When Will 6G Arrive? Qualcomm Sets Surprise 2028 Testing Date

Qualcomm opened the 10th Snapdragon Summit with a roadmap that points toward faster adoption of next-generation networks and a deeper role for artificial intelligence across devices.

Chief executive Cristiano Amon told participants that Qualcomm intends to begin trials of 6G technology in 2028 using pre-commercial hardware. He reminded the audience that Qualcomm had introduced 5G capabilities in 2018, two years before the global rollout scheduled for 2020, suggesting a similar timeline could unfold with 6G.

AI was the second major theme of Amon’s keynote. He said the company’s next wave of Snapdragon platforms is designed to integrate AI across every category of device. “AI will be the interface of the future,” Amon said, adding that Qualcomm’s strategy is to bring intelligence beyond smartphones into PCs, wearables and connected systems.

The company also presented two new computing platforms — Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Snapdragon X2 Elite. Both chipsets emphasize performance and energy efficiency, but their central feature is expanded AI capability.

Amon described a future in which devices operate as independent digital “agents,” able to coordinate tasks in real time with a user’s primary smartphone. Such functions, he said, could range from managing appointments to monitoring financial activity.

The shift builds on concepts first introduced at last year’s summit, where Qualcomm showcased personalised AI assistants and on-device large language models. This year, the focus has turned to scaling those features by combining local edge processing with cloud-based models. According to Amon, this layered approach is needed to handle the surge of personal data expected in the coming decade while maintaining user privacy.

He also noted that AI training methods will evolve, relying less on centralised data centers and more on distributed models that can adapt locally while still drawing on cloud resources for broader learning.

Industry partners joined the stage to highlight collaboration. Adobe chief executive Shantanu Narayen said his company is working with Qualcomm to develop personalised creative tools, including a tailored version of Adobe Firefly. “Qualcomm devices will give creators the ability to produce content in their own style with far greater flexibility,” Narayen said.

Google’s Rick Osterloh added that Qualcomm and Google are seeking to unify the experience across smartphones and PCs. He said the partnership aims to close long-standing gaps between platforms by bringing Gemini AI models and the Android developer ecosystem into the PC environment.