Wi-Fi 6E Archives - Counterpoint

Intel’s 14th-gen ‘Raptor Lake Refresh’ Processors Offer up to 6GHz Clock Speeds, Wi-Fi 7, AI-guided Overclocking, and More

Intel’s 14^th-gen desktop processors offer up to 24 cores, 32 threads, and up to 6GHz peak clock speed.
The new Intel 14^th-gen “Raptor Lake Refresh” processors offer enhanced gaming performance, AI-guided overclocking support, and advanced connectivity features like Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and 5.
The processors are backward compatible with 600/700 series motherboards and will be available in retail and via OEM partners from starting October 17, 2023, starting at $294.

Intel has launched its latest 14^th-generation desktop processors, with the portfolio headlined by the Core i9-14900K – the first mass-produced processor with up to 6GHz clock speed out of the box. Like the 13^th-generation Raptor Lake, the new “Raptor Lake Refresh” is made on an Intel 7 (10nm) process node, using the same die, with differences coming in the core count, higher clock speeds, advanced connectivity options and AI assist feature among others.

There are six new desktop processors in the family, including the Core i9-14900K/KF, the Core i7-14700K/KF, and the Core i5-14600K/KF. The K models come with an integrated GPU, while the KF models do not feature any integrated GPU and are slightly more affordable. Available starting October 17, these processors maintain the same pricing as last year’s processors.

Talking about Intel’s 14^th-gen desktop processors, Counterpoint Research Senior Analyst William Li, who tracks the PC market said, “Intel’s new desktop CPU solutions could boost not only hardware capabilities to deal with incremental computing power requirements but also improve user experience with Intel Application Optimization (APO) technology. Although this time the Core 14^th-gen desktop processors do not have huge upgrades as on laptop platforms, gamers and creators can still enjoy better computing performance without compromising user workflow with Intel’s solid achievement on overclocking. We believe that the global PC market has bottomed out in H2 2023 and will likely see a significant rebound in the next year largely due to the Windows 11 replacement cycle and Artificial Intelligence (AI) PC momentum.”

Intel 14^th-gen ‘Raptor Lake Refresh’ Processors: Specifications

Aimed at gamers and creators, the Intel Core i9-14900K/KF offers clock speeds of up to 6GHz. The processor has a 24-core CPU, including eight Performance (P) cores with a max Turbo frequency of up to 5.6GHz and 16 Efficiency (E) cores with a max Turbo frequency of up to 4.4GHz, and has a total of 32 processor threads. It also includes a 36MB L3 cache and 32MB L2 cache.

Meanwhile, the Intel Core i7-14700K/KF has a 20-core CPU, with eight P-cores, with a max Turbo frequency of up to 5.5GHz, and 12 E-cores (up from eight cores in the previous gen), with a max Turbo clock speed of up to 4.3GHz and has a total of 28 threads. It also comes with a 33MB L3 cache and 28MB L2 cache.

Source: Intel

Lastly, the Intel Core i5-14600K has a 14-core CPU, with six P-cores having a max Turbo frequency of up to 5.3GHz, and eight E-cores having a max Turbo clock speed of up to 4.0GHz and, has a total of 20 threads. It also comes with a 24MB L3 cache and 20MB L2 cache.

All six processors in the Intel 14^th-gen family offer a max memory speed of up to 5600MT/s (DDR5), and up to 3,200MT/s (DDR4). The K models also include Intel UHD Graphics 770, with dynamic frequency between 1,650MHz to 1,550MHz, depending on the model.

In terms of backward compatibility, all the new processors will work with Intel’s 600- and 700-series motherboards that use LGA 1700 sockets, thus enabling easier upgrades for users.

AI Overclocking, Connectivity Enhancements, and more

One of the standout features of the latest 14^th-gen processors is the new AI Assist feature in the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU). It provides users with one-click AI-guided overclocking on select unlocked desktop processors. As users receive step-by-step instructions, even someone without experience can easily overclock the processors. It signifies Intel’s commitment to delivering top-tier performance for desktop enthusiasts.

There are also new gaming-focused features like Intel Application Optimization (APO) that enhance application threading to optimize speed and frame rate for smooth and consistent gaming performance. It is enabled by default, but users can also disable it, or enable it only for certain games. Intel also mentioned that the APO is only for games and does not work with benchmarks. Then there is also the Intel Thread Director which optimizes application thread scheduling.

Source: Intel

But that’s not all – currently, most people work in a hybrid environment, and mostly via calls on different platforms. The AI Boost feature allows users to make video calls keeping them in focus while blurring distractions from the background. The AI can also reduce ambient background noise, focusing on the user’s voice to offer crisp and clear sound on calls.

Counterpoint Research Senior Analyst Akshara Bassi, who tracks HPCs, Cloud, and Server market said, “Intel has introduced AI features for its Extreme Tuning Facility (XTU) that help in AI-assisted overclocking for the 14^th-gen processors (limited SKUs) and through the Application Optimization Program, it has introduced automatic thread performance while gaming.”

