Qualcomm releases the eighth-generation 5G baseband X85: peak downlink rate of 12.5Gbps

On the first day of the MWC 2025 conference, Qualcomm brought a major new product – the eighth-generation 5G baseband “Qualcomm X85”.

For the first time since the fourth-generation Snapdragon X65 in 2021, Qualcomm’s 5G baseband has increased the transmission rate, with a peak downlink rate of up to 12.5Gbps (12,500 megabits) , providing connection performance comparable to fiber optic cables.

This also slightly surpasses the M90 ​​baseband just released by MediaTek , which has a peak downlink rate of 12Gbps.

Qualcomm emphasized that with X85, it is still the only company in the industry that can provide fully integrated and verified solutions from modem to antenna , including baseband, transceiver, RF front-end, etc., to promote the commercial use of 5G technology into a new era of 5G Advanced.

Qualcomm X85 is the first baseband solution to support up to 400MHz downlink bandwidth , which is also the maximum bandwidth supported by similar products in the industry. It can make more effective use of existing spectrum and achieve faster download speeds.

At the same time, in terms of upload, Qualcomm X85 slightly increased the uplink peak rate from 3.5Gbps to 3.7Gbps , mainly with the help of 200MHz spectrum and 4-layer uplink carrier aggregation (UL-MIMO).

In addition, Qualcomm X85 introduces the latest dual-SIM dual-channel (DSDA) innovative technology “Turbo DSDA” , which supports 3CC+1CC. Compared with the previous generation solution that supports 1CC+1CC, the 5G SA carrier has doubled , achieving better uplink and downlink performance through higher throughput.

Qualcomm X85 also integrates the fourth-generation dedicated AI processor, which has more powerful performance and 30% faster AI reasoning speed than the previous generation . It can run more AI-dedicated 5G algorithms, thereby effectively improving the connection experience.

For example, the AI-based data traffic engine can use the AI ​​processor to enhance data traffic pattern recognition, reduce latency and speed up response time when playing games, and ensure smooth and stable voice and video calls when using OTT calls.

When using OTT calling applications, the smart dual-SIM dual-standby function will also automatically recognize if a call is detected on the other SIM card, which will effectively prevent the call from being interrupted.

Other AI features include: seamless switching between Wi-Fi/mobile networks, support for 6Rx/4Rx antenna management, enhanced precise positioning using GNSS, and more.

In addition, as a top 5G A solution, Qualcomm X85 also supports a series of advanced technologies such 
as more than 10,000 carrier aggregation configurations, 
narrowband NTN integrated satellite communications , Smart Transmit Plus technology to enhance real-time 5G uplink performance, the world’s first FRMCS (including the European n100/n101 frequency bands), RF downlink enhancement at cell edge and other locations (with a rate increase of up to 20%), etc., which is a benchmark in the industry.

In addition, Qualcomm X85 is also very suitable for fixed wireless access (FWA) applications, providing higher transmission rates. Qualcomm has supported more than 500 FWA terminals that have been released or are under development.

Data shows that currently in 35% of countries and regions, the average FWA downlink rate is less than 50Mbps, and it is estimated that by 2029, the number of FWA users worldwide will reach 330 million.

Qualcomm has not announced the commercial launch time of Qualcomm X85 baseband, but the fourth-generation fixed wireless access platform Extreme Edition , which was launched at the same time, is the first platform to be equipped with it.

As usual, the next-generation Snapdragon mobile platform, which will be launched later this year, will also be integrated.