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

02 Mar 2026, 07:00 · TechRadar

News By Jacob Krol published 2 March 2026

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter

Get the TechRadar Newsletter

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter

Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon Wear Elite wearable platform
It will likely be inside smartwatches and new AI form factors
First devices expected later this year

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.

(Image credit: Qualcomm)

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.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors