How Qualcomm's new wearables chipset could spell the end of smartphone dominance

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ZDNET's key takeaways 

• Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon Wear Elite chip. 
• It will power new smartwatches, smart glasses, and AI pins. 
• Advancements include longer battery, faster processing, and low-power connectivity. 

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Right now, mobile phones are the main hub of our personal device ecosystem. But as AI integrates into glasses, rings, headphones, and portable form factors, we could see our very own handsets step off center stage, and these wearable devices take their place. This requires lots more on-device AI and interconnectivity than what is currently available. 

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Qualcomm is betting on its latest chipset, unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2026, to power this new era of personal AI. Snapdragon chips already power some of the most common mobile devices, and its new Snapdragon ...