Qualcomm Unveils Dragonwing Q-6690: World's First Enterprise Mobile Processor with Integrated RFID and AI Capabilities

Qualcomm launches new Dragonwing Q-6690 CPU, combining integrated RFID, artificial intelligence, and wireless capabilities

RAIN Alliance says integration could transform operations and create new connected markets Qualcomm has announced a new enterprise mobile processor that integrates RFID directly onto the chip, something no other mobile CPU has offered previously. The Dragonwing Q-6690 brings together RFID with built-in 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and ultra-wideband support. The processor has been designed for use in devices across retail, logistics, and industrial environments, as Qualcomm says it can support rugged handhelds, point-of-sale systems, kiosks, and other commercial form factors. By embedding RFID directly, the processor does away with the need for separate RFID reader modules, resulting in slimmer devices. "The Dragonwing Q-6690 combines integrated RFID, AI, and next-gen wireless capabilities in a single, scalable platform, designed to accelerate innovation across industries including retail, logistics, and manufacturing," said Art Miller, vice president and head of retail at Qualcomm. "We are particularly excited about working with retailers today that need platforms that are not only powerful and connected, but also adaptable to evolving customer expectations, from smarter kiosks and handhelds to real-time inventory analytics and contactless experiences." Qualcomm views the new platform as a tool for contactless applications such as access control, asset tracking, product authentication, and real-time inventory management. The platform offers software-configurable packs which will allow manufacturers to customize computing power, multimedia support, camera capabilities, and peripheral options for specific devices. These packs will be upgradable over the air, doing away with the need to redesign hardware, which should help in reducing certification demands, as well as speeding up product launches, and extending device lifecycles. For retailers, the new chip could be used for product tracking and store operations, while for industrial and logistics settings the integration could speed up and simplify processes that rely on RFID scanning. A number of device makers, including Zebra, Honeywell, Urovo, HMD Secure, and CipherLab, say they plan to release products powered by the processor, with commercial availability expected in the coming months.

Qualcomm Unveils Dragonwing Q-6690 Enterprise Mobile Processor with Integrated RFID

The Dragonwing Q-6690 introduces software-configurable feature packs that let OEMs choose their offerings depending on the computing demands, multimedia capabilities, camera support, or peripheral configurations they need -- with the ability to upgrade over the air without redesigning hardware. This modular approach not only accelerates time to market and reduces certification overhead but also extends product lifecycles by enabling over-the-air upgrades as customer needs evolve. Supporting Quotes from Ecosystem Partners Decathlon and RAIN Alliance: * "At Decathlon, we're relentlessly pursuing ways to elevate the customer experience while optimizing our operations," said Hervé D'Halluin, Leader RFID & TRACEABILITY, Decathlon. "Since 2004, we've fully leveraged RFID technology across our entire value chain. By 2019, we had already achieved 100% RAIN RFID tagging of our products. Now, The Dragonwing Q-6690, with its fully integrated RFID and AI capabilities, represents a game changer. It's set to maximize our operational efficiency, amplify smarter in-store customer experience and support our sustainability goals through enhanced product traceability." * "Qualcomm's integration of RFID - also known as RAIN technology - into the Dragonwing Q-6690 empowers retailers and logistics companies to put RAIN-enabled devices into every employee's hands, unlocking unprecedented productivity improvements and sales potential -- from Digital Product Passports and circularity to automated checkout, product authentication, asset tracking and inventory management," said Aileen Ryan, President and CEO at the RAIN Alliance. "This represents a seismic shift that will democratize the Internet of Things, reshape industries and create entirely new markets."

Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-6690 first Enterprise Mobile Processor with fully integrated RFID capabilities launched

Qualcomm has announced the release of the Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-6690 processor, which is the first enterprise mobile processor in the world to feature a fully integrated UHF (RAIN) RFID reader. The processor is designed for future-ready enterprise and industrial devices, and it allows on-device AI, advanced connectivity, and software-defined features without requiring a hardware redesign. The Dragonwing Q-6690 is built on 4 nm technology, offering high performance and efficiency. The Dragonwing Q-6690 supports 5G+5G DSDA (Dual-SIM Dual-Active), which enables simultaneous connections to two 5G networks, providing failover redundancy for critical applications. It also features Wi-Fi 7 with 320MHz channels and Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which can achieve aggregate throughputs over 30 Gbps. The processor also supports Bluetooth 6.0 and integrated UWB for fast, reliable, and location-aware connections. The processor features a Qualcomm Kryo CPU with an octa-core architecture and a maximum clock speed of 2.9 GHz. It includes a dedicated AI engine that delivers up to 6 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second). Built on a 4 nm process node, the processor is designed to be energy-efficient, handling complex tasks like real-time AI and video processing directly on the device. The CPU consists of one Kryo Gold Prime core at 2.9 GHz, three Kryo Gold cores at 2.7 GHz, and four Kryo Silver cores at 2.0 GHz. The Dragonwing Q-6690 allows users to add or upgrade features through configurable software feature packs without hardware replacement. This capability allows devices to stay current for years without expensive redesigns, and users can upgrade for more AI power, better camera support, expanded peripherals, or extra performance. The Dragonwing Q-6690 is designed for a variety of target industries, including Retail, Smart Buildings & Enterprises, Smart Cities, Supply Chain & Logistics, Home & Life Appliances, and Medical & Healthcare Devices. The Q-6690 processor has a product longevity date of 2034.

Qualcomm : Launches World's First Enterprise Mobile Processor with Fully Integrated RFID Capabilities

Leading OEMs including Zebra, Honeywell, Urovo, HMD Secure, and CipherLab, are the first to adopt this platform with commercial devices expected to be available in the coming months. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced a new groundbreaking processor, the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ Q-6690, which is the world's first enterprise mobile processor with fully integrated UHF RFID capabilities. The processor includes built-in 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and ultra-wideband, supporting proximity-aware experiences and superior global connectivity. Designed to support a wide range of form factors from ruggedized handhelds to retail point-of-sale systems and smart kiosks, the Dragonwing Q-6690 offers OEMs and ODMs a scalable and upgrade-ready platform with software-configurable feature packs that can be upgraded over the air. "The Dragonwing Q-6690 combines integrated RFID, AI, and next-gen wireless capabilities in a single, scalable platform, designed to accelerate innovation across industries including retail, logistics, and manufacturing," said Art Miller, vice president and head of retail, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "We are particularly excited about working with retailers today that need platforms that are not only powerful and connected, but also adaptable to evolving customer expectations, from smarter kiosks and handhelds to real-time inventory analytics and contactless experiences." World's First Enterprise Mobile Processor with Fully Integrated RFID capabilities The Dragonwing Q-6690 is the world's first enterprise mobile processor with fully integrated RFID capabilities, eliminating the need for external RFID reader modules and therefore enabling smaller, more efficient device designs. This integration eases the enablement of security-focused, contactless use cases such as access control, asset tracking, inventory management, and product authentication, ideal for retail, logistics, and industrial applications. For more information on the benefits of embedded RFID, visit OnQ blog. Software-Configurable Feature-Packs The Dragonwing Q-6690 introduces software-configurable feature packs that let OEMs choose their offerings depending on the computing demands, multimedia capabilities, camera support, or peripheral configurations they need-with the ability to upgrade over the air without redesigning hardware. This modular approach not only accelerates time to market and reduces certification overhead but also extends product lifecycles by enabling over-the-air upgrades as customer needs evolve.