Qualcomm has an ‘AI-first’ vision for the future of smart devices

At its Snapdragon Summit in October, Qualcomm emphasized its commitment to an “AI-first” future, revealing progress aimed at bringing AI-powered experiences to a broad spectrum of devices, from smartphones and laptops to augmented reality (XR) and automotive platforms.

Held in Hawaii, the event showcased Qualcomm’s dedication to making artificial intelligence more accessible by developing powerful on-device AI capabilities. This strategic move reflects a vision of technology that is smarter, more intuitive, and closely aligned with consumer priorities such as privacy, performance, and energy efficiency.

Snapdragon X Elite: Redefining AI-powered PC performance

One of the key announcements at the summit was the Snapdragon X Elite platform, Qualcomm’s latest PC chipset that delivers high-performance computing with advanced AI capabilities.

Engineered to efficiently handle demanding workloads, Qualcomm designed the X Elite to provide users with a seamless experience for tasks such as real-time language translation, voice recognition, and advanced photo and video editing.

Unlike traditional processors, Snapdragon X Elite handles AI processing directly on the device, reducing reliance on cloud processing and improving speed and data privacy. This native AI capability empowers the device to perform faster and protect sensitive data, catering to those who prioritize performance and security.

The Snapdragon X Elite’s 12-core CPU is poised to challenge mainstream PC chipmakers like Intel by balancing high-speed performance with power efficiency.

Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon X Elite is comparable in power to Intel’s Lunar Lake and uses less power — an important advantage for users looking for a high-performance laptop with long battery life. Qualcomm’s move to ARM-based architecture underscores its commitment to energy-efficient processing, positioning Snapdragon as a strong contender in the PC market.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: AI-enhanced mobile experience

Another major reveal at the summit was the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor designed for mobile devices. This chipset enhances smartphone capabilities with AI-powered camera enhancements, real-time translation and personalized user interaction.

AI-powered camera systems, for example, can optimize settings based on environmental factors such as lighting, enabling users to capture high-quality images even in challenging conditions. Such advanced personalization uses AI to adapt to users’ unique needs, making mobile devices more responsive and intuitive.

By processing these AI functions directly on the device, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 minimizes latency, delivering real-time results that enhance the user experience. This approach also emphasizes data privacy, as processing does not rely on the cloud.

Combined with connectivity upgrades like 5G and Wi-Fi 7, the Gen 3 chipset supports the fast data exchange required for these cutting-edge AI functions, ensuring a smooth, high-speed experience for mobile users.

Snapdragon Auto: The in-car AI experience

Beyond personal devices, Qualcomm highlighted the transformative potential of its Snapdragon Auto platform, with an entire day dedicated to the company’s engagement in the automotive segment.

Snapdragon Auto integrates AI capabilities to deliver real-time navigation, voice assistance and advanced driver safety features, aimed at making driving safer and more intuitive. Qualcomm’s automotive innovations extend its broad AI-first vision, where AI enhances convenience and safety across many aspects of life, from mobile and PC devices to vehicles.

This automotive AI aims to enhance user interaction and make driving safer and more efficient by optimizing vehicle systems in real time. The Snapdragon Auto platform thus represents Qualcomm’s ambition to expand AI-first experiences into new domains in line with the growing demand for more intelligent, connected vehicles.

Connectivity innovation: fueling an AI-first ecosystem

The Qualcomm Summit also highlighted advances in connectivity, an essential component to support AI-powered devices. Snapdragon platforms, including the X Elite and 8 Gen 3, feature built-in 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support, which is critical for providing the seamless, high-speed data exchange that AI applications demand.

Qualcomm’s connectivity enhancements provide stable, fast connections that enhance the user experience for remote work, gaming, and virtual meetings, eliminating interruptions and improving response times.

For example, Snapdragon-powered laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Galaxy Book4 leverage 5G to maintain reliable connections, making these devices highly suitable for today’s hybrid work environments. By integrating 5G and Wi-Fi 7, Qualcomm ensures that its Snapdragon technology supports the fast data transfer needed for AI tasks, creating an integrated ecosystem where all devices benefit from fast, reliable Internet access.

Product proof point: Snapdragon Elite-powered laptop

With prices starting at $1,499 and $1,399 respectively for comparable configurations, the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge are prime examples of how Snapdragon Elite technology transforms the laptop experience. Both devices integrate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite platform, which enhances performance, efficiency and AI capabilities to meet the diverse needs of modern users, from business professionals to casual tech enthusiasts.

