{"id":7481,"date":"2025-10-09T03:12:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/?p=7481"},"modified":"2026-02-03T13:59:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:59:32","slug":"improving-5g-smartphone-performance-with-6rx-and-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/improving-5g-smartphone-performance-with-6rx-and-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving 5G smartphone performance with 6Rx and AI"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row fullwidth=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7483\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7483\" style=\"width: 702px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a style=\"color: #808080;\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/4gtRBRr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7483 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/251009_Tantra_Analyst_Improving_5G_smartphone_performance_with_6Rx_AI_Fierce.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"702\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/251009_Tantra_Analyst_Improving_5G_smartphone_performance_with_6Rx_AI_Fierce.jpg 702w, https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/251009_Tantra_Analyst_Improving_5G_smartphone_performance_with_6Rx_AI_Fierce-300x144.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/251009_Tantra_Analyst_Improving_5G_smartphone_performance_with_6Rx_AI_Fierce-700x336.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7483\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Originally published in Fierce Network, on September 18, 2025<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">In wireless communications, multiple antennas typically results in improved performance<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Fitting more antennas within the constraints of a smartphone and managing them is a major challenge<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">A new feature called 6Rx will allow up to six antennas per phone<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">In wireless communications, the use of multiple antennas typically results in improved performance. However, fitting more antennas within the constraints of a smartphone and managing them is a major challenge. That\u2019s why today\u2019s smartphones typically have only two or four antennas. But a new feature called 6Rx will allow up to six antennas per phone. Additionally, the on-device AI intelligently manages these antennas to maximize performance and optimize power consumption and battery life. The cellular modem supporting these features was introduced last year, followed by the announcement of a smartphone this year.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">The primary benefit of 6Rx is a significant improvement in downlink cell-edge speeds and user experience. This effectively closes the 5G coverage gap (compared to 4G) created by the mid-band spectrum utilized by most operators. Additionally, 6Rx enhances overall capacity and uplink performance. Moreover, this feature doesn\u2019t require any standards changes or upgrades to the network infrastructure, making it a cost-effective and fast time-to-market feature for 5G operators.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>5G performance needs<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">The rapid proliferation of 5G, the popularity of true unlimited data plans, and the unprecedented growth of fixed wireless access (FWA) are quickly depleting the available capacity in today\u2019s 5G networks. Operators are seeking cost-effective ways to enhance the capacity and performance of their existing networks without requiring significant infrastructure investments.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Most operators utilize midband\u00a0<a style=\"color: #808080;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fierce-network.com\/wireless\/spacex-scoops-echostar-spectrum-17b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">spectrum<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(e.g., 3.5 GHz) for 5G. However, the underlying networks are built on 1800 NHz, 1900 MHz, or 2.1 GHz 4G site grids. Since higher frequencies have a smaller coverage footprint, this difference in frequency between 4G and 5G creates coverage gaps. Much of these gaps are addressed by 5G\u2019s massive MIMO, which can support up to 64 antennas on base stations (64T64R). However, massive MIMO may not be beneficial in improving performance at the edges of cells, in hard-to-reach areas such as indoors, basements, and urban jungles. Weak signal is one of the consistent customer complaints of 5G. The current solutions, such as small cells and network densification, are very expensive and time-consuming.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6 class=\"t1-ad-slot my-5 my-lg-4\" data-ad-slot-id=\"38\"><span style=\"color: #808080; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-weight: lighter;\">In such a condition, 6Rx is an ideal solution to this challenge that 5G operators are facing today.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What is 6Rx?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">As the name suggests, this feature utilizes six receive antennas, instead of the typical four, in 5G devices. More antennas mean better diversity gain and coverage. But keeping all antennas active all the time significantly increases power consumption and reduces battery life. Therefore, the smart approach is to use only as many as needed to maximize coverage, neither more nor less.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">You might ask, \u201cWhat is the big deal here? FWA CPEs have as high as 8Rx configuration!\u201d The primary difference lies in the constrained space and battery life requirements of smartphones. Each of these antennas will have a complete receive chain, comprising of low-noise amplifiers (LNA), filters, mixers, analog-to-digital converters (ADC), and digital signal processors (DSPs). Fitting all of them for all antennas into a small smartphone form factor with sufficient isolation and diversity gain is a Herculean effort. It requires deep technology expertise and experience.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Managing these antennas is another major hurdle. RF conditions change extremely rapidly. The decision of how many and which antennas to use must be made in almost real-time. That\u2019s exactly where on-device AI comes into play. AI algorithms determine how many and which antennas to use, based on the type of traffic (best effort or latency-sensitive), spectrum, signal conditions, near-end obstructions (e.g., hand or head blocking), antenna performance, and other relevant parameters.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Qualcomm was first introduced to 6Rx in its Snapdragon X80 5G modem in 2024. Following that, the company announced its second-generation solution, Snapdragon X85 5G, during MWC Barcelona 2025, which further enhances performance.