Qualcomm Technologies showcased its next-generation flagship mobile platforms at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, offering a first look at upcoming smartphones from iQOO, Motorola and Xiaomi. The devices include the iQOO 16, Motorola Signature 27 and Xiaomi 18 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 platforms.
The company is positioning its latest chipsets around agentic AI, on-device intelligence, gaming, imaging and connectivity. Qualcomm says the platforms are designed to move smartphones beyond answering queries towards AI experiences that can understand user intent, make recommendations and take actions to simplify everyday tasks.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Series Features
Qualcomm describes the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 as its most powerful mobile platform, designed for advanced Android smartphones. The chipset brings new capabilities for everyday AI agents, with an emphasis on faster, more personalised and dependable experiences that adapt to users throughout the day.
The platform also introduces Adreno Neural Fusion for mobile gaming, using AI to deliver intelligent graphics aimed at more immersive gameplay and richer visuals. Qualcomm says the technology is designed to enhance gaming experiences while supporting longer playtime.
Imaging is another focus area. The chipset supports Advanced Professional Video (APV) and Intelligent Pixel Control, which Qualcomm says enable deeper scene understanding, improved image quality and more natural-looking photos and videos.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is designed to bring many of the same AI, gaming, imaging and connectivity capabilities to a broader range of premium smartphones. According to Qualcomm, the platform is built on a 2nm process and features a custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU, a rearchitected Qualcomm Adreno GPU and a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. These components are designed to support performance-intensive workloads alongside on-device AI processing.
The two platforms extend Qualcomm's flagship portfolio as smartphone makers increasingly focus on AI-powered features, camera improvements and gaming performance as key differentiators in the premium segment.
iQOO 16, Motorola Signature 27 and Xiaomi 18 Pro Revealed
At IMC 2026, Qualcomm offered a first look at three upcoming flagship smartphones powered by its new Snapdragon platforms.
The iQOO 16 is among the first smartphones announced to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. iQOO says its focus remains on sustained performance and intelligent AI experiences as smartphones become increasingly important for work, creativity and communication.
Motorola also showcased the Signature 27, which will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Motorola says the device will combine AI features, professional-grade imaging, design and entertainment capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 18 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Xiaomi highlighted the phone's distinctive rear display alongside its focus on flagship performance and new ways for users to interact with the device.
Qualcomm's Vision for the Agentic AI Smartphone
Qualcomm's latest platforms reflect its broader push towards agentic AI, in which smartphone software can go beyond responding to prompts and help users complete tasks. The company says this approach could make technology more natural and useful by allowing AI systems to understand goals, make recommendations and take actions.
Saurabh Arora, Business Head – Mobile, Compute, and XR at Qualcomm India, said the new platforms bring these experiences directly onto devices, opening the door to smarter and more personalised smartphone experiences. On-device processing is central to this direction, with the platforms combining CPU, GPU and NPU capabilities to support AI alongside traditional smartphone workloads.
Qualcomm's IMC 2026 showcase signals that the next flagship smartphone battle will increasingly revolve around on-device AI, rather than raw performance alone. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 targets the highest-end segment, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 aims to extend many of the same capabilities to a wider range of premium devices.
The iQOO 16, Motorola Signature 27 and Xiaomi 18 Pro provide an early look at how smartphone brands could use these platforms to differentiate their upcoming flagships. However, real-world performance, the usefulness of AI features, camera results and pricing will ultimately determine whether these upgrades translate into meaningful benefits for consumers.
