Qualcomm has announced two new flagship smartphone processors, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with a major focus on bringing more advanced artificial intelligence features directly to smartphones.
At its annual Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm said the new chips are designed to improve AI-powered experiences, including smarter personal assistants, better automation, and more personalised interactions.
AI Processing Moves On-Device
The new Snapdragon chips include updated sensing hubs that can run smaller AI models locally. Qualcomm said these systems can support features such as personal note-taking, speaker recognition, usage-based memory, and voice-based AI agents without relying entirely on cloud processing.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 also includes a new accelerator designed to improve AI model efficiency. The higher-end Extreme version can run a 30-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts (MoE) model locally, allowing smartphones to handle more complex AI workloads while activating only parts of the model when needed.
AI, Cameras, and Communication Improvements
Qualcomm is also improving smartphone photography and video capabilities with the new processors. The chips offer more advanced camera controls, improved stabilisation, and better motion understanding.
The Extreme version supports 8K video recording at 60 frames per second and 4K recording at 240 frames per second for slow-motion video. It also supports Qualcomm’s Advanced Professional Video codec for higher-quality recording workflows.
The company said the new chips can also use AI to improve voice quality by enhancing vocals, reducing background noise, and using voice isolation technology during calls.
Competition in AI Smartphone Chips
Qualcomm’s move comes as chipmakers compete to bring more AI capabilities directly onto consumer devices. Apple has also been developing smaller on-device AI models, including a 20-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts model as part of its foundation model research.
Motorola has already announced a smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with availability expected later this year.
Qualcomm says it is working with more than 40 AI-focused devices, as the company believes smartphones will remain a major platform for everyday AI use rather than being replaced by dedicated AI hardware.
