Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, the company’s first platform built specifically for “agentic” audio wearables. The platform uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound audio tech with on-device AI, secure cloud connectivity, and built-in micro-power Wi-Fi 6E.
The new chip delivers up to 2x more AI capability than its predecessor. It also cuts power consumption by up to 40% and shrinks the footprint by up to 30%. These let device makers run multiple AI tasks at once without draining the battery. They also allow innovation for camera-equipped wearables. Unlike a phone camera, these built-in cameras will read the user’s surroundings to add context to AI responses.
The Wi-Fi 6E connection enables something Qualcomm calls Snapdragon Sound Apps & Agents. This links wearables directly to cloud-based AI assistants and services. So instead of being limited to whatever ships on the hardware, these devices can gain new capabilities over time.
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Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of XR, Wearables, and Personal AI, said the company’s own research found that 70% of users want more advanced AI in their wearables. He added that these interactions won’t always happen through a screen. Instead, users will increasingly just talk to their devices and get help in real time.
The platform also brings several audio upgrades. Qualcomm aptX Lossless gives richer sound quality. Qualcomm XPAN extends Bluetooth range for more stable connections. A new 5th-generation Qualcomm ANC, along with cVc noise cancellation and multi-microphone support, improves speech clarity, both in conversations and when talking to AI assistants. Qualcomm also introduced its Audio Sense Solution, a microphone system designed to capture voices and ambient sound more accurately.
The platform supports a wide range of form factors. These include earbuds, headphones, open-ear and hybrid designs, camera-enabled earbuds, and audio glasses. Qualcomm is also offering reference designs to help OEMs prototype and launch products faster. At Snapdragon Summit 2026, audio brand Cleer showed an early concept built on the platform that combines audio, vision, and AI in one wearable.