D Dell XPS 13 9345Powered by Snapdragon Elite, offers significant performance and battery life gains. Featuring a 13.4” optional touch-enabled display and known for its sleek design, the XPS 13 benefits from Qualcomm’s energy-efficient processing, allowing users to work, multitask and even game without performance or overheating. The AI-powered thermal management system keeps the laptop cool during prolonged use, making it a comfortable choice for intensive work.

Dell XPS 13 9345 Laptop (Photo by Author)

Snapdragon’s built-in 5G connectivity further enhances the XPS 13 by allowing users to stay connected to high-speed internet, a valuable feature for remote workers and frequent travelers. These connectivity improvements support smoother video conferencing, cloud-based work, and large file transfers, reducing frustrations with poor Internet speeds and interruptions.

D Samsung Galaxy Book4 EdgeFeaturing a crisp 16″ WQXGA AMOLED touch display, the Snapdragon Elite also benefits from AI capabilities especially in productivity and entertainment. One of its standout features, Copilot is an AI assistant that streamlines tasks and personalizes the user experience.

By learning from user behavior, Copilot helps with text summarization, schedule organization, and personalized recommendations, making the Galaxy Book4 ideal for managing users’ tasks and workflows.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop (Image credit: Samsung)

Snapdragon’s AI-powered graphics processing also ensures that the Galaxy Book4 delivers a vivid visual experience, automatically adjusting brightness and color for optimal viewing. This visual enhancement makes the laptop an excellent choice for streaming, casual gaming and multimedia use. With these features, the Snapdragon Elite essentially turns the Galaxy Book4 into a productivity powerhouse and an entertainment hub.

Without compromising on overall performance, battery efficiency is another highlight of the Dell XPS 13 and Galaxy Book4. Snapdragon’s intelligent power management maximizes battery life based on user habits, extends usage time between charges, and meets the needs of users who rely on their laptops for extended periods of time without easy access to a power source.

Qualcomm’s AI-First Vision: Shaping the Tech Landscape

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit made a bold statement about the future of AI in technology, positioning the Snapdragon X Elite as a serious competitor to Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake chips. By shifting to ARM-based architectures, Qualcomm embraced energy-efficient, AI-enabled devices, directly challenging x86 dominance in the PC market. The powerful performance of the Snapdragon X Elite, combined with its power efficiency, marks a significant step in Qualcomm’s bid to redefine expectations for laptop performance.

With both Dell and Samsung laptops serving as proof points, Qualcomm’s commitment to AI in devices is central to this vision. This approach increases performance and protects data privacy by locally processing sensitive information, meeting the evolving consumer demand for smarter, more intuitive devices that do not compromise security.

Qualcomm’s advancements in connectivity further enhance this user experience, providing Snapdragon-powered devices with the reliable, high-speed data connections that today’s highly connected world requires.

Challenging Intel’s claim, Qualcomm exudes a sense of confidence and ambition, positioning the Snapdragon X Elite as a more practical, efficient choice for real-world performance. The company’s shift aligns with its broader AI-first vision, where devices from mobile to automotive platforms operate with integrated intelligence.

The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomm’s readiness to lead the technology industry into a future where AI improves every aspect of device performance, efficiency and connectivity to security and usability.

Closing Thoughts

Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon advancements are shaping a future where AI-powered devices deliver stronger, more responsive user experiences. Qualcomm demonstrates how AI can transform everyday technology with the X Elite and 8 Gen 3 platforms, making it more innovative and intuitive across sectors.

Snapdragon Elite technology is improving raw performance and enriching the user experience by adding thoughtful, adaptive features that make devices more intelligent, personal and responsive.

My recent SmartTechCheck podcast recorded at the Qualcomm Summit features a lengthy interview with a team of analysts discussing highlights from the event, as well as some standout product demos that are good examples of the company’s “AI-first” approach and strategy.

With AI-powered processing, advanced connectivity and energy-efficient design, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform delivers a premium, future-proof experience that caters to today’s mobile, tech-savvy users.

The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomm’s dedication to a connected, AI-first ecosystem that redefines expectations across the personal computing, mobile and automotive markets. In the event, the company made a strong case that Snapdragon-powered devices promise to become essential tools for a modern lifestyle, seamlessly blending high performance, data protection and intelligent, adaptive features.