Qualcomm, Bose partner to deliver ‘enhanced’ wireless audio experiences

US-based chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies said that it has extended its partnership with audio equipment manufacturer Bose, in which the latter will be integrating Qualcomm wireless voice and music platforms across their portfolio of premium earbuds, headphones, speakers and soundbars. 

The company made the announcement at IFA 2022, a consumer electronics conference taking place in Berlin, Germany from September 2-6, 2022, where it elaborated that Bose will incorporate Qualcomm S5 Audio system on a chip) SoCs into future wireless audio devices, utilising powerful processing and low-power capabilities to support the rich user experiences consumers want most, for music, calls, gaming, and more. 

The two companies have a long history of collaboration to deliver premium ‘listening’ experiences, as Qualcomm’s president and chief executive officer, Cristiano Amon highlighted at the opening keynote. 

“Bose is undoubtedly one of the most iconic brands in audio and I’m proud to see our long-standing relationship continue to grow,” Amon said, adding that Qualcomm S5 Audio platforms are designed to elevate audio enjoyment by supporting ultra-low power performance for all-day use and robust high-performance wireless connectivity.

Built on a Bluetooth 5.3 dual mode radio, this platform enables a range of new and exciting LE Audio experiences. “With Snapdragon Sound Technology on board, this platform delivers premium audio for a diverse range of activities - so end-users can enjoy virtually seamless, immersive audio even in environments where there could be interference from many other devices,” Qualcomm said in its official blog.

“Bose and Qualcomm Technologies have collaborated closely for many years to implement solutions that raise the bar for consumer audio experiences,” said Lila Snyder, chief executive officer, Bose. “And as we build on this important relationship, we’ll continue working together to push the limits of what’s possible for our products and technologies to bring people more enjoyment from their music and content than ever before.”   

Earlier at the event on Friday, Qualcomm partnered with Meta Platforms to produce custom chipsets for its Quest virtual reality (VR) devices. 

Engineering and product teams of both companies will work together to produce the chips, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms, the companies said in a statement.