\u00a0Xiaomi was the first Smartphone OEM to adopt 6Rx, and many others are keenly interested in it.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Since 6Rx is a proprietary technology that does not require standards or changes to the network, vendors have the full flexibility to optimize their designs and AI algorithms, offering highly differentiated solutions.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Performance improvements with 6Rx<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">The user&#8217;s perception of network coverage and experience is often determined by the performance at the cell edges. Studies have shown that 6Rx can increase the cell-edge data rates by 20% or more. For users, that means being able to make voice calls where it was previously impossible, enjoying stutter-free video streaming, a more immersive gaming experience, and improved performance of lower-latency applications.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Additionally, 6Rx can increase the overall network capacity by up to 20%. This is because more antennas enable smartphones to achieve better signal quality and minimize interference. Both will increase overall user data rates and, thereby, the network capacity.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><a style=\"color: #800000;\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/4mieQPL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Qualcomm&#8217;s field tests<\/a>,<\/span> utilizing smartphones with their latest X85 5G modem, have shown that overall user speeds can be as high as 35%. Currently, Qualcomm is the only provider that supports this feature in 5G modems.<\/span><\/h6>\n<div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid image-style-full-body-width aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/qtxasset.com\/quartz\/qcloud4\/styles\/full_body_width\/s3\/media\/image\/Qualcomm%20field%20testing.png?VersionId=8aiq3R3.oO_8I54KGXwJKs9LEDZoQY7F&amp;itok=2FLAtKPK\" alt=\"Qualcomm field testing.png\" width=\"462\" height=\"350\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h6 class=\"caption caption-drupal-media align-center\" style=\"text-align: center;\" role=\"group\"><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Qualcomm field testing (Source: Qualcomm)<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">Interestingly, these six antennas can also improve uplink performance. Although the uplink diversity remains 2x, it can utilize the best two antennas of the available six antennas, which will significantly improve user data speeds and latency. Again, AI can determine which of the two antennas to use, when for the best performance. Higher uplink performance is becoming crucial with the increasing popularity of social media apps. For example, during Super Bowl LIX 2025, Verizon experienced, for the first time, that the uplink traffic exceeded the downlink traffic at the sites covering the stadium. In such cases, six antennas can be extremely helpful.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What about Apple?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">The feature is starting to gain commercial traction, led by the leading Chinese vendor, Xiaomi. While other OEMs are also considering the feature, one question in everybody\u2019s mind is \u201cWhat about Apple?\u201d There is currently no public information available on the type\/make\/model of the modems that will be used for the latest iPhone 17 series, except for the iPhone Air, which will utilize its own C1X. There are rumors that all other models will use Qualcomm\u2019s modems.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">I am highly doubtful that iPhone 17s will have 6Rx (specs on Apple\u2019s site don\u2019t list it). There are many reasons for my doubt. Firstly, Apple\u2019s C1X is still far behind contemporary modems from Qualcomm and MediaTek in terms of features. Even basic features, such as mmWave, are missing. So, doubt such advanced features are its priority now. Secondly, historically, Apple has always used the\u00a0previous year\u2019s\/generation\u2019s modem in its latest phones, and has been a laggard in adopting new wireless technologies. Thirdly, and most importantly, from a business perspective, it would be unwise for Apple to create too much of a performance gap between third-party and its own modems.<\/span><\/h6>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>It&#8217;s a no-brainer<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\">For anyone familiar with wireless technology, it is a no-brainer that more antennas mean better performance. The new 6Rx feature allows up to antennas in 5G smartphones, overcoming the space and power consumption constraints. Utilization of AI takes the 6Rx performance even further. This feature doesn\u2019t require any changes to the network and can cost-effectively address two of the crucial challenges of operators\u2014better cell-edge experience and higher overall network capacity. The feature is already commercially available, with smartphones featuring the feature starting to be rolled out.<\/span><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=&#8221;blue&#8221; style=&#8221;shadow&#8221; el_width=&#8221;30&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h6><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><em>Prakash Sangam is the founder and principal at <span style=\"color: #800000;\"><a style=\"color: #800000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tantra Analyst,<\/a> <\/span>a leading boutique research and advisory firm. He is a recognized expert in\u00a05G, Wi-Fi, AI, Cloud and IoT. To read articles like this and get an up-to-date analysis of the latest mobile and tech industry news, sign-up for our monthly newsletter at\u00a0<a style=\"color: #808080;\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/TA-Newsletter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">TantraAnalyst.com\/Newsletter,<\/span><\/a> or listen to our\u00a0<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><a style=\"color: #800000;\" href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/TA_Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tantra\u2019s Mantra podcast.<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row fullwidth=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text css=&#8221;&#8221;] In wireless communications, multiple antennas typically results in improved performance Fitting more antennas within the constraints of a smartphone and managing them is a major challenge A new feature called 6Rx will allow up to six antennas per phone In wireless communications, the use of multiple antennas typically results in improved performance. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-5g","post_format-post-format-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7481"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7654,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7481\/revisions\/7654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tantraanalyst.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}