This Post Is Recently Updated on Oct 27, 2023 @ 7:34 am by TBB Desk
Innovations Beyond the Usual
Qualcomm unveils a promising roadmap for wireless audio with its Snapdragon S7 Pro-powered earbuds and smartphone connectivity. The technological giant emphasizes that the magic doesn’t lie in reinventing existing technology, but rather in the meticulous integration of conventional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi standards. The ace up Qualcomm’s sleeve is a blend of its distinguished Snapdragon Sound software stack and radio hardware proficiency. The Snapdragon S7 Pro boasts a novel proprietary Wi-Fi component working in tandem with the Bluetooth SoC.
Wi-Fi Connectivity: A Game Changer for Audiophiles
A standout feature is the Wi-Fi connectivity, which elevates the high-end auditory experience by delivering lossless 24-bit 96kHz audio, all within the same power footprint as Qualcomm’s existing 96kHz Bluetooth offering. The ambition doesn’t halt here; Qualcomm envisions stretching the boundaries with up to 192kHz sample rates and Hi-Res multi-channel capabilities in the offing. This advancement also dangles the carrot of high bitrate, low latency audio (under 50ms) for gaming aficionados — a domain where Bluetooth currently forces a trade-off.
The Snapdragon S7 Series: A Comprehensive Suite
Apart from the S7 Pro, the series includes the regular Snapdragon S7 chip, mirroring the Pro version minus the XPAN feature. Both variants are equipped with Qualcomm’s fourth-generation ANC, facilitating context-aware adjustments and real-time blended transparency modes. They house a dedicated NPU for low-power applications, significantly ramping up on-device AI prowess by 100x compared to their predecessors. This augmentation drives enhanced head tracking, dynamic spatial audio, reduced latency, and refined environmental analysis for ANC.
A Sneak Peek Into Additional Offerings
The package further includes support for Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio and Auracast, alongside Snapdragon Sound with Qualcomm High-speed Link on both models. The new entrants flaunt a threefold increase in DSP performance, memory, and a sixfold surge in compute performance, drastically amplifying their audio processing capabilities.
Market Anticipation
The anticipation is palpable as the market eagerly awaits the arrival of earbuds equipped with the Snapdragon S7 and S7 Pro, slated for a 2024 launch. With these offerings, Qualcomm is not just stepping up the wireless audio game but is setting a high bar for what the wireless auditory experience can be.
