Qualcomm reveals two new smartphone chips for agentic AI

Qualcomm launched its latest smartphone processors on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during its annual Snapdragon Summit in Maui, Hawaii. The company introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, designing both platforms specifically to power on-device agentic artificial intelligence.

The chipmaker views running AI models directly on devices as a more affordable path than paying for cloud-based applications. Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm, stated that the multi-flagship rollout delivers immediate and adaptive AI experiences across a wider range of premium hardware. Qualcomm processors appear in premium Android smartphones globally, including devices made by Xiaomi, Motorola, and ZTE.

The release comes as Qualcomm attempts to diversify away from phones. In June, the company presented data center components and servers, projecting non-handset revenue of $40 billion for fiscal 2029. It has also expanded into laptops, smart glasses, and automotive tech.

Smartphones still supply most of the company's income. In its July earnings report, handset sales generated over $5.1 billion, automotive revenue reached $1.5 billion, and the broader CDMA Technologies segment delivered $8.5 billion of Qualcomm's $9.9 billion in total quarterly revenue.