Qualcomm SD4-series lowers the entry price bar for 5G

Qualcomm

Qualcomm has made two significant announcements at virtual IFA Berlin. A low-cost Snapdragon 4-series 5G chip and the addition of noise-cancelling circuitry to its True Wireless chipset range.

Qualcomm now has the SD865/+, SD855+, SD765/768G, SD690, 8cx Compute and various chips for automotive use. It also has the X50, X52 and X55 modems and complementary RF Antenna systems.

Here is what we know

Qualcomm scales 5G down to the Snapdragon 4-series

Qualcomm will be accelerating 5G global commercialisation at scale by expanding its portfolio of 5G mobile platforms to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4-series in early 2021.

The SD4xx series are in entry level phones costing under A$300. The addition of 5G should mean that we see it in phones under $500.

You can read more here

Qualcomm’s Breakthrough Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling Technology for True Wireless Earbuds

Qualcomm’s new Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a new technology designed to deliver an improved user experience for earbuds with integrated ANC.

Qualcomm Adaptive ANC is designed to enhance user comfort and provide consistent sound quality for True Wireless earbuds. It adapts performance to meet variations in how an earbud fits in a user’s ear and adapts in real-time to changes in fit as the earbuds are in use.

You can read more here

GadgetGuy’s take – When 5G costs no more than 4G it will gain traction here

Don’t for a moment think that 5G has replaced 4G – quite the contrary. There still is a couple of hundred dollars difference – although it may be less with the SD4-series.

And in Australia, there is no real imperative to go 5G as the network coverage is still so patchy, and there are no killer apps that demand it. Start seriously looking in 2023.

It is good to see Qualcomm bringing its ANC technology to the True Wireless Chip range. I have heard good things about it and to see it on-chip will reduce the space needed inside already minuscule buds.

You can read other recent Qualcomm news here.