Qualcomm’s first 5G NR-Light modem-RF system can fuel a new wave of 5G devices
The Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System is the world’s first 5G NR-Light modem-RF system, claimed Qualcomm.
A new class of 5G, NR-Light devices, powered by Snapdragon X35, can be smaller, more cost-efficient and provide longer battery life than traditional mobile broadband devices, according to Qualcomm.
Snapdragon X35 offers a device platform that bridges the complexity and capability gap between the extremes in 5G and addresses the need for mid-tier use cases. This lower cost option provides device makers with a long-term migration path to replace LTE CAT4+ devices, ultimately increasing 5G adoption and allowing for faster transition to a unified 5G network.
Qualcomm Technologies also announced the Snapdragon X32 5G Modem-RF System, a modem-to-antenna solution built to lower complexity and fuel cost-efficient NR-Light devices.
Key innovations in the Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System include the world’s first 5G NR-Light modem-RF with a new streamlined architecture. Snapdragon X35 is a 3GPP Release 17 RedCap modem with optimised RFIC and PMIC modules. It, offers OEMs new 5G capabilities to create next-generation devices for a new era of use cases. The flexible, streamlined architecture and modem-RF integration deliver power and thermal efficiency while enabling a small form factor design tailored to fit in compact devices. Snapdragon X35 brings the mix of capabilities in data rates, power consumption, complexity and reduced footprint needed to cost-effectively enable new use cases such as entry-level industrial IoT devices, mass tier fixed wireless access consumer premise equipment, mass tier connected PCs, and first generation 5G consumer IoT devices such as direct-to-cloud glasses and premium wearables.
With support for both LTE and 5G NR-Light, Snapdragon X35 is backwards compatible and future-proof, enabling OEMs to develop devices that can coexist with a wide range of 4G and 5G device classes. Snapdragon X35 is equipped with modem-RF technologies aimed to reduce power consumption, enhance 5G coverage, lower latency, increase battery life and improve uplink speeds.
In addition, Snapdragon X35 supports dual-frequency GNSS (L1+L5) to offer precise positioning suited to enable new industrial use cases and applications. With its global RF-band support, Snapdragon X35 supports all spectrum bands within sub-6GHz, FDD, and TDD.
