TL; DR
- Qualcomm has confirmed new XPAN-enabled products are actively in development.
- Next-generation versions of XPAN are also being planned, similar to Bluetooth version upgrades.
- A Snapdragon Summit announcement later this year could be the platform for the next big XPAN reveal.
More than a year after the last major XPAN-enabled product became available in the market, Qualcomm has broken its silence and confirmed that new devices are actively being developed. Furthermore, the technology is also getting a generational upgrade. Without any further ado, let’s dive right into it.
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What’s Coming Next From Qualcomm
Speaking to Android Authority, a Qualcomm representative has confirmed that the product pipeline is very much alive and that new XPAN-enabled devices are on their way. The company has also confirmed newer versions of XPAN being planned (similar to how new versions of Bluetooth technology have panned out over the years).
Another spokesperson said to the publication that XPAN-related announcements could surface at the next Snapdragon Summit, which should be held in Hawaii later this year. Connecting the dots, a new-generation Snapdragon audio chipset, along with an upgraded version of the XPAN technology, could take the center stage at the event.
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To put things in context, the last XPAN product was the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi Edition, which arrived over a year ago. However, the earbuds’ XPAN functionality was limited to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (exclusively). A broader device availability in the future could finally change that and bring higher-quality audio to more people.
What Is XPAN Anyway, And Why Does It Matter?
Rather than using Bluetooth to transmit audio from one device to another, XPAN routes audio over a Wi-Fi network. Qualcomm says that the technology has substantially better range and connection stability than Bluetooth.
Further, since Wi-Fi connections have a higher bandwidth, XPAN also supports lossless 24-bit 96KHz audio transmission, at the same power consumption as a lossy Bluetooth stream, and at the same resolution.
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XPAN can also handle low-latency audio without compromising on the quality. The catch, for now, is that the technology requires the company’s Snapdragon S7 Pro audio processor.
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