Qualcomm

Qualcomm is squaring off against Apple's newest chip, according to a weekly tech roundup that also covers a new fitness tracker and updated Macs. The piece frames the competition between the two chipmakers as the week's headline storyline, alongside Apple's hardware refreshes and wearable offerings.

Reports suggest Apple's 2027 iPhone lineup could move entirely to its own in-house modem chips, cutting Qualcomm out of the devices for the first time in years. But analysts note Apple still cannot fully escape Qualcomm, since its chips and patents remain essential to the phones. The move would be the culmination of Apple's years-long effort to build its own modem technology after acquiring Intel's modem business.

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, its new flagship smartphone chip, alongside a higher-tier 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagship processors, with spec differences between them relatively minor and focused on improved AI processing, video capture and gaming performance. Coverage is focused on what the incremental upgrades mean for upcoming premium Android phones.