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

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

Snapdragon X Elite: AI-powered PC performance redefined

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

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

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

The Snapdragon X Elite's 12-core CPU is poised to challenge conventional PC chipmakers like Intel by delivering a balance between high-speed performance and energy efficiency.

Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon X Elite is comparable in power to Intel's Lunar Lake and uses less power - a crucial advantage for users looking for high-performance laptops with long battery life. Qualcomm's move to Arm-based architecture underscores its commitment to energy-efficient processing, positioning Snapdragon as a formidable competitor in the PC market.

Snapdragon 8 Elite: AI-enhanced mobile experiences

Another big reveal at the summit was the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, designed for mobile devices. This chipset elevates smartphone capabilities with AI-powered camera enhancements, real-time translation, and personalized user interactions.

For example, the AI-powered camera system can optimize settings based on environmental factors such as lighting, allowing 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, the Snapdragon 8 Elite minimizes latency, delivering real-time results that enhance the user experience. This approach also emphasizes data privacy, as the processing does not rely on the cloud.

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

Snapdragon Auto: In-Car AI Experiences

Beyond personal devices, Qualcomm highlighted the transformative potential of its Snapdragon Auto platform, with a full day dedicated to the company's involvement in the automotive segment.

Snapdragon Auto integrates AI capabilities to provide real-time navigation, voice assistance, and advanced driver safety features, aimed at making driving safer and more intuitive. Qualcomm's automotive innovations expand its broader AI-first vision, where AI improves convenience and safety across various aspects of life, from mobile devices and PCs to vehicles.

This automotive AI aims to improve user interactions and make driving safer and more efficient by optimizing in-car systems in real time. The Snapdragon Auto platform thus represents Qualcomm’s ambition to extend AI-first experiences to new domains, in line with the increasing demand for more intelligent, connected vehicles.

Connectivity Innovations: Fueling an AI-First Ecosystem

Qualcomm Summit also highlighted advancements in connectivity, a key factor in supporting AI-powered devices. Snapdragon platforms, including the X Elite and 8 Elite, have native 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support, which is critical to delivering the seamless, high-speed data exchange that AI applications demand.

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

For example, Snapdragon-powered laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and Samsung Galaxy Book4 use 5G to maintain reliable connectivity, making these devices well-suited for today’s hybrid work environments. By integrating 5G and Wi-Fi 7, Qualcomm is ensuring that its Snapdragon technology supports the fast data transfer required for AI tasks, creating a cohesive ecosystem where all devices benefit from fast, reliable internet access.

Product Proof: Snapdragon Elite-Powered Laptops

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

Dell XPS 13 9345 , powered by Snapdragon Elite, offers significant performance and battery life gains. Featuring a 13.4” optional touchscreen and renowned for its sleek design, the XPS 13 takes advantage of Qualcomm’s energy-efficient processing, allowing users to work, multitask, and even play without compromising performance or overheating. The AI-powered thermal management system keeps the laptop cool during extended use, making it a comfortable choice for intensive tasks.

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. This connectivity enhancement supports seamless video conferencing, cloud-based work, and large file transfers, reducing frustrations over slow internet speeds and dropouts.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge , which features a sharp 16-inch WQXGA AMOLED touchscreen, also benefits from Snapdragon Elite’s AI capabilities, particularly 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, scheduling, and personalized recommendations, making the Galaxy Book4 ideal for users who manage 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 option for streaming, casual gaming, and multimedia consumption. With these features, the Snapdragon Elite essentially transforms the Galaxy Book4 into a productivity powerhouse and 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 usage habits, extending usage time between charges and meeting the demands of users who rely on their laptops for extended periods 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 moving to Arm-based architecture, Qualcomm has embraced power-efficient, AI-capable devices, directly challenging x86 dominance in the PC market. The Snapdragon X Elite's robust performance, combined with its power efficiency, marks a significant step forward in Qualcomm's quest to redefine expectations for laptop performance.

As evidenced by both Dell and Samsung laptops, Qualcomm’s commitment to on-device AI is central to this vision. This approach improves performance and protects data integrity by processing sensitive information locally, meeting consumers’ growing demand for smarter, more intuitive devices that don’t compromise on security.

Qualcomm's advancements in connectivity further enhance this user experience, giving Snapdragon-powered devices the reliable, high-speed data connections that today's highly connected world demands.

By challenging Intel's claims, Qualcomm conveyed a sense of confidence and ambition, positioning the Snapdragon X Elite as a more practical and efficient choice for real-world performance. The company's shift is in line with its broader AI-first vision, where devices ranging from mobile to automotive platforms operate with embedded intelligence.

The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomm's readiness to lead the tech industry toward a future where AI enhances every aspect of device functionality, from efficiency and connectivity to security and usability.

Closing thoughts

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

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

My latest SmartTechCheck podcast, recorded at the Qualcomm Summit, features a lengthy interview with a team of analysts discussing the highlights of the event, as well as some outstanding product demonstrations that are great examples of the company's "AI-first" vision and strategy.

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

The Snapdragon Summit highlighted Qualcomm’s commitment to a connected, AI-first ecosystem that is redefining expectations in the PC, mobile and automotive markets. At the event, the company made a strong case that Snapdragon-powered devices promise to be essential tools for modern lifestyles, seamlessly blending high performance, data security and intelligent, adaptive features.