Connectivity is another area where the new desktop processors shine, with integrated support for Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.3, as well as discrete support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The new processors also include support for Thunderbolt 4 and the upcoming Thunderbolt 5 wired connectivity, offering up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth.

“From a technical perspective, the Intel Core-i9 14900K is the first chip in volume to hit 6Ghz, with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4,” Bassi added.

In terms of pricing, the premium Core i9-14900K will be available for $564, the Core i7-1700K for $384, and the Core i5-14600K will start at $294.

Netgear Q1 2023: Revenue Stutters as Inventory Correction Set to Spill Into Q2

Netgear’s Q1 2023 revenue declined 27.4% YoY to $180.9 million.
SMB segment revenue declined 2.6%, the first drop in eight quarters.
Connected home product (CHP) segment revenue declined by over 27% YoY.
Netgear expects the Q1 2023 revenues to be in the range of $150-$165 million.

Netgear’s revenue declined 27.4% YoY in Q1 2023 to $180.9 million, which was below the guided level mainly due to inventory corrections in the consumer and SMB segments. These corrections are expected to continue in Q2 2023, thus requiring lower production for Netgear. However, gross margins improved in Q1 on the good performance of premium products such as Orbi mesh gateways, 5G mobile hotspots, and Pro AV switches. Supply chain issues have improved for most of the product lines which helped reduce the use of air freight, thereby helping gross margins.

SMB declines for the first time in eight quarters

The SMB segment ended Q1 2022 at $78.2 million, a decline of 3% YoY from Q1 2022. The revenue drop was mainly caused by inventory corrections at Netgear’s largest e-commerce account.
Pro AV switches, a major revenue driver in the SMB business line, grew more than 50% YoY in Q1 2023.
The broadcasting and studio industry is transitioning from analog to high-resolution digital over IP solutions, which is fueling demand for IP switches and creating a market opportunity for Netgear.
Netgear has partnered with over 200 manufacturers to increase and stabilise its supply of Pro AV switches. It is focused on developing budget and high-speed ports such as 25 Gbps or above to cover future demand.
Netgear expects channel inventory to stabilise for SMB by the second half of the year. Revenue from SMB is expected to overtake the connected home product segment later this year, which will boost the company’s overall gross and operating margins.

Connected home segment transition to premium continues

The connected home segment contracted by 21% in Q1 2023, as channel inventories were reduced sharply for major products among key service provider accounts.
The macroeconomic headwinds and declining demand hit the retail consumer networking market, resulting in poor sales in the low- and mid-price segments.
Channel partners are expected to further reduce inventory levels, which is leading to production cuts at several of Netgear’s manufacturing partners.
However, the Orbi premium mesh Wi-Fi access points continue to beat expectations along with 5G mobile hotspots, resulting in higher shipments.
Netgear remains committed to delivering the latest technology for consumers. It has launched a Wi-Fi 7-based router with a maximum download speed of 19,000 Mbps across three bands.

Service provider revenue declines by a quarter

Service provider revenues declined to $14 million as customers focused on burning inventory rather than restocking.
To offset this decline, Netgear pushed the unlocked version of M6 5G mobile hotspots in various countries across Europe. Netgear plans to offer it in the US in Q2.
5G mobile hotspots have been performing well for Netgear in the past couple of quarters, showing a sharp YoY growth. The higher ASP of these products has helped Netgear improve its margin coupled with better performance and reliability.

Shipments decline by 25% YoY, COVID hits APAC revenues

Netgear shipped around 1.8 million units of wired and wireless networking devices, compared to 2.4 million in the same period last year.
It shipped around 485,000 units of all types of routers and gateways. Wired devices overtook wireless devices for the first time, driving the revenues with a 56% share.
Revenue from Europe grew 6% while that from the Americas declined 16%. The APAC region performed poorly, declining 32% mainly due to the COVID-19 surge in China in the early part of Q1 2023, resulting in a slowdown in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

Losses continue, but improvements visible

Even though the gross margin improved and exceeded 30%, the lower top line weighed on the overall financials, meaning the operating margins remained negative but were improving.
The supply chain improved a lot in Q1 2023 for most products, reducing the reliance on costly air freight.
Netgear is committed to improving margins by offering more premium products and aligning the marketing spends accordingly.

Strong growth in paid subscribers

Netgear concluded Q1 2023 with 775,000 paid subscribers, a 23% increase over Q1 2022. Software subscription services such as Pro Support, Armour, and smart parental controls have done well in terms of increasing service revenue.
Netgear’s services revenue increased by 7.9% YoY in Q1 to $9.6 million.

