Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Promises 20ms of Latency, Now Faster than Most Bluetooth Devices

One of the leaders in semiconductor development, Qualcomm, has recently introduced a new platform that would elevate wireless Bluetooth music, promising as much as 20ms latency only. This is a significant development in wireless technologies, centering on a more true wireless experience that cuts a massive fraction of time from transmitting the data.

A millisecond is not noticeable to the eyes, and much fewer sounds, but 20ms is already a good time for wireless earphone technology, soon to be introduced by the Snapdragon Sound platform.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sound Upgrades to Reduce Latency to 20ms

Qualcomm announced its latest developments to its Snapdragon Sound and LE Audio features with the new addition to its S3 Gen 2 Sound platform portfolio. The company boasts that with this technology, audio latency for different needs only features 20ms of latency, and this is among the fastest there is in the industry.

"This new platform has been optimized to deliver an ultra-low latency experience for gaming over Bluetooth with Snapdragon Sound, but it also means the same devices can be used for calls and ultra-premium music listening," said Mike Canevaro, director, marketing, and head of Snapdragon Sound over at Qualcomm.

It also regarded that this new platform offers better gaming solutions, centering on an almost lag-free immersive wireless audio experience.

Faster Bluetooth Audio Connections Coming Soon from Qualcomm

The Qualcomm S3 Gen 2 Sound Platform is said to be the company's most advanced mid-tier audio platform in existence, with its goal to offer faster latency while using Bluetooth audio connections.

It also offers support for Hybrid Adaptive active noise canceling, Lossless audio, a voice-back channel for gaming, and more.

According to 9to5 Google, to scale Qualcomm's 20ms, it is important to note that the Apple AirPods Pro's H1 chip brings 120 to 150ms of latency for its audio playback on the wearable, and other TWS earphones are in the close range of it.

Audio Tech and Wireless Earphones with Low Latency

Cutting a fraction of time is now the competition among top providers and manufacturers of audio wearables, particularly for those centering on True Wireless (TWS) experiences via Bluetooth. The delay is unnoticeable as it does not linger for a second, but only a fraction of it, with notable devices like the Razer Hammerhead with 60ms of latency.

While some gamers and audiophiles still prefer a wired experience to get the best out of their audio needs, some have opted for low-latency premium wearables to complete their experience. Another example is the Innodude Gaming Wireless earphones which also offer only 60ms of latency for its audio output, almost imperceptible to hearing.

Among those who look into developing better audio experiences is Qualcomm, and this is something that will soon be a reality when applied to certain devices that would use its technology. The Qualcomm S3 Gen 2 Sound Platform is the most advanced of the company's mid-tier audio platforms, designed to significantly improve the audio experience.