Qualcomm today announced the Snapdragon X24, a Cat 20 LTE modem with support for downloads up to 2 Gbps, to its hardware partners.
The X24 is built on a 7nm FinFET process and includes advanced LTE technologies, such as 7-channel carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO on up to five carriers, and Massive MIMO. The X24 supports all deployed LTE bands worldwide and can be configured as needed by each carrier with licensed spectrum or License Assisted Access. Up the uplink, the X24 supports 3 x 20 MHz carrier aggregation up to 256-QAM.
Qualcomm says the Snapdragon X24 is paired with an RF transceiver built on a 14nm FinFET process with support for envelope tracking up to 60 MHz. It also includes HPUE in Band 41 (for Sprint). Last, the X24 includes multi-frequency global navigation satellite system (GNSS), which will lead to more accurate real-time location tracking within apps. Qualcomm claims the X24 can deliver mobile experiences such as 360-degree video streams and instant apps.
Qualcomm plans to demonstrate the X24 with its partners at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona later this month. Qualcomm expects to see the Snapdragon X24 in commercial devices by the end of the year. Qualcomm is positioning the X24 as the tallest, strongest bridge between today’s 4G LTE technology and forthcoming 5G NR technology.
The Snapdragon X20 modem with 1.2 Gbps speeds, announced late last year, will find its way into the top phones of 2018 that rely on the Snapdragon 845 processor. The X20 will be followed by the X24 in late 2018 and then, eventually, the X50 modem for 5G NR devices in 2019.