Inventory correction to continue in Q2 2023

Netgear expects strong demand for its SMB products, especially Pro AV switches, and premium consumer products such as Orbi 8 and 9 mesh gateways and 5G mobile routers in the coming quarters.
However, it is expected that its channel partners will continue to focus on inventory reduction in a similar manner as in the first quarter, which will result in an expected revenue of $150-$165 million.
In the third quarter, Netgear will debut a Wi-Fi 7 Orbi mesh device to benefit from the technological tipping point. It anticipates that consumers will begin upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 later this year.
Netgear has set a target of 875,000 paid subscribers by the end of this year and expects the revenue from services to grow strongly. It aims to onboard around 2 million subscribers in the next couple of years.
Cybersecurity across home networks has been a rising concern, but there is a lack of consumer awareness of the threat for regular internet users. Netgear is looking to launch awareness campaigns around home network security and push its Netgear Armor service.

Key takeaways

Netgear has been working on creating a premium brand experience through its direct channels such as Netgear.com. It has also introduced concierge services for its current and prospective customers.
Netgear has invested significantly in highly targeted performance marketing to communicate with premium customers through various channels. Such customers usually opt in more for subscription services compared to non-premium consumers, thereby creating additional recurring revenue for Netgear.
Cybersecurity is an opportunity that Netgear can address with its Armor service. It will also aim to raise awareness of both the problem and its solutions.
5G networks are being rolled out at a fast pace in the US and more developed European countries, which is likely to drive increased demand for 5G mobile hotspots as they compete with public Wi-Fi hotspots that are plagued with poor online security.
Fixed broadband services have slowed in the past couple of quarters in the US, but fixed wireless access (FWA) has been on the rise. It offers a good alternative to wired services in some situations. We have seen many traditional Wi-Fi networking companies offering 5G FWA devices. Netgear can also tap this market.
Due to the COVID-19 upgrade gap, enterprises are expected to upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, skipping Wi-Fi 6/6E. However, because of the macroeconomic difficulties, this upgrade cycle is not expected to become a significant driver until 2024.

Related research

u-blox Marks 25 Years With Record-breaking Revenue, Strong Growth Across All Segments

u-blox’s total revenue grew 44% YoY in 2022 to reach $654 million.
The company shipped more than 100 million chipsets and modules in 2022.
u-blox’s revenue is expected to grow more than 15% YoY in 2023.

Last year saw u-blox’s 25th anniversary, and the company marked the occasion in style, registering a record-breaking revenue of $654 million in 2022, an increase of 44.3% from 2021. Despite supply chain challenges, u-blox managed to fulfill customer demands with a diversified supplier base. The company experienced strong growth across all segments and regions.

Highlights for 2022

u-blox’s operating profit increased 258% YoY in 2022 to reach $138 million, demonstrating improved operational efficiency.
The mass adoption of high precession technology in industrial automation, delivery robots, autonomous construction and agricultural equipment helped its industrial segment to grow 52% YoY and capture 63% of the company’s total revenue.
The automotive segment also grew 54% YoY due to the increased demand for navigation and infotainment applications, driven by the shift towards electric vehicles. The segment contributed 28% to the total revenue.
The consumer segment grew 34% YoY and captured 9% of the total revenue.
Among regions, the revenue from APAC increased 59% YoY propelled by high demand for various applications such as infotainment, navigation, telematics and healthcare, particularly in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In EMEA, the revenue grew by 43% driven by the strong performance of infotainment, navigation, industrial automation and asset-tracking applications. Similarly, the revenue in the Americas grew 48% YoY fueled by the robust growth of infotainment, navigation, telematics and healthcare applications.
In 2022, modules and GNSS chips contributed 79% and 20% of the total revenue respectively. The company shipped more than 100 million modules and chips combined in 2022.

GNSS modules

u-blox is maintaining its leadership position in the GNSS module market due to its superior quality and high precision. In 2022, u-blox’s GNSS module shipments grew by 28% YoY, contributing more than half of the total module revenue. These modules are widely used in automotive and industrial applications. To further enhance its positioning solutions, it has formed partnerships with GMV to provide end-to-end safe positioning solutions for autonomous vehicles. Additionally, u-blox has secured multiple design wins, including with NXP semiconductor, NVIDIA and Li-Auto, for its ZED-F9K GNSS module for automotive applications.

Wi-Fi/BT modules

In 2022, u-blox’s Wi-Fi/BT module segment experienced a 17% YoY growth, generating a revenue of nearly $57 million. The widespread adoption of Wi-Fi 6 in healthcare and industrial applications has played a significant role in the segment’s growth. Besides, u-blox’s partnership with AWS has created two innovative modules that are pre-provisioned for secure communication with AWS via Wi-Fi and cellular IoT, simplifying access to cloud services for customers. This collaboration with AWS is expected to drive the adoption of u-blox’s high-quality modules targeted at the industrial segment, increasing the company’s market share and revenue growth potential.

