You won’t need a flagship Qualcomm phone to enjoy a pair of Wi-Fi earbuds (Updated)
This should bring Wi-Fi earbud support to mid-range devices, too.
Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
- Qualcomm has confirmed that Snapdragon 7 chipsets and above will support its XPAN technology.
- XPAN allows wireless earbuds to utilize Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to receive audio data.
- The technology allows for greater range and the transmission of higher audio quality.
Update, March 3, 2025 (10:10 AM ET): Qualcomm has backtracked on its statement about XPAN support coming to its mid-range chipsets. Currently, the company cannot confirm whether Snapdragon 7 series chipsets will support the technology. We’ve reached out for clarification and will update this post once we have more details about supported chipsets.
Original article, March 3, 2025 (04:35 AM ET): New wireless earbuds utilizing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to beam your favorite tunes to your ears are still relatively scarce, but Qualcomm wants to ensure this tech gets a fair chance. The company confirmed to Android Authority at MWC 2025 that its XPAN audio technology will be supported by more than just its topline chipsets.
