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Samsung to Integrate Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite Chips in Next Galaxy Watch Series

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Samsung Adopts Qualcomm Chips

Samsung will equip its next Galaxy Watch series with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite System-on-Chip (SoC). This strategic move aims to address existing battery life concerns and integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into its smartwatches.

Snapdragon Wear Elite Overview

Unveiled at MWC 2026, the Snapdragon Wear Elite processors are designed to power future smartwatches and a new generation of AI-enabled wearable devices. The "Elite" branding now aligns these wearable chips with Qualcomm's high-end mobile SoC range.

Performance and Efficiency Enhancements

Key features of the new chip include:

  • Manufacturing Process: The first generation will be produced on a 3nm process, an advancement from the 4nm process used in previous Snapdragon Wear chips.
  • Runtime Improvement: Qualcomm states the new chip offers a 30% longer runtime compared to current Snapdragon Wear processors.
  • Fast Charging: It enables significantly faster charging, with claims of achieving a 50% charge from a depleted state in just 10 minutes.
  • CPU Architecture: The chip is reportedly configured with a penta-core CPU, featuring one high-performance core and four efficiency cores to optimize task allocation and power consumption.

The new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip promises significantly faster charging, with claims of achieving a 50% charge from a depleted state in just 10 minutes.

On-Device AI and Connectivity

This marks the introduction of a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in a wearable silicon, facilitating advanced, on-device AI for personalized user experiences. The chipset also supports low-power 5G, Bluetooth 6.0, and satellite-based communication.

Expected Device Integration

Samsung has confirmed that the Snapdragon Wear Elite SoC will be integrated into its upcoming Galaxy Watch lineup. This is expected to include the Galaxy Watch 9 series and the Galaxy Watch 2 Ultra, with an anticipated announcement in July or August. Other Wear OS brands, such as Motorola and Xiaomi, are also projected to adopt this new chip.