Cellular IoT modules

According to Counterpoint Research’s Cellular IoT Module Tracker Service, u-blox’s cellular IoT module segment grew by 37% YoY in 2022, reaching $176 million. The launch of new products in the first half of the year played a crucial role in this growth, with its smallest 4G Cat 1 modules shipping one million units within two months of launching. Its UBX-R5 LPWA chipsets are also gaining traction among customers. In the cellular LPWA chipsets market, u-blox is competing with major players such as Qualcomm, Sony and Sequans. Sony’s latest 5G LPWA chipset may create further competition for u-blox.

GNSS chips

u-blox shipped nearly 54 million GNSS chips in 2022, which contributed $131 million in revenue. The u-blox 8 series chipsets continue to be the top-selling chipset, while the new M10 chipsets are ramping up production at a rate of one million per month. Nofence is leveraging u-blox GNSS chipsets to develop GNSS-enabled livestock collars for regenerative farming.

Outlook

The company’s future strategy is to continue to lead with innovative solutions that combine chipsets and modules with services while considering socio-economic and eco-friendly factors. The ongoing adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles will be a major growth opportunity for u-blox. With a strong order book in place, u-blox is forecasting a substantial YoY revenue increase of 6% to 16% for 2023. The average analyst estimate for the 2023 revenue is $724 million, representing an 11% increase. Considering the high demand and interest for its products in the automotive, industrial and asset-tracking segments, it is probable that u-blox’s revenue will be near the higher end of the projected range.

Related Posts

Netgear in Q4 2022: Orbi, SMB Units Offset Consumer, Supply Chain Weakness

Netgear’s Q4 2022 revenue was almost flat at $249.1 million.
Netgear’s SMB segment ended Q4 2022 with record revenue of $100.1 million.
The Consumer and Home Products segment’s revenue declined 14% YoY.
Netgear expects the Q1 2023 revenues to be in the range of $185-$200 million.

Netgear’s Q4 2022 revenue was almost flat at $249.1 million, a marginal decline of 0.8% YoY. However, it was at the high end of its guidance range on the back of a strong performance from its SMB segment, which exceeded $100 million for the first time. On the other hand, demand for consumer networking products, especially in the low- and mid-range, declined sharply, leading to a 14% YoY decline for Netgear’s Consumer and Home Products segment revenue. Supply issues were largely resolved in Q4, slightly reducing the reliance on costly air freight. The company continues to experience strong demand for its Orbi premium mesh Wi-Fi, 5G mobile hotspot and Pro AV switches.

SMB delivers record revenue

The SMB segment ended Q4 2022 with record revenue of $100.1 million, a 30% YoY growth from Q4 2021. Pro AV switches have grown by more than 60% in 2022 and have been a major contributor to the growth shown by the SMB business line.
There is a huge demand for AV over IP switches in the market as more enterprises look to upgrade to a digitally advanced AV network.
Netgear has focused on developing managed ethernet switches for the commercial AV industry and has looked to strengthen partnerships with AV OEMs and integrators.
A lot of enterprises are now returning to the office. Many offices still have Wi-Fi 5 or older technologies. Consequently, there’s a strong demand to upgrade to the latest Wi-Fi 6/6E technology.

Connected Home segment sees weak demand

The consumer home segment contracted by more than 20% in 2022 with especially weak demand in the low- and mid-range segments of consumer networking devices. Netgear is a leader in the US retail consumer networking market, so faced the brunt of demand contraction.
The segment revenue ended at $149 million, declining by 14% YoY. Netgear and its channel partners are working to reduce channel inventory to align with the lower market size.
A bright spot has been the Orbi line-up of premium mesh routers, which continues to perform well in contrast to the general trend of consumer networking. Orbi has become a strong sub-brand and Netgear can be confident about its premium market focus.

Service Provider revenue grew by 86% YoY

The demand for 5G mobile hotspots remained high and helped the service provider segment’s revenue recover to $57 million, near pre-pandemic levels.
Netgear’s M6 and M6 Pro 5G mobile hotspots are Sub-6 and mmWave enabled routers that have experienced interest and demand from telecom operators across the world.

Shipments decline by 19% YoY

Netgear shipped around 2.2 million units of wired and wireless networking devices. It shipped around 647,000 units of all types of routers and gateways. Wireless remains the dominant segment, driving the revenues with a 57% share.
Regionally, Americas’ performance remained similar to Q4 2021. EMEA grew by 5.4% and APAC declined by 10.8% mostly due to currency fluctuations across multiple markets on the dollar’s strength.

Operating margins remain under pressure

The supply chain improved in Q4, slightly helping reduce the reliance on air freight. However, as Netgear looked to fulfill orders on time, especially for SMB, it still relied on air transport, straining margins.
Netgear is focusing on higher-margin products such as Orbi premium mesh Wi-Fi, 5G mobile hotspots and Pro AV systems, which should help margins in the coming quarters.
However, it may need to rely on air transport until all backorders are cleared, so a recovery to profitability remains in doubt.

