# The Upcoming Snapdragon Wear Chipset: A Feature-Centric Advancement with Tailored RISC-V Cores and AI Capabilities
The realm of wearable technology is poised for a major change, as Qualcomm teases a new Snapdragon Wear chipset expected to launch in 2025. This next-level system-on-chip (SoC) aims to transcend mere incremental enhancements. Qualcomm’s strategy for this chip is centered around a “feature-centric” approach, incorporating custom RISC-V cores, enhanced AI functionalities, and ample “headroom” for forthcoming advancements.
## A Move Toward Custom RISC-V Cores
One of the most thrilling elements of the forthcoming Snapdragon Wear chipset is its pivot away from the conventional Arm architecture. Qualcomm and Google are collaborating to develop an open-source RISC-V platform specifically designed for wearables. This shift from Arm cores is particularly noteworthy in light of the ongoing legal battles between Qualcomm and Arm.
RISC-V, a publicly available instruction set architecture (ISA), brings several benefits for wearables. It facilitates the creation of more efficient, tailor-made CPUs that can be optimized for low power usage while still delivering high performance. This is vital for smartwatches, which must juggle power-intensive features like health tracking and GPS with the constraints posed by small batteries.
Dino Bekis, VP & GM of Wearables at Qualcomm, underscored that while hardware is vital, the real challenge is adapting Wear OS software to operate natively on RISC-V silicon. Qualcomm and Google are in active development, aiming for 2025 to be the year when RISC-V software is fully optimized for Wear OS devices.
## AI-Powered Advancements
Another significant attribute of the upcoming Snapdragon Wear chipset is its emphasis on AI. Qualcomm foresees a scenario where smartwatches can execute advanced AI models locally, without dependence on cloud computing. This capability would enable functionalities like natural language processing (NLP) and real-time health assessments to be processed on-device, enhancing both efficiency and privacy.
Bekis shared that Qualcomm is focused on condensing large language models (LLMs) to operate on low-energy devices such as smartwatches. These models, containing about 1–3 billion parameters, could facilitate more precise voice commands, on-the-fly translation, and sophisticated health monitoring. Local data processing would yield quicker insights and lessen reliance on cloud services, which is a major plus for privacy-conscious users.
## Why Custom RISC-V (or Oryon) Represents the Future of Wear OS Watches
Qualcomm’s choice to investigate custom RISC-V cores for wearables extends beyond efficiency; it’s also about scalability. Historically, smartwatches with Arm cores have faced challenges in achieving smartphone-level functionality due to the constraints of their smaller batteries. RISC-V presents a more adaptable and scalable solution, permitting Qualcomm to craft CPUs that are finely tuned to the distinctive requirements of wearables.
Nonetheless, Qualcomm is also crafting its own custom Oryon cores, initially unveiled in the Snapdragon 8 Elite for smartphones. While Oryon cores are engineered for high-performance applications, Bekis did not dismiss the potential for their inclusion in future wearable chipsets. He explained that the key lies in striking the right equilibrium between performance and power efficiency. Regardless of whether the next Snapdragon Wear chipset employs RISC-V or Oryon cores, the aim remains constant: to achieve a week’s battery life from a single charge.
## The Rarity of Smartwatch Chipsets
A frequent grievance in the smartwatch sector is the scarcity of new chipsets. While smartphones and tablets often receive new SoCs almost yearly, smartwatches may go for years without significant hardware upgrades. The existing Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, for instance, was launched in 2022, and numerous smartwatches still utilize it today.
Bekis indicated that this pattern is intentional. Manufacturers of smartwatches typically request a new chipset every two to three years rather than annually. This demand stems from the fact that creating a new smartwatch SoC necessitates considerable research and development, compounded by the power and thermal limitations prevalent in wearables compared to smartphone chips. Additionally, smartwatch OEMs favor a platform that can serve multiple years, prioritizing annual software updates over frequent hardware modifications.
This rationale clarifies the absence of a Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 thus far. Qualcomm is dedicated to establishing a durable platform that can endure for several years, enabling OEMs to innovate primarily through software enhancements rather than hardware upgrades. This strategy is also in harmony with the wearable market’s needs, where battery endurance and power efficiency outweigh the importance of sheer performance.
## How Next-Gen Wearable Platforms Will Evolve
The next Snapdragon Wear chipset will not solely focus on raw power; it will aim to create a versatile, compute-oriented platform capable of supporting a diverse array of features for years ahead. Bekis compared this to the functionality of personal computers, providing sufficient “headroom” for future advancements.
