Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite aims to power the next wave of AI wearables — not just smartwatches | Tech Radar

Overview

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite aims to power the next wave of AI wearables — not just smartwatches

Expect it to be inside wearables like AI pins and pendants

Details

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear Elite wearable platform

It will likely be inside smartwatches and new AI form factors

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips already power many wearable devices, from the W5 Gen 2 inside the Pixel Watch 4 to the AR1 Gen 2 chip in the ever-popular Ray-Ban Meta glasses. However, at MWC 2026 – Mobile World Congress – Qualcomm is looking further ahead, both to the near term and the years beyond.

That future centers on AI running directly on your devices. Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear Elite platform is designed to deliver advanced on-device intelligence inside gadgets with limited space and battery, allowing features to run smoothly without relying heavily on the cloud. Samsung, Motorola, and Google are already backing the platform, with the first devices expected to arrive in the “next few months.”

To underscore the shift, Qualcomm is bringing its ‘Elite’ branding – previously reserved for premium smartphone chips, including those powering the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup – to wearables for the first time. The platform is intended for a wide range of devices, from smartwatches and smart glasses to emerging categories like AI pins, pendants, and other next-generation form factors.

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Wear Elite has been in development for more than three years and is built around four core priorities: on-device AI, battery life, connectivity, and performance. A redesigned architecture includes a dedicated NPU capable of running large language models directly on the device, enabling always-on features without a constant internet connection. That could power everything from next-generation smartwatches – potentially the Pixel Watch 5 – to pendant-style devices that automatically transcribe meetings.

When connectivity is needed, Wear Elite supports a broad range of standards, including low-power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, L1 + L5 GPS, ultra-wideband, 5G, and GNSS. These options allow devices to sync data or communicate with other hardware while minimizing battery drain.

Efficiency is critical for compact wearables, and Qualcomm says the platform delivers significant power improvements along with charging speeds up to twice as fast as the previous generation.

Wear Elite is designed to enable always-on, context-aware features across devices like smartwatches, smart glasses, pins, and pendants by processing inputs such as voice, location, movement, and even camera data. The goal is to support more personal AI assistants that understand what you’re doing and where you are throughout the day, offering timely help without constant input.

Naturally, the big question is when these devices will arrive – and what they’ll actually deliver. Bjørn Kilburn, GM of Wear OS by Google, said the platform opens the door for smarter experiences on future Wear OS devices, emphasizing gains in performance, battery life, and connectivity.

Samsung confirmed that its next-generation Galaxy Watch – likely the Galaxy Watch 9 expected this summer alongside new Fold and Flip models – will use the Snapdragon Wear Elite chip.

Motorola, meanwhile, highlighted its interest in more personalized AI wearables, including the “Maxwell” pendant concept shown at CES 2026, saying the platform lets the company push those ideas further.

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While Samsung and Google see Wear Elite as the future of smartwatches, it’s clear Qualcomm is aiming far beyond the wrist. Motorola is exploring AI pendants, and new hardware from companies like Open AI – reportedly involving Sam Altman and Jony Ive – could introduce entirely new categories.

Whether Wear Elite becomes the silicon powering those devices remains to be seen, but Qualcomm is clearly betting that the next wave of personal computing will be AI-driven, wearable, and far more diverse than today’s watches and glasses.

It's also worth noting that Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite will live alongside Snapdragon W5, AR1, AR2, and S chips, likely being the one that companies call upon for watches, these new form factors, and even glasses.

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Jacob Krol is the US Managing Editor, News for Tech Radar. He’s been writing about technology since he was 14 when he started his own tech blog. Since then Jacob has worked for a plethora of publications including CNN Underscored, The Street, Parade, Men’s Journal, Mashable, CNET, and CNBC among others.

He specializes in covering companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google and going hands-on with mobile devices, smart home gadgets, TVs, and wearables. In his spare time, you can find Jacob listening to Bruce Springsteen, building a Lego set, or binge-watching the latest from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars.

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Key Takeaways

• Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite aims to power the next wave of AI wearables — not just smartwatches

• Expect it to be inside wearables like AI pins and pendants

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear Elite wearable platform

• It will likely be inside smartwatches and new AI form factors