Strong growth recorded in paid subscribers

Netgear ended 2022 with 747,000 subscribers for its paid services, an increase of 28% from the same period in 2021. It is offering a one-year trial for Netgear Armor in select channels to increase the adoption of its paid services.
Services revenue was up by 23.9% annually in Q4 to reach $8.9 million, indicating that Netgear has been experiencing decent demand for its service subscriptions. Overall, it crossed 22.8 million users with 16.2 million app users.

Netgear to experience sluggish demand in H1 2023

Netgear expects the Q1 2023 revenues to be in the range of $185-$200 million as it looks to reduce orders for low- and mid-range against the backdrop of excess inventory. It also expects revenues from Service Provider customers to come down to around $25 million in Q1 2023.
Netgear is looking to strengthen its position in the premium consumer segment in 2023 with new technology launches, especially Wi-Fi 7.
It also expects to add more than a million paid subscribers to its subscription services which have been gaining traction. It has more than 10 million users worldwide who use Netgear’s app to control devices. This is a potential audience Netgear is looking to tap into in the future.
The margins are expected to improve slightly in H1 2023. However, the situation is expected to improve considerably in H2 2022 with the supply chain becoming smoother and the consumer segment seeing stronger demand, especially for new technologies.
Select channel marketing and consumer-oriented performance marketing campaigns will be pushed to drive the premium consumer segment.

Key Takeaways

Netgear has successfully demonstrated the need for premium networking products in the consumer segment. The number of connected devices in households has increased substantially and consumers are more aware about the networking backbone they are using. This should translate into a good demand for such products.
As 5G grows worldwide and in the US, the demand for portable mobile hotspots is expected to remain steady as they become more powerful and provide better battery backup.
The majority of consumer networking devices are now being supplied by service providers. Netgear can tap into partnerships with these service providers to scale its low- and mid-range consumer products.
With Wi-Fi 7 emerging and competitors launching Wi-Fi 7-enabled products earlier than expected, Netgear must expedite its product introductions in the critical premium segment.
Netgear will look to introduce more enterprise-specific products in the future as it sees success for its Pro AV and managed access points line-up. Netgear’s services revenue is expected to jump twofold this year as it taps more users.

Related Research

Supply Constraints Halt Netgear Growth Streak in 2021

Netgear, one of the leading manufacturers of gateways, routers, and enterprise networking solutions, has reported a sharp 31.6% YoY fall in its Q4 2021 revenues to $251.2 million. For 2021, the revenue fell 6.9% YoY to $1.17 billion. This goes contrary to the tremendous growth shown by the router and gateways industry in 2021, driven by the increase in capex for fiber deployment and significant demand for 4G/5G fixed wireless services.

Supply constraints hit revenues

Despite having a higher demand for premium SMB products, Netgear was not able to fulfil the orders due to factory closures following the outbreak of COVID-19’s Omicron variant.
The operating margins declined due to higher freight costs, as air passages were used more often to offset the delay due to the variant, and higher component costs owing to supply chain shortages.

SMB segment bright spot in 2021 amid supply constraints

SMB segment grew 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels. There was a large demand for the brand’s premium wireless solutions.
Netgear is offering a new suite of cloud-based video analytics solution ProAV, which has seen great demand.
The overall paid subscriber base for services such as Netgear Armor and Meural grew a healthy 33% annually to reach 584,000.
The strategic shift in focus to premium offerings helped drive the premium consumer segment revenues by 10% YoY in 2021 but couldn’t offset the overall decline due to supply constraints.
APAC region grew over 4.4% YoY, while Americas and Europe saw a decline of 38.6% and 25.8% respectively. However each region saw good demand for SMB products, but it was not able to offset the loss incurred by the consumer segment.
Shipments in Q4 2021 were about 2.7 million units with a third of them coming from gateways/routers.
Wireless products remained the key revenue driver for Netgear, contributing to 58% of the total revenues in 2021. Wireless products remain the key focus segment for the company going into 2022.
The brand saw strong demand for ORBI Mesh systems and Nighthawk gaming and non-gaming Wi-Fi 6 routers.
Netgear experienced a decline in retail and service provider channels due to supply shortages.

Outlook for 2022

Netgear expects the supply chain to remain constrained in Q1 2022 due to component shortages and factory closures. It expects normalcy in the supply chain from Q2 2022 provided there is no fresh COVID-19 outbreak.
Netgear will continue to take a hit on operating margins by using air transportation as a method to fulfil its pending orders. However, the brand will increase prices going forward to minimize the effect of transportation costs and increased component costs.
Netgear has announced a plethora of products this CES and expects its premium line-up of Nighthawk and Orbi Mesh routers to perform well in 2022. It will continue to focus more on higher-margin premium products that offer long-term stability for the company and have seen great demand in recent times. The company is betting big on Wi-Fi 6E routers and plans to ship them in big numbers this year.
Netgear expects to reach 750,000 more paid subscribers by the end of 2022 for its variety of online services. Since most businesses are opening offline in 2022, Netgear aims to offer cutting-edge solutions to those looking to upgrade their existing Wi-Fi 5 or below systems.
The brand has taken initiative to improve customer experience by overhauling its online purchase process.

