Qualcomm’s new ‘Elite’ sound chip might finally deliver the Wi-Fi earbud dream

Also, they do AI for “intelligent hearables.”

Also, they do AI for “intelligent hearables.”

by Sean HollisterSep 24, 2026, 11:42 PM UTC

Image: QualcommSean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.

What if your wireless earbuds — or audio glasses — could stream high-quality lossless audio that doesn’t cut out when you leave your phone on the bedside charger or buried in the couch? Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 is its first to integrate “micro-power Wi-Fi 6E” right into the chip, so they can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network, and from there to the cloud.

Image: Qualcomm

If that sounds like a familiar promise, it’s probably because Qualcomm promised something similar back in 2023 with the “S7 Pro sound platform” and its Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) tech, saying that Wi-Fi earbuds can do what Bluetooth alone cannot. Namely, 24-bit 96kHz lossless audio that can’t fit into Bluetooth’s meager bandwidth.

But that old 7-series platform required a separate Wi-Fi chip to give you Wi-Fi earbuds, and it seems that wasn’t a winning formula for getting makers of incredibly tiny devices to adopt the tech! In fact, we’ve only ever heard of one: Xiaomi’s 2025 Buds 5 Pro, which didn’t get a global release.

Image: Qualcomm

Now that Wi-Fi no longer requires an extra chip, perhaps the idea can take off. Qualcomm says the Elite is also 30 percent smaller, consumes up to 40 percent less power, and has twice the AI processing capabilities of the previous gen chip, all of which should be music to device makers’ ears.

So far, Qualcomm says it’s working with HP on one specific unnamed product, is “working closely with Bose,” and is “pioneering a new category of intelligent hearables” (read: earbuds with built-in cameras) with Cleer.

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