Key Takeaways
1. Qualcomm has launched two new SoCs for smartwatches: Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2, replacing the W5 Gen 1.
2. Key specifications remain similar, featuring four Arm Cortex-A53 CPU cores and an Adreno 702 GPU, with the W5+ model including a low-power co-processor.
3. Both SoCs introduce satellite connectivity via Skylo’s NB-NTN, allowing text sending at 2 kbps but lacking GPS support.
4. Additional connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and a new U55 AI chip for improved GPS accuracy.
5. The Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 will debut with Google’s Pixel Watch 4, offering two years of free satellite services to users.
Qualcomm has introduced two new SoCs designed for smartwatches: the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and the W5 Gen 2. These new chips take over from the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 that was released in 2023. Sadly, there isn’t much of an upgrade in specs, except for the addition of satellite connectivity, which is a first for smartwatches powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear.
Specifications Overview
To start with, both the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and the W5+ Gen 2 are still equipped with four Arm Cortex-A53 CPU cores, an Adreno 702 GPU, and LPDDR4-2133 memory. However, the W5+ model includes a Qualcomm QCC5100 co-processor (which has 1 Cortex M5 core and a 2.5D iGPU) that helps the smartwatch operate in a low-power mode.
Connectivity Features
The Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and the W5+ Gen 2 support Skylo’s NB-NTN (Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network) satellite connectivity. This feature allows users to send texts at a speed of 2 kbps, but strangely, it doesn’t support GPS coordinates. Other features consist of Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and a newly introduced U55 AI chip that enhances GPS accuracy.
Launch Details
The Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 is set to launch with Google’s Pixel Watch 4. A closer look at the details shows that owners of the Pixel Watch 4 will enjoy free satellite services for two years, after which they might need to subscribe to continue using the feature.
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