Recommendations

The focus on increasing revenue through premium offerings should continue for better brand positioning. However, the brand should also focus on low- and mid-range products for developing markets, which have been generating significant revenue in the past.
Fixed wireless access (FWA) has been gaining momentum in North America for the past year and this year it is expected to grow further, entering more rural territories to bridge the digital divide. Netgear’s recent partnership with T-Mobile to offer 5G FWA products is a good step in promoting FWA. The brand should have more such partnerships to further increase its revenues through the service provider channel.

CES 2022: TP-Link, Netgear, Asus Drive Wi-Fi 6E Momentum

Despite several larger OEMs and Internet Service Providers pulling back from physically attending, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) saw some interesting device launches for wireless routers by key industry leaders such as Netgear, Tp-Link, Asus and Linksys. Wi-Fi 6E is the pick of the technologies among the various OEMs worldwide and devices were launched with some new features such as rotating antennas, quad band support and blazing-fast downlink speeds.

Here are top product launches and announcements by OEMs at this year’s CES:

World’s First Rotating Antenna Router Archer AXE200 Omni by Tp-Link

TP-Link is the first OEM to launch a Wi-Fi router with self-adjusting antennas. This Wi-Fi 6E router automatically changes the orientation of its antennas to optimize bandwidth. It also won a CES 2022 Innovation Award. The device offers a maximum speed of up to 11 Gbps that works on 6 GHz band providing superfast and reliable internet connectivity for power users. The device is aimed at users who struggle with poor network reception from standard Wi-Fi routers.

The Archer AXE300 provides quad band support, offers speed up to 16 Gbps and can connect up to 350 devices. The router will be offered later this year and also has 10 gigabit/s ports to support fast wired internet connectivity. The quad band offers lowered network congestion with an additional 5 GHz band and a wide 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi 6E devices which offers to reduce interference and broaden coverage. The device is an ideal solution for small and medium enterprises, gamers and freelance power user who work on cloud systems, which can deliver unmatched speed and connectivity required by them.

TP-Link has has options for larger premises with the Deco XE200, which offers 11000 Mbps of maximum speed and covers 6500 square feet of real estate with just two devices and the area coverage can be increased by opting for the three device solution. TP-Link’s proprietary AI Mesh solution promises better connection response rates by automating bandwidth switching within the mesh system.

Comparison between top devices announced by TP-Link

TP-Link provides all its routers with HomeShield powered by Avira, which acts as a security solution to protect the network and vulnerable IoT devices connected on the network from hackers. Security has been a concern among the OEMs due to several vulnerabilities found in such devices last year. The brand has integrated EasyMesh intelligent software in its routers and range extenders to enable the easy building of mesh networks using any EasyMesh-supported device.

TP-Link has announced a new brand, Aginet, which will cater to Internet Service Providers’ growing demand for better connecting devices to improve their Quality of Service (QoS) to consumers. TP-Link will launch a separate product line under this brand with a philosophy of agile and pragmatic solutions for the market. There has been a significant increase in the fiber connections worldwide in the past two years and with growing demand for xPON routers and mesh network solutions this is a practical move by the brand to help them align their products better in the market.

Netgear builds on Wi-Fi 6E Leadership

The pandemic induced high demand for better internet connections and increased dependence on Wi-Fi for working, learning and entertainment from home. Modern WI-Fi routers require more bandwidth, more number of bands, and better antennas to work in congested environments with various IoT devices and network devices vying for connectivity.

Netgear has introduced several superfast Wi-Fi devices adopting the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology in the last quarter of 2021. Building on this, Netgear announced the Nighthawk RAXE300 Triband Wi-Fi router which offers throughput speeds of up to 7.8 Gbps, eight Wi-Fi streams and can cover up to 2500 sq. ft. With pre-optimised antennas, one 2.5-Gbps port and five 1-Gbps ports to offer superfast wired connectivity as well. At $399, Netgear has priced it competitively, it remains to be seen how the competition responds. Netgear had several devices mentioned by the CES 2022 Innovations Honors’ Board including the already launched Orbi 5G Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System.

With working from home, a feature of life under the pandemic, employers, especially smaller businesses, are looking for affordable and reliable solutions for their employees that offer an experience on par with office life. Netgear’s Orbi line-up offers such reliability and security to be deployed for work from home scenarios, these devices are affordable and offer mesh networking solutions for better connectivity.

Netgear announced a Game Booster Solution for gamers using Netgear gaming routers, to enhance their user experience by offering software to find better server connections, geo filters for locations and a ping heat map to reduce lag. This is a subscription-based service aimed at gamers, which is a large market, especially as the pandemic encouraged new gamers and even people taking up gaming professionally.

