Qualcomm launches two AI-focused Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips
Original: Qualcomm launches two new smartphone chips with emphasis on AI
Why This Matters
On-device 30B MoE execution sets a new benchmark for local AI inference in consumer smartphones.
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 at its annual Snapdragon Summit on September 22, 2026. The chips feature new sensing hubs capable of running models up to 200M parameters locally, with the Extreme variant supporting 30B-parameter MoE models on-device.
At its 2026 Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm announced two flagship mobile processors: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the higher-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both chips include a new sensing hub designed to run small AI models locally — up to 200 million parameters — enabling on-device features like speaker differentiation, a personal scribe, and usage-based memory for task automation. Qualcomm also says the chips can run a full voice-in, voice-out agent without cloud dependency.
The Extreme variant goes further, supporting a 30-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts (MoE) model on-device — larger than Apple's 20B MoE model released at WWDC in June 2026. On the camera side, the Extreme chip supports 8K 60fps video and 4K 240fps slow-motion, along with the new Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. Both chips include AI-driven vocal enhancement, noise reduction, and Qualcomm's new voice bubble technology for call noise isolation.
Motorola announced its Motorola Signature 27 smartphone powered by the Extreme chip at the event, with availability expected later this year. Qualcomm noted it is working on more than 40 AI devices, though industry figures including Nothing co-founder Carl Pei and new Apple CEO John Ternus have pointed to smartphones as the primary AI device for most users.