Qualcomm is planning to revolutionize wireless audio with its next Snapdragon Sound platform. The company aims to overcome the limitations of Bluetooth by incorporating Wi-Fi technology into its audio devices. This will provide greater freedom of movement and enable lossless music playback on a more regular basis. Qualcomm has announced the S7 and S7 Pro platforms, which will be included in future earbuds, headphones, and speakers manufactured by third-party companies. These platforms boast increased compute power, memory, AI capabilities, and more. The S7 and S7 Pro offer advanced active noise cancellation (ANC) that adapts to allow important outside sounds through when necessary. The new chips also enhance voice recognition to single out your voice from those around you.
However, the most exciting feature of the S7 Pro is its micro-power Wi-Fi support and Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology. This technology enables 192kHz lossless audio to be delivered over Wi-Fi without significantly draining the battery life of earbuds. The S7 Pro can achieve this while maintaining 10 hours of playback on a 50mAh hour cell, making lossless audio over Wi-Fi just as power-efficient as lossy audio over Bluetooth. Furthermore, the S7 Pro allows seamless handoff from a direct Bluetooth connection to Wi-Fi, enabling media playback to continue even when moving away from the phone. This extended operating distance will also apply to phone calls, ensuring a reliable connection even in congested areas.
To take advantage of these features, users will need a phone powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which will be available in devices next year. It will also take a few months before audio products containing the S7 or S7 Pro chips hit the market, so the practicality of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth integration remains to be seen.
One potential concern was whether users would need to enter Wi-Fi credentials during the pairing process. However, Qualcomm has addressed this issue by enabling the exchange of Wi-Fi credentials between devices during the conventional pairing process. Users will simply need to click on a prompt on their screen, and their earbuds will automatically know the Wi-Fi credentials for their network. This eliminates the need for manual Wi-Fi configuration and allows users to stay connected as long as there is Wi-Fi coverage in their home.
It’s worth noting that Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs, will not currently benefit from Snapdragon Sound’s Wi-Fi capabilities. Apple prefers to focus on its own ecosystem and is working on its own wireless, lossless audio solution with the Vision Pro headset and AirPods Pro earbuds. However, Qualcomm remains open to collaboration with Apple if they decide to join the Snapdragon Sound platform.
In conclusion, Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon Sound platform, particularly the S7 Pro, promises to redefine wireless audio by incorporating Wi-Fi technology alongside Bluetooth. This innovation will provide users with greater freedom of movement, longer wireless range, and the ability to enjoy lossless audio without sacrificing battery life. With partnerships already established with leading audio brands, Qualcomm’s S7 and S7 Pro platforms are set to reshape the wireless audio industry in the coming years.
