Lil Katz / Android Authority
TL;DR
Qualcomm confirmed to Android Authority that the first devices featuring XPAN technology will be announced “soon.” XPAN-enabled earbuds can transmit audio over your home Wi-Fi network for better quality over longer distances. These products can also fall back to Bluetooth for things like calls and lossy audio.
Qualcomm announced its XPAN technology in late 2023 to enable wireless audio over Wi-Fi instead of relying solely on Bluetooth. The chip company said at the time that it expected the first wireless earbuds featuring the technology to arrive in 2024, but there has been no announcement since then. So what does that give?
When we asked Qualcomm about the first commercial products featuring XPAN technology, we learned that they could be coming soon.
We are excited to work with several customers to bring the first XPAN-powered devices to market, and these will be announced soon.
XPAN (Extended Personal Area Network) allows wireless audio products to transmit over Wi-Fi. Qualcomm noted at the time that Wi-Fi has a longer range than Bluetooth, making it ideal if you want to listen with earphones but your paired phone or tablet is several rooms away. The chipmaker also explained that XPAN enables lossless 24-bit 96kHz audio over Wi-Fi with the same power consumption as the current lossy 96kHz Bluetooth standard. Qualcomm also noted that unlike Bluetooth, you don’t have to choose between high bitrate audio and low latency (for games, etc.).
Would you like to buy Wi-Fi earphones?
739 votes
Yes, it is possible if it offers better quality and longer range
57%
It may depend on the price and features, but
32%
No, I’m happy with my Bluetooth earphones
9%
No, it’s not wired or anything.
2%
Luckily, XPAN-enabled earbuds and earbuds can seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as needed. So even if your device is nearby and you’re listening to lossy audio, you can still transmit it over Bluetooth.
The paired earbuds require Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S7 Pro chip, while the paired phone or tablet requires a Snapdragon chip (it’s unclear if a specific Snapdragon SoC is required). Paired devices must also be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Either way, we’re happy to hear that the first XPAN-enabled products are coming soon. We hope this technology lives up to the hype and makes wireless audio less painful even over long distances.
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