During MWC 2024, Qualcomm launched a number of blockbuster new products in one go, among which the main concerns of consumers are AI and communication technology. In terms of products, there are three that deserve special attention, namely AI Hub, FastConnect 7900 connection system, Snapdragon X80 modem and RF system.
AI Hub is convenient for developers
The AI Hub is a resource center created by Qualcomm for the convenience of developers, providing developers with a fully optimized AI model library, which can quickly deploy the AI functions of applications on the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform.
Qualcomm said that AI Hub can multiply the efficiency of developers, and if developers want to use AI models in their applications, they only need to select the model required by the application and the framework used by the application in the AI Hub, and then select the target platform of the application, such as the third-generation Snapdragon 8 mobile phone. Once the above information is confirmed, Qualcomm AI Hub can provide developers with an optimized model, which can be accessed and integrated into the application with just a few lines.
Qualcomm AI Hub supports more than 75 AI models, and by optimizing these models, developers can run AI inference up to 4x faster. The optimized model will also consume less memory bandwidth and storage space, providing consumers with longer battery life.
In addition, Qualcomm also showed a number of large models for terminals. A multi-modal model for the 3rd Gen Snapdragon 8 phone, which supports text, voice, and image input, and is capable of multi-round conversations based on the input. All the features it offers run entirely on the terminal side, which is not only responsive but also better privacy-preserving.
The LoRa model for Android phones can be adjusted or customized without changing the underlying model, and can be run on the device side by using a very small adapter (only 2% of the size of the model, which is convenient). In Qualcomm's demo, the model was able to create high-quality custom images based on different personal or artistic preferences.
Windows PCs equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite platform have up to 45 tops of NPU computing power, and also have excellent AI processing speed, compared to laptops with X86 chips, the Snapdragon X Elite platform only needs 7Image generation takes 25 seconds, compared to 22 for x86 platforms26 seconds.
The use of AI is bound to provide users with the best experience through device-cloud collaboration. The cloud has more powerful inference capabilities, and the performance is unattainable on the device side, which has better timeliness and more advantages in terms of user factor security. Qualcomm can quickly bring more AI experiences to users through powerful AI computing capabilities and AI hubs on the device side.
Snapdragon X80 and FastConnect 7900 enhance network performance
In terms of communication technology, Qualcomm has launched the flagship Snapdragon X80 modem and RF system and FastConnect 7900 connectivity system to further improve network performance in both cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
The Snapdragon X80 modem and RF system combines AI with 5G Advanced performance and boosts 5G performance with a number of industry-first, leading-edge features. Supports 6-carrier aggregation in the sub-6GHz band with 6-channel reception capability to extend RF coverage and improve connectivity. Under the mmWave connection, the positioning accuracy is improved by 30%, the power consumption is reduced by 10%, the downlink speed is 10Gbps, and the uplink speed is 35gbps。Judging from the parameters, the Snapdragon X80 modem has not soared to the maximum speed, and more upgrade points are still through AI technology to optimize the actual experience and save more power.
In addition, the Snapdragon X80 supports the first AI-based multi-antenna management, the first to support AI-enabled extended range communication for CPE, and the first to integrate NB-NTN in a 5G modem to support satellite communication capabilities.
The Snapdragon X80 modem and RF system are expected to be installed on the Snapdragon 8 mobile platform, which is expected to be officially launched in the second half of the year.
The Wi-Fi solution currently used on the Snapdragon mobile platform is still the FastConnect 7800 released in 2022, and after 2 years, Qualcomm has also launched an upgraded version of the FastConnect 7900, which is the world's first AI-enhanced Wi-Fi system that integrates Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and ultra-wideband functions, and integrates proximity perception. Compared to its predecessor, the FastConnect 7900 features a new RF front-end module and architecture that reduces system power consumption by 40% while improving energy efficiency.
The introduction of AI in the FastConnect 7900 can effectively identify these use cases, analyze the current use of Wi-Fi connections, and optimize the corresponding Wi-Fi parameters. Based on AI-enhanced features, users can reduce terminal power consumption by up to 30% when using some of the most popular apps. By integrating Wi-F ranging, Bluetooth channel detection, and ultra-wideband ranging, proximity sensing technology can realize different types of applications and functions on the terminal side, such as finding nearby terminals or objects using smart tags with ultra-wideband technology, using Bluetooth as a digital key, and using Wi-Fi to enable indoor navigation such as shopping malls.
The FastConnect 7900 delivers an even better experience with Wi-Fi High Concurrency (HBS) and Qualcomm Extended Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology. For example, connecting your phone to headphones via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can extend its coverage and enable whole-house coverage for audio streaming. In addition, Wi-Fi high-frequency concurrency technology enables the headset and another access point to connect in two 5GHz bands at the same time, enabling higher data rates and throughput for lossless sound quality.