Qualcomm Technologies has expanded its partnership with Samsung Electronics by powering the latest Galaxy ecosystem unveiled at Samsung Unpacked.
The new lineup includes the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8, Galaxy Watch9, Galaxy Watch Ultra2, and Samsung’s new intelligent eyewear, all powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms designed to deliver faster AI, improved performance, and seamless connectivity across devices.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy powers the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, bringing the next generation of Galaxy AI experiences. Built on the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, which Qualcomm describes as the world’s fastest mobile CPU, the chipset delivers significant improvements in AI processing, computing performance, responsiveness, and power efficiency. The platform enables real-time AI capabilities including intelligent photography, immersive gaming, AI-enhanced connectivity, and more personalized on-device experiences.
Samsung strengthened its leadership in the global smartphone market during the second quarter of 2026 despite an overall industry downturn, according to Omdia report. Samsung retained the top position with a 22 percent global market share, gaining 2 percentage points compared with the second quarter of 2025, even as worldwide smartphone shipments declined 4 percent year on year.
Samsung benefited from resilient demand, stable product availability, and the delayed launch of the Galaxy S26 series, which shifted premium smartphone demand into the second quarter. Samsung also expanded its presence in the budget smartphone segment as several Chinese competitors reduced product portfolios and increased prices in response to rising memory costs and supply constraints.
Samsung’s latest smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2, are powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite Platform. The processor combines advanced sensor fusion, high-performance computing, and enhanced connectivity to continuously analyze user context throughout the day. This enables more proactive health monitoring, personalized wellness insights, and AI-powered guidance while working seamlessly with other Galaxy devices.
Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google are also expanding their Android XR collaboration beyond mixed reality headsets into intelligent eyewear. Samsung’s new smart glasses use the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform, enabling lightweight AI-powered wearable experiences. Fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker showcased new intelligent eyewear designs at Samsung Unpacked, with broader collections expected to launch this fall.
Qualcomm said Snapdragon platforms create a connected Galaxy ecosystem where smartphones, wearables, and intelligent eyewear work together through consistent, context-aware AI. By combining powerful on-device processing with enhanced cross-device connectivity, the new Galaxy portfolio aims to deliver increasingly autonomous and personalized experiences across everyday mobile computing.
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