While a lot of tech enthusiasts will know Qualcomm from products like its Snapdragon chipsets such as the 8 Gen 3 and more, it should also be said that Qualcomm’s expansive reach deals with a lot more varied range of tech. For instance, the company recently announced the launch of its latest S-series sound platforms, the Qualcomm S3 Gen 3 and Qualcomm S5 Gen 3. The two chips are designed for devices in differing tiers, although both pack a lot of useful features aimed at giving users better audio experiences.
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The launch of the S3 and S5 Gen 3 follow the unveiling of the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chip, a mobile SoC designed for midrange smartphones. Commenting on the debut of the S5 and S3, Dino Bekis, Vice President and General Manager for Wearables and Mixed Signals Solutions at Qualcomm comments:
“Across our portfolio we are committed to elevating the sound experience – from ultra-premium with S7, to premium with S5 and mid-tier for S3. We’re proud to announce our powerful new Qualcomm S5 and S3 Sound platforms which will help to drive a new generation of audio innovation.“
“Consumers want richer features and experiences at more accessible price points and the Qualcomm Voice & Music Extension Program will provide OEMs with a significant competitive advantage and a stronger ability to differentiate, thanks to extensive access to some of the most innovative audio technologies in the world. Additionally for premium tier devices, the Qualcomm S5 Gen 3 Sound Platform’s new architecture and increased AI capabilities give OEMs a platform to develop intelligent devices that can monitor the user’s environment, in addition to how the device is being used, and respond accordingly.”
Qualcomm S5 Gen 3
Up first is the Qualcomm S5 Gen 3 Sound Platform, which is designed for upper-tier and premium devices. Qualcomm says that it has designed the S5’s architecture based on its own S7 platform, integrating a heavy dose of AI as well – the S5 Gen 3 features “50 times more AI power than its predecessor” according to the company, allowing it to be used in devices which can respond to how and where they are being used. With the S5, features such as active noise cancelling and even voice processing can harness the power of AI, while maintaining power efficiency all throughout.
Qualcomm S3 Gen 3
Meanwhile, the Qualcomm S3 Gen 3 Sound platform is designed more for use with mid-tier hardware. Qualcomm states that it comes with fill support for its Voice & Music Extension Program, which allows for device enhancements via third-party providers and manufacturers. Simply put, the S3 Gen 3 will be able to leverage a wide ecosystem of products which are all designed to improve Qualcomm Sound platforms. This also means that the S3 Gen 3 can tap into hardware to give users features including hearing enhancement, spatial audio, echo cancellation and even health tracking.
Availability
Qualcomm wasn’t too specific about mentioning when and which brands will use the new S3 and S5 Gen 3, although it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing them in upcoming audio products from third-party brands within the year.
