US chipmaker Qualcomm is holding an event on September 10, with all signs pointing to the announcement of an eagerly-anticipated new SoC designed for inclusion in smartwatches.
The company is asking the media to “set your watches” for the event next month, with the pun-happy invite also telling recipients that “It’s Time”. If that’s not enough of a hint for would be tech detectives, there’s also a picture of a smartwatch… set to 9:10.
Beyond that, the company isn’t giving much away, but it appears highly likely we’ll see the launch of the oft-tipped processor that observers are counting on to revive the fortunes of Google’s Wear OS platform. Previous rumours have suggested this new chip could even power the rumoured Pixel watch, which may accompany the Pixel 3 launch this October.
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Given the Snapdragon 2100 processor, which powers most of the current crop of Wear OS devices, is now a couple of years old, this announcement won’t be before time. Back in May this year, the chipmaker revealed it was working on the successor to the 2100, which would offer a significant battery life boost, built-in Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/GPS/LTE and a reduced physical footprint to enable more compact designs.
Hmmm. Just got a save-the-date from Qualcomm. Wonder what's happening September 10? pic.twitter.com/HVeJrVSo2k
— Michael Fisher (@theMrMobile) August 7, 2018
The company’s senior director of wearables Pankaj Kedia said: “When we go to generation three, it’s designed from the ground up for a no-compromises smartwatch experience with dedicated chips that make your watch look pretty when you’re not looking at it, that brings the best fitness and watch experience, and extends battery life.”
He added: “You’ll see improved battery life when interacting with the watch, but also more importantly, when you’re not.”
It’s likely we’ll hear more about this announcement in the coming weeks, as Qualcomm gears up for the event. However, the timing means it’s unlikely IFA 2018 (at the end of August) will be graced with any new smartwatches carrying the chip.
What are your hopes for the next generation of WearOS watches? Can a new, super-powered Qualcomm SoC save the day? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
