Soon you'll be able to stream 4K movies on multiple screens in your car

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In car connectivity is set to take another leap forward with the introduction of the Qualcomm QCA6696 automotive chip at MWC 2019.

It may not sound that appealing, but this chip provides new functionality which could change what's possible within your car.

The chip brings the next generation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to the automotive industry, including support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Movies and more

The introduction of a Wi-Fi 6 connection in the car means you'll have access to even faster internet speeds, allowing you to stream 4K movies on multiple screens at the same time.

Meanwhile the Bluetooth 5.1 support brings with it Qualcomm aptX Adaptive audio which delivers high fidelity voice and streaming audio support.

What's more, the new chip will improve signal in built up and busy areas, which means you should be able to maintain a constant connection when you're in the middle of the city or sitting in a traffic jam.

Qualcomm claims the QCA6696 chip is capable of achieving download speeds of up to 1.Gbps, which is currently faster than many home broadband connections.

There is a little bit of a wait until we see the benefits of this new chip in action though, with the first vehicles to pack it expected to roll off production lines in 2021. 

At least by then 5G networks will be far more established, which means you should be able to get excellent performance pretty much anywhere you go.

MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone.

John McCann
Global Managing Editor

John joined TechRadar over a decade ago as Staff Writer for Phones, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He's interviewed CEOs from some of the world's biggest tech firms, visited their HQs and has appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Originally specializing in phones, tablets and wearables, John is now TechRadar's resident automotive expert, reviewing the latest and greatest EVs and PHEVs on the market. John also looks after the day-to-day running of the site.