Snapdragon Wear Elite: New smartwatch chip with AI co-processor and 5G RedCap

Qualcomm is expanding its range of chips for smartwatches and other wearables with a new top model. The Snapdragon Wear Elite is said to offer significantly more performance than its predecessors, as well as shorter charging times and improved battery life. However, the most important innovation is the first-time use of an AI co-processor.

In total, the Snapdragon Wear Elite, presented at MWC 2026, will feature two such co-processors. The Hexagon NPU (Neural Processing Unit) handles AI calculations that require higher performance. According to Qualcomm, these include the use of AI agents (Agentic AI), text-to-speech conversions, and image recognition. The manufacturer does not provide specific performance data for the Hexagon NPU. Qualcomm limits itself in this regard to a response time of 0.2 seconds until the first token is executed and a maximum of ten tokens per second. The language models used in the device can comprise up to two billion parameters.

The additionally integrated eNPU handles tasks with lower load, such as noise suppression and sound improvements during phone calls. Furthermore, the eNPU is intended to process voice commands and recognize activities in standby mode.

Elite without Oryon cores

Qualcomm is deviating from the naming convention used recently for the main processors. Until now, the "Elite" designation was reserved for chips in which the company integrates its own Oryon CPUs. However, the Snapdragon Wear Elite only contains cores adopted from ARM: a Cortex-A78 with a maximum of 2.1 GHz and four Cortex-A55 with up to 1.95 GHz. Single-thread performance is said to be up to five times higher than that of its predecessor, which is used in the Google Pixel Watch 4 (review). Qualcomm does not disclose which GPU the new chip contains. However, it is said to be up to seven times faster.

The company is more forthcoming regarding communication capabilities. The Snapdragon Wear Elite supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and is said to consume less energy than, for example, Wi-Fi chips in smartphones. In this context, Qualcomm speaks of "Micro-Power Wi-Fi" but keeps specific values for consumption and transmission rates to itself. Connections to other devices such as headphones are possible via Bluetooth 6.0, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) enables precise location of compatible devices. Mobile connections are possible via the integrated modem, which supports 5G RedCap. This is a 5G variant that uses less power – but at the cost of reduced, unspecified bandwidth.

Additionally, communication via satellite is possible: Text messages can be sent and received via NB-NTN (Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network), and precise location determination is possible via GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System). Which services – such as GPS and Galileo – Qualcomm uses for this is unknown.

Use in new Samsung Galaxy Watch

The chip, produced using a 3-nanometer process, is said to enable up to 30 percent longer usage time. Qualcomm refers to the actual active use (DoU, Day of Use) of the wearable. Additionally, the integrated power management is said to reduce charging times. The jump from 0 to 50 percent is said to be possible in just ten minutes. The Snapdragon Wear Elite is designed to work with Android, Linux, and Wear OS. The first end devices based on the new chip are expected to hit the market in the course of 2026, including the next generation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch. Qualcomm also anticipates its use in AI gadgets such as Project Maxwell, presented by Motorola in January 2026.

Note: Qualcomm covered the author's travel and accommodation costs for MWC 2026. (pbe)