Qualcomm Comes For Apple’s A20 Pro With New AI-First Snapdragon Chips
Key takeaways
- Qualcomm’s new AI‑first Snapdragon chips position it to compete directly with Apple’s premium processors, potentially expanding its share of high‑end Android devices while its stock remains in a solid technical stance.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 supports up to 200 million‑parameter models
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 supports a 30‑billion‑parameter mixture‑of‑experts model
- QCOM is 12.2% above its 20‑day SMA of $175.93
What happened
Qualcomm unveiled two new AI‑first Snapdragon processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the higher‑end Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, at its annual Snapdragon Summit. The chips target premium Android phones and can run large AI models locally—up to 200 million parameters on the Gen 6 and a 30‑billion‑parameter mixture‑of‑experts model on the Extreme version. Qualcomm positioned the new chips as a direct competitor to Apple’s A20 Pro, which powers the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, and highlighted…
Why it matters
The announcement signals Qualcomm’s push into the high‑end smartphone market, where AI capabilities are becoming a key differentiator. By matching Apple’s A20 Pro in performance and using TSMC’s cutting‑edge process, Qualcomm aims to capture a larger share of premium Android devices. The new chips also offer advanced…
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. Short‑term traders should watch QCOM’s price action around the $233.50 resistance and the $190.50 support level, as the stock is currently 12% above its 20‑day SMA.
Longer-term. Over the next few months, investors should assess how Qualcomm’s premium chip strategy translates into higher‑margin contracts with Android OEMs, especially as the smartphone market shifts toward higher‑priced devices.