Qualcomm unveils next-generation wearable chips, features smaller design, improved performance and more

Qualcomm has unveiled its latest generation of wearable platforms — Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1. The new wearable platforms are likely to power next generation smartwatches.
According to the company, the Snapdragon W5 series chipsets are designed to advance ultra-low power and breakthrough performance for next generation connected wearables with a focus on extended battery life, improved user experiences and sleek, innovative designs.
The company claims that OEMs can use these platforms to scale, differentiate and develop products faster.
Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ and W5: Features
The next generation wearable chipsets from Qualcomm is rated to deliver 50% reduced power consumption, twice the performance, better feature integration and around 30% smaller size compared to the previous generation W4 chip.
The new chips are based on the hybrid architecture based on 4nm-based system-on-chip and 22nm-based integrated always-on processor. The chips also come with ultra-low power Bluetooth 5.3 architecture, low power islands for Wi-Fi, GNSS, and Audio, and low power states such as Deep Sleep and Hibernate.
The company has also confirmed that they have collaborated with Oppo and Mobvoi and both brands will be among the first to integrate the new W5+ and W5 chips in their smartwatches.
Furthermore, the company has also announced two reference designs from Compal and Pagatron which showcase the capabilities of the platform and help companies to develop the product faster.