As 5G-A becomes more common, operators and manufacturers want chipsets that are cheap, fast, energy-saving, and available for a long time. Qualcomm's X82 and X85 are popular options for next-generation Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices.
The X85 is for top-end 5G-A equipment, while the X82 is becoming the go-to choice, especially for wifi router manufacturers like SUNCOMM that focus on large-scale CPE solutions.
Here's a comparison of the X82 and X85, along with how SUNCOMM uses them in their products.
Mainstream vs. Premium
Qualcomm X85
l Made for high-end FWA and business gateways
l Supports the latest 3GPP Release 18 / 5G-Advanced
l For fast CPE and operator-level use
l Best for AI, tri-band Wi-Fi 7, and edge-computing CPE
Qualcomm X82
l A budget-friendly 5G-A option for large deployments
l Good 3GPP Release 17 and some Release 18 features
l Great for regular FWA, home gateways, small business routers, and portable 5G devices
l Good balance of price, heat, and speed
Basically:
l X85 = High-end, fancy 5G-A
l X82 = Affordable, gets-the-job-done
That's why SUNCOMM 5g router supplier and others plan to use the X82 for most of their CPE products from 2026–2027.
X85:
l Top-Tier Modem + 400 MHz 6CC CA
l Downloads up to 12 Gbps+
l Fully ready for 5G-Advanced
l Up to 6-component carrier aggregation
l Made for crowded areas and replacing premium broadband
X82:
l Balanced and Efficient Modem
l Multi-gigabit speeds (for operator use)
l Usually 3–4CC CA, depending on setup
l Good RF in suburban/rural areas
l Good on power and stays cool
What this means:
The X82 is fast enough for most CPE setups. Only operators with super-fast 5G-A home internet need the X85.
X85
l Often paired with the newest Wi-Fi 7 (BE) chips
l Supports MLO, 4x4 setups, and high-bandwidth backhaul
l Good for mesh networks, business APs, and AI traffic management
X82
l Usually paired with Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 6E / Wi-Fi 7
l 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO depending on the device
l Good for home and small business users with a good price
For SUNCOMM:
l X85 models are for AI-powered, premium CPE
l X82 models are the best-selling mid/high-end CPE, known for being reliable and affordable
The X85's higher carrier aggregation and processing create more heat in small CPE devices.
X82 Advantages:
l Runs cooler
l Needs simpler heat spreaders
l More consistent in hot weather and passively cooled boxes
For wifi router suppliers like SUNCOMM, this saves money and makes things easier.
Operators buying 10,000–200,000 units always want to save money.
X85
More expensive chipset
Needs more memory (often LPDDR5)
Good for premium plans
X82
Cheaper chipset
Easier system requirements
Great for competitive markets and nationwide rollouts
This value is why SUNCOMM X82 CPE devices should sell a lot in 2025–2026.
When X85 is the best choice:
l Business-grade 5G routers
l Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 CPE
l AI home gateways * Busy city areas
l Premium broadband replacement (>4–6 Gbps plans)
When X82 is better:
l Home broadband CPE
l Small business routers
l Portable 5G devices
l Large operator deployments
l Countries upgrading from 5G NSA to SA
SUNCOMM uses both:
SUNCOMM Qualcomm X82 Series (Mainstream)
l Made for large global deployments
l Tuned RF for suburban/long-distance FWA
l Stable Wi-Fi 6 for many users
l Uses less power = more reliable
Target: home users, small businesses, emerging markets, operators with big rollouts
SUNCOMM X85 Series (Premium)
l AI-boosted 5G-A CPE
l Full Wi-Fi 7 and 6CC CA
For carriers that need super-high speed and advanced QoS
This lets SUNCOMM offer competitive prices and top performance, depending on what the customer wants.
Both the Qualcomm X82 and X85 are important for 5G-A:
l X85 will be big in the premium CPE and business gateway market
l X82 will be the main choice for regular FWA deployments
For wifi router suppliers like SUNCOMM, the X82 is a great mix of speed, cost, scalability, and long-term reliability, making SUNCOMM Qualcomm X82 series CPE products a good pick for carriers and distributors wanting 5GA solutions that will last.
