Qualcomm unveiled its flagship eighth-generation wireless modem, the X85, at MWC 2025 in Barcelona. It supports a wide range of mobile networks, offers high data rates for incoming and outgoing channels, and energy savings for mobile devices. A mass-market model, the X82, was also announced.
Image Source: Qualcomm
The Qualcomm X85 platform is designed for next-generation mobile devices with cellular connectivity and AI workloads. It delivers 5G downlink speeds of up to 12.5 Gbps and uplink speeds of up to 3.7 Gbps. It delivers stable streaming connectivity, improved connectivity in congested areas, longer battery life, and highly accurate location data.
The modem supports 3GPP Release 18 standards and all 5G communication ranges operating in the world – from 0.6 to 41 GHz. The modem has a built-in AI processor with hardware tensor acceleration, which optimizes operation in 5G and 5G Advanced networks – compared to the previous generation model, inference has become 30% faster. The Qualcomm AI-Powered Data Traffic Engine component uses AI to dynamically prioritize gaming traffic, improve the quality of voice and video calls over Internet protocols and quickly switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. The Qualcomm Advanced Modem-RF Software Suite software platform offers the choice of the optimal network using machine learning algorithms on the device.
The second Qualcomm X82 platform presented by the company is intended for mass production and supports multi-gigabit speeds on incoming and outgoing channels. Reference designs in the M.2 form factor and LGA package are available for both modems. Qualcomm is already supplying partners with samples of the X85 and X82 — devices with the new modems will hit the market in the second half of the year.