Qualcomm announced Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 on September 23, bringing on-device AI and direct cloud connectivity to a platform designed for earbuds, headphones, and audio glasses. It also supports camera-equipped earbuds that combine visual information with voice interactions.
The platform integrates micro-power Wi-Fi 6E, which Qualcomm says allows audio wearables to connect directly to cloud services and reduces their dependence on a smartphone. Intended uses include AI assistance, translation, and access to streaming content.
Qualcomm says it delivers up to twice the on-device AI capability, up to 40% lower power consumption, and a platform footprint up to 30% smaller than the previous generation. These are platform-level claims, rather than battery-life measurements for a finished pair of earbuds.
Audio features include fifth-generation adaptive active noise cancellation and AI-enhanced microphone processing. Qualcomm says these are designed to improve noise reduction, speech capture, and voice interactions as listening conditions change.
The platform also supports lossless music streaming at up to 192kHz over Wi-Fi using Qualcomm’s XPAN technology. That specification applies to its Wi-Fi audio capabilities; it should not be read as a claim of 192kHz lossless streaming over Bluetooth.
At Snapdragon Summit 2026, Cleer showed a concept combining audio, vision, and AI using a Snapdragon Sound platform. Qualcomm described it as an early look at the category, rather than announcing a retail launch.