Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear Platform for wearables

QualcommMany of the Android Wear devices on the market today are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 system-on-chip, a chipset originally designed for smartphones and tablets. Like other manufacturers, Qualcomm has realized that wearables need a more specialized chipset and today announced the Snapdragon Wear Platform. The Snapdragon Wear 2100 is the first system-on-chip (SoC) to be unveiled for this new family of processors. It promises to make the next generation of wearables slimmer, longer lasting and able to offer always-connected features.

“Qualcomm Technologies is a technology leader in the wearables space with its breadth of product offerings including the Snapdragon 400 processor, which powers the vast majority of current Android Wear smartwatches,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With the introduction of the Snapdragon Wear platform and Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, Qualcomm Technologies is well-positioned to extend its progress in wearables technology by enabling sleek designs, long battery life, smart sensing, and always- connected experiences in the next generation of wearable devices. These benefits are expected to have widespread appeal across the mobile, fashion and sports ecosystems segments in the wearables space.”

The Snapdragon Wear 2100 has several advantages over the Snapdragon 400. It is 30 percent smaller and uses 25 percent less power. It also supports a wider range of sensors. On the connectivity side, it comes with not only low-power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but also a new LTE modem with integrated GNSS to deliver an always-connected experience.

The Snapdragon Wear 2100 could soon make its way into everything from new connected and tethered smartwatches and smart bands to smart eyewear and smart headsets. Given that it also supports Android, it could also make its way into non-wearable devices.

The Snapdragon Wear 2100 is now available. Expect wearables manufacturers to start announcing new devices that will use it shortly.

Press release

Qualcomm Announces Next Era of Wearables with New Snapdragon Wear Platform

— Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC Supports Sleek Designs, Long Battery Life, Smart Sensing, and Always Connected Experiences —

PR Newswire – SAN DIEGO, Calif. — February 11, 2016
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has introduced Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear, a new platform for next generation wearable devices, and the Snapdragon Wear 2100 system-on-chip (SoC), the first in a new product family designed to bring new and enhanced wearable experiences to consumers.

“Qualcomm Technologies is a technology leader in the wearables space with its breadth of product offerings including the Snapdragon™ 400 processor, which powers the vast majority of current Android Wear™ smartwatches,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “With the introduction of the Snapdragon Wear platform and Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, Qualcomm Technologies is well-positioned to extend its progress in wearables technology by enabling sleek designs, long battery life, smart sensing, and always- connected experiences in the next generation of wearable devices. These benefits are expected to have widespread appeal across the mobile, fashion and sports ecosystems segments in the wearables space.”

“LG and Qualcomm Technologies have led the wearable technology space with close collaboration over the last two years and have launched multiple smartwatches and kid watches,” said David Yoon, vice president, wearables, LG Electronics. “We are delighted about Qualcomm Technologies’ next generation wearable plans, are planning to extend our collaboration with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, and look forward to launching new smartwatches and other wearable devices that bring new and innovative use cases to consumers later this year.”

Utilizing Qualcomm Technologies’ expertise in connectivity and compute, the Snapdragon Wear platform consists of a full suite of silicon, software, support tools, and reference designs to allow mobile, fashion, and sports customers to bring a diverse range of full-featured wearables to customers quickly. Available in both tethered (Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi®) and connected (4G/LTE and 3G) versions, Snapdragon Wear 2100 innovates along four wearables core vectors:

  • Smaller Size – 30 percent smaller than the popular Snapdragon 400, Snapdragon Wear 2100 can help enable new, thinner, sleeker designs
  • Lower Power – 25 percent lower power than the Snapdragon 400 across both tethered and connected use cases, allowing for longer day of use battery life
  • Smarter Sensors – With an integrated, ultra-low power sensor hub, Snapdragon Wear 2100 enables richer algorithms with greater accuracy than the Snapdragon 400
  • Always Connected – Next-generation LTE modem with integrated GNSS, along with low power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth delivers an always connected experience

Additionally, customers can develop both tethered and connected SKUs using the same PCB design, thus reducing development costs. Snapdragon Wear 2100 supports both Android Wear, and Android and is targeted for next generation connected and tethered smartwatches, kid and elderly watches, smart bands, and smart eyewear and smart headset segments.

Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon processors already power the majority of Android Wear smartwatches. Earlier this year, Qualcomm Technologies announced that its technologies are used in 65 wearable devices across 30 countries with 50 more expected to launch later this year.

“Wearables have captured the public’s imagination, but a lack of connectivity can lead to frustration,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things, AT&T Mobility. “With Snapdragon Wear’s new platform, it’s clear that AT&T and Qualcomm Technologies share a vision for independently connected wearables that create a seamless experience for those who wear them. AT&T’s own NumberSyncSM technology links compatible smartwatches to your primary phone number, creating one number for all your devices.”

Availability
Snapdragon Wear 2100 and other products within the Snapdragon Wear platform are available today.

About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 30 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.