Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 announced - Company's second generation 5G modem

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 was announced today as the company's second-generation 5G modem. The announcement comes even before devices with the first generation Snapdragon X50 are commercially available, indicating that Qualcomm is working hard to push its tech even further.

The new chip is still months away from production, and according to Qualcomm manufacturer are just beginning to sample the product. The first smartphones running the Snapdragon X55 can be expected in late 2019.

SPEED

With the Snapdragon X50, Qualcomm was able to achieve around 4.5Gbps of peak download speeds. With the Snapdragon X55, the company has managed to push that further, achieving maximum speeds of about 7 Gbps. It is important to keep in mind that real-world use will depend on how much 5G networks will be capable of offering, but it does show the potential of growth for these networks.

Just like its predecessor, the X55 also supports 4G and even 3G connectivity, bringing improvements to both standards as well. For 4G LTE, the X55 will support Category 22 LTE that can reach download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps. The new modem will also support dynamic spectrum sharing between 4G and 5G bands. This will help both network providers when deploying the new technology and users to have a more seamless user experience. For the time being, both networks will have to work together to provide a stable connection in all conditions.

The Snapdragon X55 is meant for more than just smartphones. You can expect support for all kinds of devices, including wireless routers, laptops, tablets, and VR headsets.

SETUP

Qualcomm is also launching a new 5G mmWave antenna module and more advanced modem-to-antenna solutions alongside the Snapdragon X55. They will complement the capabilities of the new modem but also improve power efficiency and design constraints. You can expect improved battery life and sleeker designs for smartphones.

Given that these modems are expected to require more power, and a more advanced cooling system, any advancements in design are always welcome.

Qualcomm is expected to unveil its technology during the MWC conference, which takes place in a few days. However, its unlikely that this new modem will be showcased at such an early stage. We should get to experience the Snapdragon X50 and cloud processing over a low-latency 5G link, which is one of the other benefits of the next-gen technology.