Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips with on-device AI acceleration for up to 30B-parameter models

Qualcomm introduced two new flagship smartphone processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, designed to accelerate on-device AI workloads. The company emphasized improved personalization for AI agents and local execution of small models through a new sensing hub capable of running models up to 200 million parameters.

The sensing hub enables features such as local speaker differentiation for a personal scribe function and memory-based usage tracking to improve task automation suggestions. Qualcomm also stated that a complete voice-in and voice-out agent can run entirely on the new chip.

The Extreme variant includes a dedicated accelerator element that enables local execution of a 30-billion-parameter mixture-of-experts (MoE) model. In MoE architectures, only a subset of parameters is activated per task, improving efficiency despite the large total model size.

For context on model scale, Apple described a 20-billion-parameter MoE model as its most advanced during its Worldwide Developer Conference in June 2026.

Beyond AI acceleration, the new chips offer pixel-level camera control for professional-grade experiences, improved stabilization and motion understanding, and support for 8K 60fps and 4K 240fps video recording. They also introduce an Advanced Professional Video codec and AI-powered audio enhancement features, including noise reduction and Qualcomm’s new voice bubble technology for isolating user noise during calls.

Motorola announced the Motorola Signature 27 smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with general availability expected later in 2026.