Qualcomm Aims to Power the Future Beyond Smartphones with Two New Innovations
On Tuesday, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon announced that the company is developing over 40 different AI-powered wearable devices, which include jewelry, camera-equipped earbuds, pins, and watches. This illustrates Qualcomm’s strong belief that the future of computing may not rely on smartphones.
To support this vision, Qualcomm has introduced two new initiatives: the Snapdragon Reality Elite platform aimed at enhancing mixed reality glasses through advanced on-device AI, and the Scalable Turnkey AI-Ready Toolkit (START), which combines hardware and software resources for AI devices, beginning with smart glasses.
Compared to its earlier XR platform, the Snapdragon Reality Elite boasts advancements of up to 60% in GPU performance, 30% in CPU performance, and an impressive 160% in NPU performance. Although it can be challenging to accurately gauge numeric improvements, Qualcomm provides a clear example: the platform can efficiently process a 3-billion-parameter language model at a speed of 45 tokens per second, allowing for seamless AI interactions. Additionally, it enhances head and hand tracking, as well as see-through capabilities.
The Snapdragon Reality Elite supports a resolution of 4.4K per eye at 90 frames per second— a slight improvement from the XR2+ Gen 2’s 4.3K resolution per eye. Higher resolutions and frame rates are crucial for achieving a cleaner and more fluid visual experience, which is essential for reducing discomfort often associated with prolonged headset use.
The platform is intended for two device categories: standalone video-see-through (VST) headsets that overlay digital images on live camera feeds, and lightweight, tethered optical-see-through (OST) glasses that seamlessly integrate digital visuals into the user’s view. Among the first devices using this technology are the XREAL Project Aura, highlighted at this year’s Google I/O, and a forthcoming product from Play for Dream.
Meanwhile, the START program includes an AR chip, a software platform, companion applications, and a white-label initiative designed to accelerate market entry for hardware manufacturers. This white-label program offers three reference designs: a combined audio and camera system reminiscent of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, a monocular display, and a binocular display.
Inspecs and O’Neill, a brand under TitanFlex, are among the initial partners in this white-label program. Qualcomm indicated that START will eventually expand beyond smart glasses to include additional device types.
Amon elaborated on the rationale behind these announcements, stating that as businesses gather more real-world user data to enhance their AI algorithms, a new wave of startup innovations in hardware design is likely. This evolution could have significant consequences for established smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung.
“There’s going to be a lot of experimentation with different form factors,” Amon noted. “Currently, we have over 40 designs, showcasing a vast array of options.” He emphasized that the future devices will be wearable, always present, and capable of perceiving the surrounding environment to provide context and engage the user with AI agents effectively.
In this context, Qualcomm aims to establish itself as the core technology provider for the next generation of devices post-smartphone. The white-label program within START specifically aims to help new players enter the market more easily.
