Qualcomm launched the premium Snapdragon Wear Elite chip at MWC 2026. The new “Elite” branding positions the chip a tier above the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2. It is built on a 3nm process node and uses a big.LITTLE architecture for the first time.
The platform targets a significant performance uplift for next-generation wearables. This tier signifies a major increase in capabilities over the previous “high” tier. The chip supports Android, Wear OS, and Linux operating systems.
The central processing unit features a 2.1 GHz big core and four 1.95 GHz small cores. Qualcomm stated this configuration offers a 5x increase in single-core performance compared to the previous generation. The Adreno GPU provides up to a 7x improvement in max FPS performance, supporting 1080p at 60 FPS.
A Hexagon neural processing unit can run up to 2 billion parameters on-device. This enables AI use cases like personal assistants and health tracking. A dedicated eNPU handles low-power, always-on tasks, replacing the previous co-processor architecture.
Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 6.0, UWB, 5G RedCap, and satellite support. The chip supports Quick Charging to 50% in 10 minutes and offers 30% longer battery life. Google stated the chip is essential for moving Wear OS to an “intelligent system.”
Samsung confirmed the next-generation Galaxy Watch will use the Snapdragon Wear Elite. The chip can also be used for other AI form factors, such as smart glasses. First commercial devices are expected in the next few months.
Qualcomm Inc. is a global semiconductor company. The company designs and markets wireless telecommunications products. The stock ticker is QCOM.
