On August 21, Qualcomm announced two new chipsets for the wearable device, the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 2.
These are the first platforms in the smartwatch and wearables segment capable of connecting to satellites, opening an important step forward in the field of safety and emergency communication.
The most prominent feature of the new generation of chips is Skylo's ability to take advantage of narrowband IoT on Non-Terrestrial Networks to provide two-way satellite connections.
Thanks to that, users in remote areas without mobile waves can send SOS signals directly from their watch or wearable device.
This is a particularly useful feature for explorers, outdoor athletes or those who regularly travel far from home.
In terms of performance, the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 is built on the SoC 4nm architecture, integrating energy-saving processing contract and 3.0 machine learning technology, allowing GPS to be 50% more accurate than the previous generation.
RFFE parts are also optimized, helping to reduce about 20% of the size and power consumption, thereby prolonging battery life and creating conditions for manufacturers to produce thinner and lighter wearable equipment.
Notably, Google Pixel Watch 4 will be the first product equipped with this new chip. According to Mr. Sandeep Waraich, Senior Product Management Director at Google Wearables, the next-generation smartwatch will be more powerful, more battery-efficient and especially capable of emergency satellite communication, a feature that is considered a leap forward in personal safety.
Mr. tarun Gupta, representative of Skylo, said that integrating satellite connectivity into wearables will change the way people and businesses use this technology, because it is not only useful but also optimized to prevent rapid battery drainage.
The Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and W5+ Gen 2 are also optimized for the latest Wear OS, providing a more cross-device and seamless integration experience.
With these improvements, Qualcomm expects to reshape the wearables market, where safety and long battery life are increasingly a top priority.
