Need a taste for what next year’s phones will be like? You only need to glance at the tech being announced from the maker of phone chips the likes of which are used by Samsung in the “Ultra” model.
The new year is still months away, but we’re already getting a taste of what the next generation of phones will look like, at least under the hood, and the word you’re looking for is “fast”.
The other word you’re probably looking for is “AI”, as hardware makers look to use on-device AI processing as a way to improve AI’s capabilities, allowing it to do things without needing to be connected online, a positive for security and privacy, particularly if you don’t want your information used to train a company’s model.
Both are part of what Qualcomm has announced for its next-gen Snapdragon chip, the Elite 8 Gen 5, the new piece of hardware that will likely grace the premium phones in the new year not made by Apple or Google.
While Apple and Google typically used their own hardware (Apple A-silicon for the iPhones and Google Tensor G models for its Pixel phones), Samsung tends to rely on Snapdragon 8 models for its “Ultra” and premium foldable phones, as does Asus, as well.
Qualcomm isn’t the only chipmaker in town, but its latest model aims to give it that little bit more grunt, which could make its way into more phones.
That includes faster processing power with improvements to multitasking speed so it’s not just memory dependent, while apps reliant on graphics (like games) are being focused on power efficiency.
Alongside that, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will be able to let phones record video in the “Advance Professional Video” codec, which supports up to 8K video and was built by Samsung to create a lossless video look with HDR support that can run on a phone. Snapdragon’s use of APV apparently uses AI to capture, though we’re yet to find out how.
Qualcomm has noted that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will support AI agents on a device, essentially allowing phones to run automated actions on behalf of the user without intervention.
In terms of which companies will feature this phone, Australia can expect it in models from Samsung, Oppo, and Asus’ ROG brand, though others around the world are also expected to use the hardware.
Not just phones, either
Qualcomm also used its Snapdragon phone chip launch to show off its next variant in the Snapdragon X Windows PC processor, a style we’ve seen in more laptops of late.
Dell had an excellent Snapdragon PC last year, and Microsoft’s recent Surface Pro saw Snapdragon inside, too.
The new Snapdragon hardware set to grace Windows PCs includes the X2 Elite and the X2 Elite Extreme, names meant to evoke raw performance, which is what
Qualcomm basically suggests they’ll arrive with.
That includes improvements in processing power and AI processing, plus support for the agentic AI tech the phones are also set to get, as well.
“Snapdragon X2 Elite strengthens our leadership in the PC industry, providing legendary leaps in performance, AI processing and battery life to enable the experiences that consumers deserve,” said Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Compute and Gaming for Qualcomm.
“We continue to push the boundaries of technological innovation, introduce breakthrough products that set new industry standards and redefine what’s possible for PCs,” he said.
Like the new phones, availability for these new laptops isn’t expected until next year, with 2026 the target for Windows PCs featuring these new chips.
