The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 were not initially paired with a dedicated 5G modem announcement, but that changed with Qualcomm’s latest unveiling today during MWC 2026, as the company has officially announced the Qualcomm X105. As expected, the top-end baseband silicon promises faster downlink and uplink speeds, but more importantly, it consumes less power and has become smarter than previous iterations. Here are more details you might be interested in.
The Qualcomm X105 is labeled as the industry’s first ‘Release 19-capable’ modem and supports 5G satellite connectivity
Starting with the specifications, the Qualcomm X105’s RF transceiver is built on a 6nm architecture, boasting superior power efficiency and a smaller footprint. The 5G modem can reach 14.8Gbps downlink speeds and 4.2Gbps uplink speeds. As mentioned above, Qualcomm says that the Snapdragon X85 successor is the first Release 19-capable chip, supporting NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network) to deliver 5G satellite connectivity, enabling data and video communications.
The Qualcomm X105 can also connect to NB-IoT networks as a last resort, for when you cannot connect to any satellite or terrestrial cell coverage. This outcome can typically occur in elevators, basements, subways, and other underground facilities. Also, thanks to AI integration, the baseband chip can optimize power consumption and peak connectivity when required. Qualcomm has said that its smartphone partners can use its APIs to lower latency and improve battery life in specific use cases.
Thanks to the improved manufacturing process, the Qualcomm X105’s RF transceiver can consume up to 30 percent less power, while its quad-band GNSS capability for improving location accuracy results in a 25 percent reduction in power consumption for location services. While there’s no specific launch timeline for the 5G modem’s commercial debut, it will likely come paired with Qualcomm’s first 2nm chipsets, which are expected to be announced in the fourth quarter of this year. Partners like Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus, and others will probably showcase this technology during the Snapdragon Summit, so stay tuned for more updates.
News Source: Qualcomm
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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