Qualcomm has introduced its latest wearable platforms, the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 and W5+ Gen 2, both built on the same 4 nm process and using a quad‑core Cortex‑A53 CPU—matching the architecture of the previous generation.

Key changes

• Connectivity upgrade – NB‑NTN support:
  These chips now work with Narrowband Non‑Terrestrial Networks, allowing devices to send signals where regular cellular service isn’t available, such as remote or rural areas.
• Improved GPS accuracy:
  The new Location Machine Learning 3.0 feature is designed to improve positioning accuracy by 50 %, especially in dense city environments.
• More compact, efficient modem:
  Qualcomm reports the modem is 20 % smaller and uses less power than before.
• Plus variant co‑processor:
  The W5+ Gen 2 adds a 22 nm co‑processor to handle basic tasks while the main chip powers down, helping to conserve energy.

Availability

The non‑plus W5 Gen 2 has already appeared in the Google Pixel Watch 4. Wider adoption in other wearable devices is expected over time.