Qualcomm could be catching up to Apple when it comes to adding satellite connectivity to future Android flagships. According to one rumor, a ‘special version’ of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 could launch in the future, supporting this feature.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite feature was already supported by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but no word on why it has not shown up in current flagships
A tiny update provided by tipster Digital Chat Station mentions that a new version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will support satellite connectivity. Though the screenshot taken from Weibo below does not mention the chipset’s official name, the model number ‘SM8650’ is sufficient evidence that the individual is referring to the upcoming SoC. As for this so-called ‘special version,’ it is possible that the tipster is talking about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, which will be exclusive to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S24 lineup.
Samsung has been rumored to bring satellite connectivity to its high-end smartphones, but the exact models were not listed in those claims. Also, while we are on the subject of satellite connectivity, earlier this year at CES, Qualcomm officially announced its Snapdragon Satellite feature, which is a ‘pole to pole’ emergency messaging service that functions similarly to Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite.
What is strange about the announcement was that we got no update from Qualcomm, despite the company stating that smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 would have support for Snapdragon Satellite. It is possible that a deal between the San Diego firm and Iridium Communications, a global satellite communications firm operating in the U.S., did not materialize.
Just like Apple, Qualcomm does not own a fleet of satellites and has to partner with an existing company to bring emergency messaging capabilities to its chipsets, so there is a possibility that the feature will be previewed with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 launch, which is said to happen in late October. The new chipset will likely support Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X75 5G modem, a component that should support satellite communications right off the bat, so let us see if such an addition is present during the official unveiling.
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