and Further Segmented Wearables Industry —

Key points:

• OPPO and Mobvoi announce the first smartwatches powered by the new platform; a total of 25 device designs powered by the new platform are in development for different market segments

• New platform uses 4nm process technology and is designed for next-generation wearable devices, bringing ultra-low power consumption, breakthrough performance and highly integrated packaging

• New platform hybrid architecture enhancements deliver 50% lower power, 2x performance, 2x features, and 30% smaller size than previous generation platform

• Reference designs created by Compal and Pegatron will help customers accelerate product development

San Diego, July 19, 2022 - Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today launched a new premium wearable platform - the first generation Snapdragon® W5+ Wearable Platform and Snapdragon W5 Wearable Platform. The new platform is designed to bring ultra-low power consumption and breakthrough performance to the next generation of connected wearable devices by providing long-lasting battery life, premium user experience and thin and innovative design. By adopting the new platform, manufacturers can achieve product scale and differentiation in the growing and further segmented wearable device market and accelerate product development.

With many new and enhanced features, the flagship Snapdragon W5+ wearable platform reduces power consumption by 50%, improves performance by 2x, increases features by 2x, and reduces size by 30% compared to the previous generation platform , which will enable wearable device manufacturers to create differentiated experiences that consumers expect. This platform designed specifically for wearable devices adopts a hybrid architecture, including a 4nm system-on-chip (SoC) and a 22nm highly integrated always-on (AON) coprocessor. It combines a series of platform innovations, including a new ultra-low-power Bluetooth® 5.3 architecture, as well as low-power islands for Wi-Fi, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and audio, and supports low-power states such as deep sleep and hibernation.

“The global wearables industry is growing at an unprecedented rate across a wide range of market segments, providing broad opportunities,” said Pankaj Kedia, senior director of product marketing and global head of smart wearables at Qualcomm Technologies. “The new Snapdragon W5+ and Snapdragon W5 Wear platforms represent a comprehensive leap forward, designed specifically for the next generation of wearables, meeting consumers’ most pressing needs by delivering ultra-low power, breakthrough performance and highly integrated packaging. In addition, we have added innovative low-power features such as deep sleep and hibernation states based on our proven hybrid architecture, allowing consumers to enjoy long-lasting battery life while still delivering a top-notch user experience.”

“Google and Qualcomm Technologies have a long history of working together to help partners create great user experiences, and we are excited to see the groundbreaking technologies Qualcomm Technologies is bringing to the wearables industry with the Snapdragon W5+ Platform,” said Bjorn Kilburn, general manager and senior director, Wear OS at Google. “With the Snapdragon W5+ Platform, we are excited about the potential for Wear OS smartwatches to deliver new levels of performance, functionality, and battery life.”

Pankaj Kedia added: "We are excited to collaborate with our customers and partners to expand the thriving wearables ecosystem. We are also pleased to announce that 25 device designs are under development for different market segments using these two new platforms. Over the past year, we have been working closely with our first customers such as OPPO and Mobvoi, and we are excited about their new products."

Li Kaixin, assistant vice president of OPPO and president of IoT Business Group, said: “The launch of the new Snapdragon W5 Wearable Platform has taken smart wearable technology to a new level. OPPO and Qualcomm Technologies have a long-term close collaboration, constantly creating possibilities for product innovation. The OPPO Watch 3 series will be released in August. As the first smartwatch equipped with the Snapdragon W5 Wearable Platform, it will be loved by users with its even better performance.”

“Over the past few years, Mobvoi has partnered with Qualcomm Technologies to launch a range of TicWatch smartwatches powered by the Snapdragon Wear Platform,” said Li Zhifei, CEO of Mobvoi. “Our team is excited about the differentiated features of the Snapdragon W5+ Wearable Platform and has been working closely with the Qualcomm Technologies team to bring these innovations to our next generation TicWatch flagship smartwatch. We look forward to launching our newest product this fall, which will also be the first smartwatch powered by the first generation Snapdragon W5+ Wearable Platform.”

Qualcomm Technologies also released two reference designs, one from Compal Computer and the other from Pegatron , showcasing new platform capabilities and collaboration with ecosystem partners to help customers accelerate product development.