Qualcomm has introduced a series of 5G modems in recent years that have constantly increased download speeds, culminating in the X65 in 2021, the company’s first 10-gigabit 5G modem. The corporation is pursuing a fresh approach in 2022. Its newest modem, the X70, is not just fast, but it’s also more consistent and power-efficient, owing to AI.

The Qualcomm X70 isn’t the first modem to employ a machine learning technique to boost performance. Last year, the business used the technique to improve the antenna tuning of its X65 modem in response to shifting hand grips. The X70, on the other hand, contains a specialized 5G AI processor, which the firm claims are a first for a cellular modem.

In addition to enhancing average speeds, Qualcomm claims that the CPU improves mmWave beam management, allowing the X70 to create a more stable connection while using the notoriously temperamental spectrum. That CPU is also used for network selection and antenna tuning, resulting in improved coverage and link strength. All of this, according to Qualcomm, allows the X70 to make the most of whatever spectrum resources a device has at any given time.

The X70 is, of course, quick. It has a theoretical download speed of 10 Gigabits per second. However, in real-world use, X70-equipped smartphones are unlikely to attain those types of speeds. Much of this will be determined by your carrier’s 5G network and its current status.

In the second half of 2022, Qualcomm intends to begin shipping Snapdragon X70 samples to commercial clients. Customers were not named, but the firm stated that X70-equipped devices will be available by late 2022, implying that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 successor might have the modem. Devices using the X70 will have the company’s new Snapdragon Connect branding when it becomes available, which is a label that signifies the product you’re about to buy comes with the company’s latest and best networking technology.