Qualcomm reportedly developing next-gen Snapdragon processor for boosting Wear OS performance
Qualcomm's upcoming "Aspen" chip, internally known as the Snapdragon SW6100 and anticipated to be marketed as the Snapdragon Wear W6, is currently in the testing phase. This next-generation Wear OS chip is expected to make its debut sometime in early 2026, potentially at Qualcomm’s September Snapdragon Summit.
The Aspen chip is set to bring significant improvements to Wear OS devices. Key expected features include a CPU architecture with a powerful Arm Cortex-A78 core, supported by three efficiency cores based on the Arm Cortex-A55. This represents a substantial upgrade over the previous Snapdragon W5’s Cortex-A53 cores.
The Aspen chip will also support LPDDR5X RAM, a technology that promises improved app loading speeds and power efficiency compared to previous generations using LPDDR4. The chip is built on a cutting-edge, power-efficient node by TSMC.
Rumours suggest that the Aspen chip may include a QCC6100 coprocessor, enhancing efficiency and performance, similar to architectures used by OPPO and OnePlus Wear OS watches. However, concrete information about this coprocessor is still unclear.
Unlike earlier models based on existing Qualcomm chip designs, Aspen is reportedly designed from scratch, aiming to significantly boost performance and battery life for Wear OS devices.
The Aspen chip is expected to power next-gen Wear OS smartwatches from brands such as OnePlus, OPPO, TicWatch, and Xiaomi, positioning itself to compete strongly against Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 series and other competitors.
Qualcomm's VP & GM of Wearables, Dino Bekis, discussed the future of Wear OS chips in 2024, hinting at a more feature-focused, AI, and PC-like chip in the pipeline. While specific details about the Aspen chip are scarce, it's clear that Qualcomm is aiming to take Wear OS devices to the next level.
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the expected debut of the Qualcomm Aspen chip in early 2026.
The Aspen chip, a significant upgrade for Wear OS devices, is expected to be introduced with features like a powerful Arm Cortex-A78 core and an LPDDR5X RAM for improved loading speeds and power efficiency. This next-generation Wear OS chip, set to power devices from brands like OnePlus, OPPO, TicWatch, and Xiaomi, is anticipated to compete fiercely against Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 series, as Qualcomm continues to innovate in the realm of wearables and gadgets, leveraging advanced technology for better performance and battery life.
