Abstract: A controlled area progression diffuser for a compressor may be defined by a bearing diffuser face of a bearing housing and a compressor diffuser face of a compressor housing that are spaced apart by a diffuser width, and airflow from a compressor wheel enters the controlled area progression diffuser through a diffuser inlet, flows between the diffuser faces, and flows out of a diffuser outlet to a volute. The diffuser faces may be shaped so that the diffuser width decreases as the controlled area progression diffuser extends radially away from the compressor wheel toward the volute so that an annulus area of the controlled area progression diffuser does not increase linearly for at least a portion of a radial length of the controlled area progression diffuser.