Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 chip for audio wearables, adding on-device artificial intelligence features for products such as earbuds, headphones and audio glasses.. The company said the chip has twice the AI capability of its predecessor, the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform..
Qualcomm said the new chip is designed for a range of devices, including camera-equipped earbuds and audio glasses, alongside more conventional earbuds and headphones.. “As AI becomes a core capability, users will increasingly expect more natural ways to interact with it,” said Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm senior vice president and general manager for XR, wearables and personal AI..
“Those interactions won’t always happen through a screen. They will happen through natural conversations, where users can simply speak to an AI assistant and receive help in real time,” Asghar said.. Asghar said the chip will allow devices to offer features including real-time on-device translation and amplification of sounds and conversations for people who are hard of hearing..
The Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 also supports Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless audio technology and the company’s XPAN wireless audio technology, which combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to extend device range.. The chip includes Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for faster speeds, which Qualcomm said makes always-available AI possible without reducing battery life or sound quality..
Featured image credit. Tags: Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2
