Qualcomm launched Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 Wearable platforms with Satellite Support, Smarter Tracking, Longer Battery Life

Qualcomm Technologies has launched the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 and W5 Gen 2 wearable platforms, bringing a new generation of performance, power efficiency, and connectivity enhancements to the smartwatch market. These platforms are engineered to improve battery life, enable advanced health and activity tracking, and support more seamless connectivity options.

Satellite-enabled wearables -

One of the most significant innovations in these platforms is support for satellite communication. For the first time, wearables will integrate connectivity through Skylo’s Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN). This capability allows users to send and receive emergency messages directly from their smartwatch, even in areas where traditional cellular service is unavailable.

The feature is designed to provide peace of mind to adventurers, hikers, and people in rural or remote regions by enabling two-way SOS communication when other networks fail, potentially making wearables an essential safety tool in critical situations.

Platform portfolio and capabilities -

The new lineup includes two distinct options:

Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 – Equipped with a dedicated ultra-low-power co-processor, this version is designed to handle background tasks such as health monitoring, notifications, and sensor management without waking the main processor. This architecture extends battery life while ensuring that devices can run continuous features like heart-rate tracking, sleep monitoring, and ambient activity detection with minimal power consumption.

Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 – A more streamlined version that excludes the co-processor, making it ideal for manufacturers building compact or budget-friendly devices where space and design constraints are a priority. Despite the simplified design, it still leverages the same cutting-edge 4nm process for strong performance and efficient power management.

Both platforms are built on Qualcomm’s advanced 4nm system-on-chip (SoC) process technology. This allows for higher performance per watt, reduced heat output, and greater integration of advanced features into smaller, thinner packages.

Key advancements -

• Smarter location tracking – Location Machine Learning 3.0 improves GPS accuracy by up to 50%, even in challenging environments like dense urban blocks or canyons.
• Reduced size and power use – a redesigned RFFE module is around 20% smaller than the previous generation and consumes less energy, enabling thinner devices with longer battery life.
• Efficient background processing – the always-on co-processor now supports Wi-Fi, GNSS, and audio functions in ultra-low-power states such as Deep Sleep and Hibernate.
• Hybrid task handling – display, sensor input, notifications, and audio processing can be offloaded to reduce the main chip’s workload.
• Wear OS optimized – tailored for the latest version of Wear OS, offering smooth integration, richer smartwatch features, and stronger multi-device support.

Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 / W5 Gen 2 Specification -

Availability -

The Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 platform makes its debut with the Google Pixel Watch 4 and will expand to additional Wear OS devices in the coming months.