Key Takeaways
- The platform delivers up to 2x higher AI processing capabilities and 40% lower power consumption with a 30% smaller physical footprint compared to its predecessor.
- It features Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology, Qualcomm XPAN for expanded connectivity, and AI-enhanced audio technologies to boost noise cancellation and speech clarity.
- The architecture supports diverse form factors including earbuds, headphones, open ear designs, audio glasses, and multimodal products with camera capabilities.
Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 Platform, elevating audio wearables to new heights. This new platform unites Snapdragon Sound technology, on-device AI, cloud-connected security intelligence and Wi-Fi 6E. It is the first platform dedicated to premium audio and speech technology, including agent-powered experiences. The platform allows for a new generation of intelligent, multimodal audio wearables, including those with camera capabilities.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., today announced the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 Platform, which is intended to greatly enhance the audio experience in wearables. The platform combines the Snapdragon Sound technologies, on-device AI and cloud-connected intelligence with micro-power Wi-Fi 6E technology to provide a seamless and personalised audio experience that learns and adapts to the user.
Key improvements include up to 2x higher AI processing capabilities and 40% lower power consumption compared to its predecessor while fitting into a 30% smaller physical footprint. The platform offers intelligent experiences concurrently, enabling a host of new applications. Moving to direct-to-cloud connectivity in audio wearables allows Snapdragon Sound Apps C Agents to go beyond previous hardware limits.
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The Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 platform also includes Qualcomm aptX Lossless technology for better audio quality, Qualcomm XPAN for expanded connectivity and a seamless audio experience across many devices. It also brings AI-enhanced audio technologies that boost noise cancellation and speech clarity. Moreover, the new Snapdragon Audio Sense Solution utilises powerful microphones and intelligent algorithms for improved voice capture and AI interactions.
Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 technology is flexible and supports various form factors: earbuds, headphones, open ear designs, hybrids, earbuds with cameras, audio glasses and upcoming multimodal products.
Reference designs for Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 will enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to accelerate prototyping and time to market for next-generation personal AI devices.
Ziad Asghar, Senior Vice President and General Manager of XR, Wearables, and Personal AI, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said, “Our research tells us that up to 70% of users want advanced AI capabilities in their wearable devices. As AI becomes a core capability, users will increasingly expect more natural ways to interact with it. Those interactions won’t always happen through a screen. They will happen through natural conversations, where users can simply speak to an AI assistant and receive help in real time. With Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, we’re heralding intelligent audio wearables that enable experiences such as real-time translation, contextual assistance, personalized hearing, and multimodal interactions that combine audio, vision, and AI.”
