Qualcomm launches Snapdragon X35 – a world-first 5G NR-Light modem
Qualcomm announced the launch of the world’s first 5G NR-Light (also known as RedCap) modem and radio frequency system: Snapdragon X35 5G modem and radio frequency system. This is a new category of 5G technology that fills the gap between high-speed connected mobile broadband terminals and extremely low-bandwidth NB-IoT terminals. According to Qualcomm, compared with traditional mobile broadband terminals, terminals equipped with Snapdragon X35 will be smaller in appearance, lower in cost, and stronger in battery life.
As the world’s first 5G NR-Light modem and RF system, Snapdragon X35 adopts a new streamlined architecture with excellent energy efficiency and heat dissipation efficiency. The Snapdragon X35 is a 3GPP Release 17 RedCap modem that integrates optimized radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) and power management integrated circuit (PMIC) modules, allowing OEMs to provide next-generation 5G terminal devices for new use cases, including IoT terminals and wearable devices.
In order to reduce power consumption, expand 5G coverage, reduce latency, improve battery life, and increase uplink speed, Snapdragon X35 adopts advanced modem and radio frequency technology, including Qualcomm QET5100 envelope tracking, Qualcomm Smart Transmit technology, Qualcomm 5G ultra-low latency kit, and the fourth-generation Qualcomm 5G PowerSave.
By supporting LTE and 5G NR-Light, the Snapdragon X35 has the ability to be backward compatible and support future-oriented features and can coexist with various 4G/5G terminals while expanding 5G NR-Light services. In addition, Snapdragon X35 supports almost all frequency bands including Sub-6GHz, FDD, and TDD, and supports dual-frequency GNSS (L1+L5) to provide precise positioning, enabling it to support new industrial use cases and applications.
In addition to the Snapdragon X35, Qualcomm also launched the Snapdragon X32 5G modem and radio frequency system, aiming to create less complex and cost-effective NR-Light terminals.
