Qualcomm unveils new innovations at Snapdragon Summit 2023

The Highlights:

  • New Snapdragon platforms showcase unparalleled on-device AI performance for a range of generative AI devices and applications, with a focus on immediacy, reliability, personalization, and privacy.
  • Snapdragon X Elite, designed specifically for on-device AI, boasts an industry-leading NPU and outstanding CPU performance, setting new standards for Windows 11 PC platforms.
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 features the most potent NPU for mobile devices, leveraging AI to improve content creation, camera capabilities, gaming, audio, and connectivity experiences in premium smartphones.
  • The event marks Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.’s introduction of premium next-gen platforms for Windows 11 PCs and mobile devices, emphasizing on-device generative AI experiences. CEO Cristiano Amon illustrated how AI will transform device usage, offering on-device AI experiences across various consumer electronics categories.

Snapdragon Summit serves as Qualcomm Technologies’ annual flagship event in Hawaii, unveiling next-gen platforms and showcasing the technologies that will drive upcoming consumer devices like high-end PCs and mobile phones.

This year’s highlights included the launch of Snapdragon X Elite, a PC platform surpassing rival laptop CPUs in AI performance, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a mobile platform expanding on-device AI capabilities. According to Qualcomm, these platforms exhibit remarkable speeds in generative AI tasks, such as on-device chat assistants for Windows 11 laptops (30 tokens per second) and smartphone image generation (less than a second using Stable Diffusion).

Source: Qualcomm

“We are entering the era of AI, and on-device generative AI will play a critical role in delivering powerful, fast, personal, efficient, secure and highly optimized experiences. Snapdragon is uniquely positioned to help shape and capitalize on the on-device AI opportunity and you will see generative AI going virtually everywhere that Snapdragon goes.”

Cristiano Amon, CEO Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Qualcomm unveiled their newest premium mobile platform, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 – a powerhouse of on-device smarts, top-tier performance, and efficiency. Being the go-to choice for premium Android smartphones, Qualcomm’s latest processor is set to grace flagship devices from a global roster of OEMs and smartphone brands, including ASUS, Honor, iQOO, MEIZU, NIO, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Redmi, RedMagic, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE.

Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm says Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports multi-modal generative AI models, including large language models and automatic speech recognition, with processing capabilities of up to 10 billion parameters, all performed directly on the device. The AI Engine ensures remarkable speed and privacy. It also facilitates personalization through the Qualcomm® Sensing Hub, securely utilizing user data for tailored responses. Furthermore, it boasts exceptional performance improvements in its Hexagon™ NPU, offering up to 98% faster processing and 40% better performance per watt. Additionally, the Qualcomm Sensing Hub experiences a 3.5x increase in AI performance.In the domain of photography, Qualcomm’s Cognitive ISP promises an intelligent capture experience, allowing users to optimize various components of their shots in real-time for enhanced detail and vibrancy. It introduces features such as the Video Object Eraser and Night Vision video capture powered by AI. The Snapdragon also supports features like Zoom Anyplace and HDR photo technology from Dolby. It enables the use of Truepic photo capture with C2PA standard support, providing cryptographic proof of the photo’s authenticity. The Snapdragon further offers Vlogger’s View for simultaneous front and rear camera video sharing and Photo Expansion to intuitively extend photos.Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the Snapdragon Elite Gaming™ features, delivering console-level performance with Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, high FPS, and a suite of gaming enhancements. Premium-level performance is enhanced by the Qualcomm® Kryo™ CPU and Adreno™ GPU, delivering better performance and power efficiency. Finally, Snapdragon Sound™ and Qualcomm® Expanded Personal Area Network Technology ensure a premium audio and connectivity experience. With leading 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 Modem-RF System and FastConnect™ 7800 Mobile Connectivity System promise breakthrough speeds and connectivity.

“Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 infuses high-performance AI across the entire system to deliver premium-level performance and extraordinary experiences to consumers. This platform unlocks a new era of generative AI enabling users to generate unique content, help with productivity, and other breakthrough use cases. Each year, we set out to design leading features and technologies that will power our latest Snapdragon 8-series mobile platform and the next generation of flagship Android devices. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers.”

Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Snapdragon Seamless

Snapdragon Seamless, a cross-platform technology that facilitates the integration of Android, Windows, and Snapdragon devices using different operating systems to work as one integrated system. Companies like Microsoft, Android, Xiaomi, ASUS, Honor, Lenovo, and OPPO have partnered with Qualcomm to create multi-device experiences enabled by Snapdragon Seamless, set to launch globally this year.

Snapdragon Seamless aims to improve multi-device experiences for consumers, enabling features like:

  • Mice and keyboards working across PCs, phones, and tablets.
  • File and window sharing across different device types.
  • Intelligent earbud switching based on audio source priority.
  • Expanding smartphone capabilities with XR.

“Snapdragon Seamless fundamentally breaks down the barriers between OEMs, devices and operating systems. It’s the only cross-device solution to truly put the user first.”

Dino Bekis, VP and GM, wearables and mixed signal solutions, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Qualcomm S7 and S7 Pro Gen1

Qualcomm also announced the Qualcomm S7 & S7 Pro Gen1 Sound platforms, designed for earbuds, headphones, and speakers, featuring high-performance, low-power computing, on-device AI, and advanced connectivity to usher in a new era of audio innovation. According to the company, these platforms offer six times the computing power and nearly 100 times the AI power of previous generations, with support for up to 192kHz lossless music quality. S7 Pro Sound platform introduces Qualcomm Expanded Personal Area Network Technology (XPAN) and micro-power Wi-Fi connectivity for extended audio range.

Source: Qualcomm

“These platforms set a new benchmark for high-performance sound at ultra-low power. They are packed with premium technologies that work together with on-device AI to deliver immersive and personalized audio experiences wherever you go – whether in a meeting, socializing, gaming, listening to music or just needing some quiet time. The S7 Pro Platform with our micro-power Wi-Fi and revolutionary Qualcomm® XPAN technology further transforms the sound experience by enabling whole home and building audio coverage, support for up to 192kHz multi-channel lossless music streaming and enhanced multi-channel spatial audio for gaming.”

Dino Bekis, vice president and general manager, Wearables and Mixed Signals Solutions, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Snapdragon X Elite

Also unveiled at the summit, Snapdragon X Elite, the most potent computing processor for PCs, offering superior CPU performance, on-device AI processing, and exceptional power efficiency, enabling powerful productivity, creativity, and immersive entertainment experiences. The Snapdragon X Elite platform includes the custom integrated Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, offering up to 2 times faster CPU performance than competitors.

Source: Qualcomm

The Snapdragon X Elite incorporates the advanced Qualcomm® AI Engine, complete with an integrated Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU. This integration leads to significant advancements in various domains, including creativity, video conferencing, security, and productivity assistance. Notably, the Snapdragon X Elite exhibits the capability to efficiently operate generative AI LLM models with over 13 billion parameters directly on the device, delivering exceptionally high processing speeds. Furthermore, it introduces an updated Micro NPU within the power-efficient Qualcomm® Sensing Hub, which enhances security, login procedures, and privacy. This includes the ability to activate the device from sleep mode. By retaining sensitive data on your laptop, it elevates security levels while harnessing edge-based intelligence. Additionally, the Qualcomm AI Engine offers compatibility with Windows Studio Effects and a myriad of other AI-accelerated applications and experiences, thus expanding the realm of possibilities.

PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite are expected from leading OEMs starting mid-2024.

Source: Qualcomm

“Snapdragon X Elite represents a dramatic leap in innovation for computing as we deliver our new, custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU for super-charged performance that will delight consumers with incredible power efficiency and take their creativity and productivity to the next level. Powerful on-device AI experiences will enable seamless multitasking and new intuitive user experiences, empowering consumers and businesses alike to create and accomplish more.”

Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Compute & Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Source: Qualcomm

The company also introduced Snapdragon Sound, utilizing AI for advanced noise cancellation, and Snapdragon Seamless, enabling seamless collaboration between devices across different manufacturers and operating systems.


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