ASUS drops a Quadband gaming router, the ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000

ASUS announced a quadband gaming router, ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000, which offers speeds of up to 16000 Mbps, 6 GHz band support and six 1-gigabit/s ports to offer a strong gaming experience. The device is powered by a quad-core processor from Broadcom, which improves network throughput by 18%, compared to the previous generation device for accelerated data transfers. ASUS’s own RF technology improves signal coverage by 38% compared to its previous product, and the device offers intelligent AI Mesh capabilities to connect with another Wi-Fi 6E EasyMesh enabled router.

At USD649, ASUS is assuming gamers are willing to pay a premium for the speed the product offers. However, it’s currently the cheapest quadband option available. The brand has also updated its ROG GT-AX11000 Pro with a beefier chipset to offer improved Wi-Fi 6 performance.

Linksys offers an affordable Wi-Fi 6 device: Hydra Pro 6

Linksys has unveiled its latest dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router, Hydra Pro 6. The router is launched into a competitive space with some recently launched products from Netgear, TP-Link and D-Link, however Linksys is carving its own niche by offering similar specs but at lower prices that its competitors. The Hydra Pro 6 is powered by Qualcomm’s Immersive Home 216 Platform along with the access to the 160 MHz channel, which offers true Wi-Fi 6 experience with faster speeds up to 5.4 Gbps and better connectivity with up to 30+ connected devices. The device is perfect for regular home use cases and can be a good offering for Internet service providers as well.

Linksys has also announced a cloud managed access point for large spaces such as restaurants, retail stores and small businesses, which require high concurrent device connections with dense network congestion. It offers a cloud-based management system that helps the system administrator to control, configure and monitor remotely. The solution is powered by Qualcomm’s Networking Pro Platform 1200 that claims fast throughput and good reliability. It has 4 x 4 internal antennas for improved signal coverage.

Key Takeaways

The Wi-Fi market is poised to grow significantly in 2022 as we expect strong subscriber growth in most regions of the globe. Regulators are working to ensure that the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use with the spectrum already available in North America and Europe. As a consequence, we will see a rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 6/6E devices this year.

The major focus for OEMS this year will be to increase signal coverage and strength and offer faster Wi-Fi 6/6E devices at a range of price points. OEMs and ISPs will work together to improve the Quality of Service (QoS) and as the fiber deployment increases across the globe more demand will arise from xPON devices. Mesh Network systems will be in demand too, as a lot of ISPs are bundling it with their services and the mesh systems are a better choice for users with larger premises and more connected devices.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, 7c+ Gen 3 Compute Platforms Bring Advanced & Meaningful Capabilities to Catalyze Windows 11 on ARM laptop market

After announcing the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC for smartphones on Day 1 at the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2021, Qualcomm on Day 2, has announced the next-gen mobile compute platforms for Windows 11 laptops. First is the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 platform designed for entry-level laptops. The second is a more powerful and premium Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, which is also the world’s first 5nm compute platform for Windows 11 laptops.

Designed for always-on, always-connected laptops, significant upgrades on the compute platforms include faster AI and 5G connectivity, enhanced security, audio and camera improvements. Devices powered by the new chipsets are expected in H1 2022.

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3: Key Specifications and Features

Powerful CPU and GPU

As mentioned above, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is made on a 5nm node, a first for Windows 11 powered ARM laptops, and also a major upgrade over the previous generation. It features an 8-core CPU that has four high-performance prime cores clocked at 3GHz, and four efficiency cores clocked at 2.4GHz. Though Qualcomm did not mention specifics of the ARM Cortex cores. Qualcomm says the new platform offers up to 85% faster CPU performance and up to 60% faster GPU performance.

Qualcomm is working with developers like Adobe to help them optimize Photoshop and Lightroom apps for content creators on the go. It is also working with Microsoft for optimizing productivity apps like Office 365, and Teams. It also supports variable refresh rates up to 120fps, making the laptops ready for smooth cloud gaming via Microsoft’s XCloud platform. All this while offering a longer battery life.

29 TOPS AI Acceleration

As AI has become so important for various tasks, the 3x boost in AI acceleration to 29 TOPS (trillion operations per second) is a significant improvement. With this work and learn from home scenario, there are quite a few challenges that most of us face in our daily lives. Just the other day I met my colleagues for the first time in months, and we were working from a meeting room in a shared office space. While I was on a call, the recipient could hear the typing noise of my colleagues’ keyboard.

The other day while on a Teams call, I could hear my colleague’s dog barking in the background, while another colleague had his kid running around and shouting. These are the distractions all of us face, and Qualcomm is using AI to help fix these issues with AI noise suppression and echo cancellation. Qualcomm even offered a live demonstration of the feature in Hawaii, and it worked pretty well.

The other feature includes face detection when on a video call, which can then separate the background and add a nice DSLR-like blur. This feature will help in keeping the background distractions away and focusing on your face.

Support for Multiple, Higher-resolution Cameras

We always talk about smartphone photography and how high-res sensors and multiple cameras are unlocking versatile photography experiences. But when you look at the laptops, they still come with low-resolution HD cameras. This could change next year as the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 platform supports up to four cameras front and back, and up to 24MP resolution.

But that’s not all, the compute platform will also support other features like auto-white balance, auto-exposure, and auto-focus features for laptop cameras. The camera ISP will also support recording videos at 4K UHD resolution.

Blazing Fast 5G, Enhanced Security

Just like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 compute platform also gets the Snapdragon X65 modem-RF system. With support for both Sub-6GHz and mmWave, it can offer peak download speeds up to 10Gbps. However, peak upload speeds can max 316Mbps. Qualcomm will also offer other configurations, one with Snapdragon X55 modem and up to 7.5Gbps speed peak download speed, and other with Snapdragon X65 modem offering up to 4.4Gbps peak download speeds.

The platform also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E along with Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Qualcomm also touched upon the platform offering chip to cloud security and support for Windows Hello face recognition.

Snapdragon 7cx+ Gen 3: Specifications and Features

While Qualcomm didn’t dive deep into the details of the Snapdragon 7cx+ platform, it did mention that it is built on a 6nm node. This will offer up to 60% faster CPU performance and 70 percent better graphics performance over the previous gen, which is noteworthy. The AI acceleration can reach 6.5 TOPS.

Source – Qualcomm

But besides CPU and GPU performance, the other big improvement is adding 5G support for this entry-tier compute platform, compared to predecessor which had only 4G LTE support. With Snapdragon X53 5G modem-RF system, Sub-6GHz, and mmWave support, it can offer peak download speeds of up to 3.7Gbps and up to 2.9Gbps upload speeds. It also brings support for Wi-Fi 6, and multiple cameras up to 64MP resolution.

Key Takeaways: ARM-based Windows 11 Laptops get Big Performance Boost with the new Compute Platforms

With the new Snapdragon 8cx and 7c+ gen 3 platforms, Qualcomm now has a very broad and highly differentiated portfolio of Windows on Snapdragon (ARM) chipsets easily addressing the majority of the laptops market and with unique features.
Qualcomm is addressing user pain points with capabilities such as AI/ML across the SoC sub-systems to boost performance and UX with support for high-resolution multiple cameras, advanced graphics performance and noise suppression and echo cancellation features among many.
The new Snapdragon Gen 3 compute platforms also brings high-performance and blazing fast connectivity (5G, Wi-Fi 6E) via X65 modem and FastConnect 6900 system to ARM-based Windows laptops which remains elusive in Intel or AMD based laptops. It also offers great monetization opportunities for operators.
Further, with Microsoft’s support for 64-bit apps emulation in Windows 11 will catalyze applications support on the platform which had been one of the inhibitors so far.
We believe based on the configuration and target geography, the 8cx based laptops could span from $500 to $1200 laptop segments and 7c+ from $300 to $800 segments.
Most of the traditional PC laptop OEMs have committed to expanding their portfolio with the latest Snapdragon-based solution and with current awareness created by Arm-based MacBooks will further push these OEMs to dedicate more resources in marketing and channels to see the adoption of Snapdragon-based ACPCs.
Another big opportunity is where Qualcomm’s existing key customers the smartphone OEMs and operators which are racing to launch connected devices such as laptops can adopt these 3^rd generation Qualcomm-based Windows laptops. This move should drive an inflection point for Qualcomm in this multi-billion-dollar segment in the near- to mid-term.

Top

Intel 14th-gen ‘Raptor Lake Refresh’ Processors: Specifications

AI Overclocking, Connectivity Enhancements, and more

Related Posts

SMB declines for the first time in eight quarters

Connected home segment transition to premium continues

Service provider revenue declines by a quarter

Shipments decline by 25% YoY, COVID hits APAC revenues

Losses continue, but improvements visible

Strong growth in paid subscribers

Inventory correction to continue in Q2 2023

Key takeaways

Related research

SMB delivers record revenue

Connected Home segment sees weak demand

Service Provider revenue grew by 86% YoY

Shipments decline by 19% YoY

Operating margins remain under pressure

Strong growth recorded in paid subscribers

Netgear to experience sluggish demand in H1 2023

Key Takeaways

Related Research

­Supply constraints hit revenues

SMB segment bright spot in 2021 amid supply constraints

Outlook for 2022

Recommendations

Related Posts

World’s First Rotating Antenna Router Archer AXE200 Omni by Tp-Link

Netgear builds on Wi-Fi 6E Leadership

ASUS drops a Quadband gaming router, the ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000

Linksys offers an affordable Wi-Fi 6 device: Hydra Pro 6

Key Takeaways

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3: Key Specifications and Features

Powerful CPU and GPU

29 TOPS AI Acceleration

Blazing Fast 5G, Enhanced Security

Snapdragon 7cx+ Gen 3: Specifications and Features

Related Posts

Coverage

Insights

Social media

Contact us

Term of Use and Privacy Policy

Intel 14^th-gen ‘Raptor Lake Refresh’ Processors: Specifications

Supply constraints hit revenues